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
Co-regulation
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!
Exciting news!
EXCITING NEWS! Angela Hill (of Kinnect) and I are currently finalising the details of the next round of our 8-week Zoom program for mums and dads, Rewire Through Regulation and Repair, to be run in October-November! It is an attachment informed and nervous system aware program, that supports you with a body-mind approach to help transform … Continue reading Exciting news!
New program coming soon: Rewire through Regulation and Repair
For some of us, the balance between the part of the brain that is responsible for considered behaviour (prefrontal cortex) and the emotional centre of our brain (amygdala) can be a bit "off", making us more likely to be hijacked by our autonomic nervous system going into "fight or flight". This can make parenting extra … Continue reading New program coming soon: Rewire through Regulation and Repair
Compassionate nervous system support for mums!
I remember, as a sleep-deprived single mother of a poorly sleeping baby, being told by a professional: “If only you weren’t so anxious, your baby would be sleeping better”. In a way, she was right. But at the time, those words were like a slap in the face. Having trained in clinical psychology, I knew … Continue reading Compassionate nervous system support for mums!
Stress-busting ideas to curb coronavirus stress
😰 Chronic stress occurs when our body detects a threat and doesn’t return to a sense of safety. 😰 It means our “Fight or Flight” response stays switched on. 😰 This results in our body being constantly flooded with stress hormones. 😰 Over the longer term, this can suppress our immune system. 😰 Which can result in us being more … Continue reading Stress-busting ideas to curb coronavirus stress
How can we help when kids suck their thumb or have other self-focused repetitive behaviours?
I wonder if your child sucks their thumb, bites their nails, picks their skin or does some other repetitive behaviour? These are behaviours that kids (and adults) sometimes (unconsciously) use to manage the level of sympathetic activation or stress in their bodies when it gets too much. You might notice that at the … Continue reading How can we help when kids suck their thumb or have other self-focused repetitive behaviours?
We’re on the move!
We are preparing for an(other) international move. There's a lot to do, with planning, preparations, etc. It’s taking up a lot of my time, energy and head space, and it's been a bit stressful at times. My boy’s been a bit “high” himself at times in the last few days. Acting generally hyped up, repeating … Continue reading We’re on the move!
Why it’s easy for our nervous system to get “stuck” in an unsafe state
Did you know that the state of our autonomic nervous system is “self-reinforcing”. 🟢 This means that, if our nervous system is sensing safety, and our "social engagement" system is dominant, then we will continue to perceive more safety cues, keeping us in a “Safe & Social” state. 🔴 But, if our nervous system is … Continue reading Why it’s easy for our nervous system to get “stuck” in an unsafe state
How can we shift from “Fight or Flight” back to a peaceful and loving state?
As parents, there are lots of situations that might trigger us into “Fight or Flight”, ranging from feeling powerless to get our child’s cooperation, to feeling shocked when our child does something that hurts us physically. But we know that interacting with our kids in that state is not going to be helpful. It will … Continue reading How can we shift from “Fight or Flight” back to a peaceful and loving state?
Here With You Parenting 