Social worker, Elise Birthisel, uses reflective letters in her work, and here she shares some insight into why. She also shares some tips and ideas on how to include reflective letters in your work. But first, we thought we’d give you some background on …Read more
Why LGBTQI+ resources are needed Because everyone deserves respect. We share spaces with people whose ideas, beliefs and stories differ from our own. Our interests, languages, bodies and styles are many and varied, and this rich diversity is reflected in our experiences of gender, sexuality …Read more
Acts of everyday kindness are all around us. They can come in the form of a kind word, a helping hand, a nod of appreciation, an encouraging smile, a story, a wave, a letter, a gentle caution, a friendly visit or a meal shared. …Read more
Every family is unique. Some families are big and rowdy, some a small and quiet. Some are extended, some are nuclear and some families have just one person and a cat. Families can be scattered all over the world or can all live in …Read more
One of the things that can really help build a parent’s confidence is when they proactively make changes that lead to a more harmonious and positive relationship with their child. As we all know, when we feel more confident, we feel more empowered and …Read more
When we are supporting families, it can be easy to fall into the trap of focussing on deficits. This can feel difficult to avoid when we are supporting a family around a particular issue. However, creating the space for parents to notice and celebrate …Read more
When we are working with people in therapeutic spaces, we often focus on the practicalities – making sure people are safe and have the resources they need to look after themselves and their families. We are likely to give most of our attention to …Read more
Kim Billington, a counsellor, clinical supervisor, trainer, author and presenter, recently contacted us to share some of the ways she has used Innovative Resources cards and other tools over the years. She very generously agreed to share these experiences. And we also talk about …Read more
The research into the psychology of optimism is based on studies into a condition called ‘learned helplessness’. Psychologists and other researchers have discovered that people or animals show changes in behaviour when they decide they can do nothing to improve or change a situation …Read more
Developing a language around feelings and body signals is the first step in learning how to manage emotions. But teaching children about feelings and body signals can feel tricky. If we are in a classroom or group setting, we may worry that they reveal …Read more
Food is everywhere. For many people, it is a source of pleasure. We meet over food, we celebrate with food, and we buy cookbooks by the truckload. But what happens if your relationship with food is ambivalent, or even downright dangerous? ANAD estimates that …Read more
I have always found peace in nature. Whenever things get stressful or overwhelming, I either jump on my bike, go for a walk in the bush or just sit in the garden. I think a lot of us do. There is something very calming …Read more
If you are interested in providing a review* of our latest resource – Eating Disorders & other Shadowy Companions – we’d love to hear from you. Please email info@innovativeresources.org to request a copy. Living with an eating disorder can be a lonely, isolating …Read more
Teaching students skills to manage anxiety and challenge negative thinking helps them become better learners. The clinically-proven techniques in the Anxiety Solutions cards have been deliberately selected by consulting psychologist and clinical nutritionist, Selina Byrne (author of the cards) for their capacity to retrain …Read more
Everyone has anxious thoughts from time to time, which is why it is important to teach all children the skills they need to manage anxiety, find ways to distract and soothe themselves during stressful times and challenge negative self-talk. Anxiety Solutions for Kids was …Read more
Despite kids having access to loads of apps and digital games, they still seem to love stickers. Stickers are fun, versatile and tactile. They are also portable so you can take them anywhere, making them easy to whip out to do a quick activity …Read more
Over the hols, we spent some time with author of the Tell A Trusted Adult cards, Sharon Hynes (pictured on right), talking about the evolution of the cards and how she and Katerina Meda, the illustrator (pictured on left), came to be working together. …Read more
Young people’s lives are in a constant state of flux. They are dealing with growth spurts, the unnerving appearance of body hair in odd places, the making and breaking of relationships, changing schools, hormones, brain restructuring (yep, there are a lot of upgrades happening …Read more
If this pandemic has made us appreciate anything, it is the importance of the people around us. Family, friends, workmates, the people in our local café, the mums and dads and grandparents in our parent group, even the people we say hello to when …Read more
A gift is not always something that is wrapped up with brightly coloured paper. Not all gifts are the kind you can place under a Christmas tree or tuck under your arm when attending a birthday party. While tangible gifts can be utterly delightful …Read more
Menu