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
In my family, we celebrate Christmas at this time of the year. Even though my kids are now adults (just) and my mum is a grandmother, Christmas still seems to bring out the child in all of us. Maybe the fact that Christmas is …Read more
We are becoming an increasingly outcome-driven society. For many of us, our lives are dominated by KPIs, meeting targets, ticking boxes and writing endless reports. While accountability is important, the pressures around this often mean that we feel relieved rather than proud or excited …Read more
Researcher, Brené Brown, calls shame the ‘master emotion’ because it is present in almost every experience of trauma, disempowerment and exclusion. Whether we have caused someone else harm, someone has caused us harm or we are experiencing mental health issues, shame is the voice …Read more
Nain Philp is a social worker and art therapist working in private practice in Victoria, Australia. She shares with us her experiences using cards and other visual tools in AOV settings and with young people with autism, plus her top 3 tips for using …Read more
Given that both trauma and learning difficulties can have significant impacts on a child’s outcomes in later life, it is important to know how to recognise them in order to provide appropriate support. What we often don’t talk about is that trauma and learning …Read more
Many of us who have worked with children have grappled with how we can effectively include the perspective and voice of children in our planning and program development. We know it is important and valuable but how do we do it well? And how …Read more
We have all experienced anxiety at some time or another. For many of us, it feels unpleasant, uneasy, uncomfortable and sometimes scary. It comes in many different forms and no two people will experience it in the same way. It can even look different at different …Read more
As early literacy can be a predictor of educational attainment, earnings, health and social outcomes later in life, it is really important that we support parents and carers to build their child’s literacy. But what do we mean when we talk about ‘literacy’? Literacy …Read more
We are surrounded by many different cultures—not only cultures from other countries—but also the different mini-cultures found in families, schools, communities and workplaces. Each of these cultures may emphasise different strengths—for example, ‘standing out’ may be admired in one setting, while in another, ‘blending …Read more
This month, we talk to Kit Kline, Nature Based therapist and founder of Nature Based Therapy, counsellor and educator, about some practical ways we can support clients to connect with the natural environment. Kit has almost 20 years’ experience working as a counsellor and …Read more
When people are accessing services, they are often disempowered in at least one area of their life. They may be experiencing poverty, exclusion as a result of mental health issues, addiction or family violence. Or they may be experiencing oppression or exclusion as a …Read more
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