Eating disorders are one of the most life-threatening mental illnesses. Yet supports and services for people experiencing an eating disorder, and their families and carers, remain scarce. During the pandemic, the number of people with eating disorders increased significantly. The most worrying trend was …Read more
When our jaw drops, our eyes widen and we are filled with a sense of wonder, we are probably experiencing awe. Awe is often defined as a feeling of amazement in response to something vast, inspiring, overwhelming or beyond our understanding. In those moments, …Read more
Recently, Louise Elliott from Off The Couch therapy in South Australia, shared a story about how she used the Body Signals cards to support a young person to understand the feelings and body signals he was experiencing in relation to going to school. We …Read more
As we all know, transitions can be hard. Starting a new job, leaving a relationship, going to university or moving to a new place can all create feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Funnily, it isn’t always the steep learning curve that inevitably comes with …Read more
In 2023 we will be running a series of free 30 minute online workshops where our highly skilled trainer, Alison Krusec, will share a range of tips and tricks for using our most popular card sets, starting with Strengths Cards® Unlimited. Strengths Cards® Unlimited—the …Read more
We have lots of new offerings coming in 2023 – here’s a sneak peak at just a few. Navigating Depression cards Our long awaited Navigating Depression cards will be available mid-year. As the author of Navigating Depression, psychologist Kate Skilbeck, says: ‘There are countless …Read more
Introducing the latest edition to our suite of strengths-based tools and resources—Strength Cards Unlimited! Everyone has strengths. But did you know that strengths are more than just personal qualities? They also include your relationships, culture, health, community, the natural world and access to supports. …Read more
Eating Disorders, and mental illnesses come in all shapes, sizes, colours, ages, race and social economic levels. Throughout my lived eating disorder experience I have had to deal with weight stigma and being told things like “you don’t look that sick or underweight”, “your …Read more
When it comes to dealing with big emotions, not everyone has the language to describe how they’re feeling. Today we talk with one school counsellor, Judith, who co-created a story to accompany the tactile Bears. What began as a story to help one young …Read more
Feelings of shame can be heightened as children and young adults start to compare themselves to others. As children grow, they become more aware of what is considered normal—if their experiences and feelings don’t fit into this version of ‘normal’, this may result in …Read more
At any given moment in a supervision session, we may find ourselves wondering, ‘What is the most useful question I could ask right now?’ This, however, begs another question: ‘What do we mean by a useful question?’ Questions are fundamental in constructing—and changing—social realities. …Read more
This month we launch our latest resource – Exploring Shame – a game changer for therapists, counsellors, carers and teachers. We talk with lead author Michael Derby on his motivation for producing the resource. 1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself …Read more
Maybe not in the wilds of nature. But in the wild world of our feelings many unexpected things can go together. Look inside on any typical day and you may notice a swirling mix of emotions and body signals. The limitations of language mean …Read more
Shame is a common emotion experienced by almost everyone at some point, it can feel painful and uncomfortable. Shame can erode our sense of self, creating feelings of humiliation, embarrassment or unworthiness. It can also lead to harmful or destructive behaviours and yet we …Read more
Getting the most out of your card set? Many of the Innovative Resources card sets have an accompanying Ideas Bank – a quick list of things to try in different settings. So whether you need a handy quick reference, a nudge or some inspiration, …Read more
Over the weekend I read Austin Kleon’s book, Steal like an artist, in which he says that creative people are excellent burglars. He reckons they steal everything—ideas, structures, techniques and inspiration. This is not plagiarism because they take the ideas of others and remix …Read more
What can parents and carers do to create a strengths-based, nurturing environment for their children to play, learn and grow? The team from the Bendigo Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) have a few tips and tricks. Here are their top three …Read more
The importance of self-care Even the most experienced and skilled professionals can feel overwhelmed and heartbroken when hearing people’s stories of trauma and loss. When you work in a role that involves supporting other people—like social work, teaching, healthcare, childcare or counselling—self-care is fundamentally …Read more
Over two years in the making, Tell A Trusted Adult is now a trusted resource for having conversations with children about protective behaviours and safety. It includes 35 cards focussing on body signals—13 matched pairs and 9 activity cards—plus a 60-page booklet with loads of …Read more
We’re nearly there – at the end of another crazy covid year! Good riddance is what we’re saying, and for good reason – it’s been tough, in so many ways, on so many people. But rather than write the whole year off, let’s take …Read more
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