An exploration of the Fawn stress response

What is Fawn? Fawn is a stress response that allows us to imitate a “safe and social” ventral vagal state, even when we are feeling threatened. It happens when it is either not possible, or it would increase danger to ourselves, to Fight or Flee (high sympathetic responses) from the perceived threat. It is also … Continue reading An exploration of the Fawn stress response

Healthy Aggression: What is it, and how can we embody more of it?

Healthy aggression happens when we have "Fight" activation from our sympathetic nervous system, and simultaneously have the grounded presence of a safe ventral vagal state, which helps to keep our response under our control. Sympathetic activation is a powerful messenger, bringing our attention to things we perceive to be threats to our own or others' … Continue reading Healthy Aggression: What is it, and how can we embody more of it?

Boredom is NOT the key to creativity

You’ll often hear experts saying that boredom is the key to creativity, but I disagree! Our children’s sense of boredom can often stem from a nervous system state of mild Freeze (the underlying tension of sympathetic activation, with an overlay of immobilization from the dorsal vagal complex). The lethargy, collapsed posture, blank stares, and monotonous … Continue reading Boredom is NOT the key to creativity

Would you like to rewire for more joy and connection in your parenting?

Are you committed to a style of parenting that emphasises kindness, empathy, compassion, and connection, but find yourself getting snappy with your kids or flying off the handle, or sometimes just wanting to run away? And then feeling wracked with sadness and guilt because that’s not the way you want to parent? Or maybe find … Continue reading Would you like to rewire for more joy and connection in your parenting?

Registrations now open!

The details of the next round of our 8-week online program, "Rewire Through Regulation and Repair", have now been finalised, and we're now accepting registrations! It’s a supportive group program based on connection parenting, somatic integration, and polyvagal theory, that can help you transform your habitual stress responses with mind-body based and nervous system aware … Continue reading Registrations now open!

Finding the “just right” position when listening to our child’s feelings

Have you ever had your child tell you to “Go away!” when they're upset, and you’re trying to listen to and support them as they move through their big feelings? It can sometimes be hard not to take this personally, but it is more helpful to take it as our child’s best way of communicating … Continue reading Finding the “just right” position when listening to our child’s feelings