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
Polyvagal theory
The “safe” ventral vagal dominant state
Some call it “Safe and Social” … Others call it “Calm and Connected” … Whatever we call it, it refers to the "regulated" state we are in when our autonomic nervous system senses safety, and our ventral vagal nerve complex, which helps us to engage socially with other people, is “switched on”. As you can … Continue reading The “safe” ventral vagal dominant state
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!
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!
A graphic to illustrate autonomic nervous system functioning
For anyone who'd like to understand a bit more about their autonomic nervous system and stress responses, I created this little graphic. Our nervous system is constantly scanning the environment for signs of safety and danger, with the aim of setting responses in motion to keep us safe (alive!). 🥰 When we are sensing safety, we … Continue reading A graphic to illustrate autonomic nervous system functioning
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!
A way to move through relationship tensions (especially in lockdown!)
Here's a strategy I think could be a particularly supportive in these stressful times, especially for those of us who are going to be in very close quarters with our loved ones for the foreseeable future! PLAYFUL EXAGGERATION can be a wonderful approach for expressing our emotions in a way that is non-threatening to others. … Continue reading A way to move through relationship tensions (especially in lockdown!)
Here With You Parenting 