Going back to school can be stressful for everyone in the family. New faces, new rooms, new teachers, etc. For some children and teens (and adults too!), change can be incredibly difficult to move through. Sometimes it can be useful to sit down with your child or teen and discuss what might feel scary or difficult about returning to school and...
What is Neurodiversity? Neurodiversity refers to variation in how people think, process information, and interact with the world around them. First coined in the late 1990s by sociologist Judy Singer, the term recognises that conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more are simply natural differences in neurocognitive functioning. Neurodiversity encompasses the idea that differences in brain functioning are normal and should...
Introduction In the midst of the festive season, where joy and togetherness are celebrated, trees adorned with twinkling lights, windows decorated with Christmas ornaments, classic films airing on every channel, and carols echoing through the streets—all these holiday symbols have the power to evoke the most wonderful emotions. However, they can also feel oppressive when we’re finding it difficult to...
We know that the holiday season is typically associated with joy and happiness. However, for many individuals, it can also bring about mental distress, including stress. According to Ellen Braaten, PhD, the holidays can be a mix of joy and stress. Festive holidays aren't happy or healthy for everyone. For some people, they mean long to-do lists, family tension...
Introduction: Neurodiversity refers to natural variations in how our brains work, with each person having unique abilities and perspectives (Armstrong, 2021). This term was introduced in the 1990s by Judy Singer, a sociologist on the Autism spectrum who challenged the image that an Autistic person was disabled. The core principle of neurodiversity is to shift the focus from the challenges...
Do you find yourself anxious about being judged by others? Are you frequently self-conscious in typical social scenarios? Does the thought of meeting new people make you fearful or uneasy? If these emotions have persisted for a minimum of 6 months and are interfering with your ability to perform everyday activities, like engaging with colleagues or classmates, you might...
We all have experiences in life that are difficult, painful, or challenging. Our internal voice can be harsh, judging us for our perceived shortcomings and mistakes. Instead of getting caught up in self-criticism or negative thinking patterns, self-compassion encourages us to approach ourselves with kindness and explore constructive ways to address our challenges. As Dr Kristin Neff (Educational Psychologist) states,...
Mental health stigmatisation poses a significant obstacle for individuals grappling with various mental health conditions, such as PTSD, schizophrenia, severe depression, and many others. Stigma, fuelled by misconceptions, fear, and negative stereotypes, results in discrimination and social exclusion - something we often hear from our clients. Overcoming this challenge and creating an inclusive society demands collaborative efforts from individuals,...
What is masking? Masking is the effort that is put in by people with autism to appear neurotypical – to “fit in”. While masking is very apparent in autism, it is important to note that many other neurodiverse conditions e.g. ADHD etc involve masking too. Some examples of masking include: Forcing or faking eye contact during conversations Imitating smiles and...
When I was first considering occupational therapy as a career, I wasn’t entirely sure what exactly an occupational therapist was or did. My career mentor had suggested it and the respect I had for her meant that I considered it seriously. But what exactly was an occupational therapist and what would I be doing if I ended up there?...
