Post Adoption Counselling and Support

11/05/2026

29/04/2026

This visual explores what the screen–dopamine cycle can feel like from a child’s point of view.
It shows the internal shifts they often can’t name but deeply experience.
The pull of stimulation, the sudden drop, and the dysregulation that follows aren’t signs of defiance — they’re biology.
When we understand the cycle, limits make more sense, and compassion comes more easily.
It also helps adults see why screens become so gripping for some young people.
And why connection, rhythm, and co-regulation matter so much when supporting healthier screen habits.

You can download the Curious Conversations version of this visual for free, to use to scaffold your chats with your young people — LIKE the post and comment CYCLE below.

29/04/2026

Some girls don’t “look” autistic in the way people expect…
And that’s often why they’re missed.

They might chat, make eye contact, and appear socially confident on the surface.
But underneath, they may be working incredibly hard to keep up, fit in, and get things “right”.

Many autistic girls learn to mask — copying others, rehearsing interactions, and hiding the parts of themselves that feel different.

This can lead to exhaustion, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm that only shows up in safe spaces like home.

It’s not that the signs aren’t there.
It’s that they’re quieter, subtler, and often misunderstood.

When we understand how autism can present in girls, we open the door to earlier support, deeper compassion, and a child who feels seen.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone — and recognising it is a powerful first step.

08/04/2026

THE GROUNDING TECHNIQUE

Today’s visual shares one of the simplest, most effective tools for helping a child come back into their body when anxiety, overwhelm or dysregulation takes over.

Grounding works because it brings the brain out of “threat mode” and back into the present moment — a key part of brain-based parenting and co-regulation.

Young people often tell us that having something practical to do in the moment makes big feelings feel less scary and more manageable.

You can use this strategy at home, in school, during transitions, or any time a child feels “stuck” in their emotions.

07/04/2026

When a young person is overwhelmed, “calm down” feels like the obvious thing to say — but it’s something a dysregulated brain simply can’t do on command.

In that moment, their body is in threat mode: heart racing, breath shallow, thinking brain offline. Until their nervous system feels safe again, calm isn’t a choice — it’s a state they have to be guided back into.

This visual explains the brain–body loop behind big feelings, and why co-regulation and connection work so much better than pressure or reasoning.

If you’re navigating this at home or in the classroom, our The Child Brain Explained Toolkit gives you step-by-step support to help a child return to calm.

25/03/2026

Separation anxiety can look like tears at the gate… but it can also look like a child who seems “fine” while their body is doing somersaults inside.
This is your reminder that clinginess isn’t naughtiness, and big goodbyes aren’t “attention-seeking” — they’re a nervous system asking for safety.

If you’re in the thick of school drop-offs, wobbly Mondays, or those “I don’t want you to go” moments… you’re not alone.
And your child isn’t trying to make life hard — they’re trying to feel safe.

To SAVE, click on the image, tap the three dots top right, and choose Save.

21/03/2026

Please remember that’s it’s ok not to be ok.
It’s ok to reach out for support and counselling at any stage in the adoption journey.

13/03/2026

There's still time

13/03/2026

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