Walking With Hazel

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Let's walk side by side, discussing what's on your mind, finding solutions and developing techniques to challenge perceptions, accept situations and navigate the past.

As exam season approaches, many parents notice the same thing…. their child rushes questions and makes avoidable mistake...
28/04/2026

As exam season approaches, many parents notice the same thing…. their child rushes questions and makes avoidable mistakes.

It’s easy to assume this is about poor attention or even “short attention spans” from things like social media, but the reality is more complex (and more reassuring).

When children feel under pressure, their brain shifts into a kind of “fast mode.”
Instead of slowing down to think carefully, they try to:
✔️ get the answer quickly
✔️ reduce the discomfort of the question
✔️ move on before doubt creeps in

This isn’t laziness, it’s actually a stress response.

Over time, this can become a habit:
• In class, quick answers are often praised
• At home, finishing work fast can feel like success
• In tests, speed can feel safer than sitting with uncertainty

Add in timed conditions, and rushing becomes the default.

So what can help?

💡 Encourage your child to see exams as a thinking task, not a race
💡 Remind them it’s okay to pause, their brain needs time to process
💡 Practise slowing down: reading questions twice, checking key words
💡 Normalise not knowing straight away, that’s where real thinking happens

And importantly….. Reassure them that one tricky question doesn’t mean failure

Confidence grows when children feel safe to think, not just perform.

If your child is heading into exams this year, the biggest support you can give isn’t pressure to go faster..... it’s permission to slow down.

Mock exams are in full swing right now, with GCSEs and Functional Skills exams just around the corner. I want to gently ...
25/02/2026

Mock exams are in full swing right now, with GCSEs and Functional Skills exams just around the corner. I want to gently highlight something that doesn’t get talked about enough, especially for neurodivergent students.

One of the biggest challenges I see isn’t knowledge. It’s implied meaning.

Questions that say:
• “How does the writer suggest…”
• “What can we infer about…”
• “What is the effect of…”

For many autistic and neurodivergent young people, language is processed literally and logically. If the text doesn’t explicitly say something, they can feel like they’re guessing, and guessing feels unsafe. That’s not a lack of intelligence. It’s a difference in processing.

I’ve worked with students who:
– Know the content inside out
– Can quote accurately
– Understand facts clearly
But freeze when asked to read between the lines.

Why? Because inference requires:
• Holding multiple meanings in mind
• Tolerating uncertainty
• Predicting intent
• Interpreting tone and subtext

That’s a big cognitive load, especially under exam pressure.

How you can support at home:

1. Practise spotting “clues” rather than “hidden meanings”.
Say: “What in the text makes you think that?” This shifts it from guessing to evidence-hunting.

2. Normalise that inference is educated reasoning, not mind-reading.
It’s about probability, not certainty.

3. Break down question stems.
Highlight command words. Translate them into simpler language together.

4. Reduce shame.
If they say “It doesn’t say that!”, validate that instinct first. Then show how exam boards reward interpretation backed by evidence.

5. Build tolerance for being unsure.
Model phrases like: “It might suggest…” or “This could imply…”

Most importantly, if your child is struggling with implied meaning, it does not mean they don’t understand. It may mean their brain prefers clarity over ambiguity.

And that is not a flaw.

With the right scaffolding, they can absolutely learn how to navigate exam language, but they shouldn’t feel broken while doing it.

If you’re supporting a young person through mocks right now, you’re not alone. It’s intense. Be kind to them... and to yourself.

Is confidence always what we think it is? In the therapy space, I often find myself wondering…Is confidence always a sig...
24/02/2026

Is confidence always what we think it is?

In the therapy space, I often find myself wondering…

Is confidence always a sign of security?
Or can it sometimes be a coping strategy?

I meet clients who appear capable, articulate, high-functioning, the ones who “seem fine.”
But underneath that confidence can be a nervous system that has learned to survive.

Because for many of us, the default setting isn’t calm.
It’s fight. Flight. Freeze. Fawn.

We achieve.
We perform.
We stay busy.
We stay strong.
We stay agreeable.

And from the outside, it can look like confidence.

But real confidence feels different.
It feels steady.
Grounded.
Flexible.
Able to rest.

When the brain has lived in survival mode through trauma, instability, high expectations, or emotional neglect, hyper-independence can feel safer than vulnerability.

Sometimes the bravest work in therapy isn’t “becoming more confident.”
It’s allowing the nervous system to feel safe enough to soften.

To not always be on alert.
To not always have to cope so well.

If you’ve ever been told you’re “so strong” when inside you feel exhausted…
You’re not broken.
Your nervous system just adapted.

And adaptation is intelligent.

The work then becomes gently teaching the brain that safety is possible now.

Confidence that grows from safety feels very different to confidence built from survival.

And that shift?
That’s where real freedom begins.

SEND Reform. EHCP changes. Big headlines. Real families feeling it. If you’re a parent of a child with additional needs,...
23/02/2026

SEND Reform. EHCP changes. Big headlines. Real families feeling it.

If you’re a parent of a child with additional needs, you’ve probably felt that tightening in your chest reading the news.

Let’s ground this:

- EHCPs are still legal documents.
- Changes won’t happen overnight.
- Your child’s needs do not disappear because policy shifts.

But here’s the truth many families already know, the system has been under strain for a long time. Long waits. Reduced timetables. Suspensions. Children labelled “challenging” when they are actually overwhelmed.

I’ve worked alongside schools. I understand how stretched they are. I also see, weekly, the children who simply don’t thrive within that structure, especially those with ADHD, trauma histories, anxiety or sensory needs.

When a child’s nervous system is in survival mode, no amount of academic pressure will unlock learning.
Safety and regulation come first. Always.

For some families, that means continuing to advocate within school.
For others, it means exploring alternative provision or home education.

What I offer isn’t just tutoring.
It’s a steady, relational approach rooted in understanding neurodiversity, trauma, and the foundations of Maslow’s hierarchy. We rebuild confidence first. We restore calm. Then we layer learning back in.

Children who “don’t fit” the current system are not broken.
Often, they just need a different environment to thrive.

If recent headlines have left you questioning what’s best for your child, you’re not dramatic, you’re paying attention.

There are options. And you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Why Being “Too Nice” Can Make You Unwell: Inspired by Gabor MatéI’ve been diving into some of Gabor Maté’s work recently...
14/11/2025

Why Being “Too Nice” Can Make You Unwell: Inspired by Gabor Maté

I’ve been diving into some of Gabor Maté’s work recently as part of my CPD, especially his book “When the Body Says No.”
If you haven’t come across him before, Gabor Maté is a physician and trauma expert known for showing how emotional stress, suppressed feelings, and early experiences can shape our physical and mental health.

His core message is powerful:
When we chronically ignore our own needs, our bodies eventually react.

And one of the patterns he talks about really stood out, and might resonate with you too:

'Being “too nice” can make you unwell.'

Not because kindness is the problem.
But because constantly putting yourself last often comes from survival, not personality.

Many of us learned early on that:
- Keeping the peace kept us safe
- Being easy meant love stayed available
- Not expressing needs kept relationships stable

So we became the nice one.
The helper.
The peacekeeper.
The one who never asks for anything.

But as Gabor Maté teaches:

When you silence your emotions to protect others, your body ends up carrying the weight.

Holding it all in doesn’t make it disappear.
It just drives it deeper.

Over time, this can show up as:
• anxiety
• exhaustion
• chronic pain
• headaches
• digestive issues
• depression
• burnout
• inflammation or autoimmune issues

Because the body keeps speaking…
even when the voice can’t.

Maté says it perfectly:

“When you don’t know how to say no, your body will say it for you.”

Being kind is beautiful.
But kindness that costs your well-being isn’t sustainable.

Healing starts when you allow yourself:

💛 To have needs
💛 To disappoint people sometimes
💛 To feel your anger instead of burying it
💛 To rest without guilt
💛 To set boundaries with confidence
💛 To treat yourself with the same compassion you offer others

You’re not “too nice.”
You’re someone who learned to survive.

Now you get to learn to thrive.
And this time, you belong on your own priority list.

Thinking about home education this half term? Did you know…🍁According to the Department for Education, over 111,000 chil...
03/11/2025

Thinking about home education this half term?

Did you know…
🍁According to the Department for Education, over 111,000 children in England are now home educated, and that number continues to rise each year.
🍁For many families, home education becomes a way to support their child’s well-being, confidence, and love of learning.
🍁Studies show that home-educated young people often develop strong independence, creativity, and real-world problem-solving skills.

If your child feels overwhelmed, anxious, or simply “doesn’t fit” in a mainstream setting, it might not be them, it might be the system.

Home education offers a chance to reset. To learn at their own pace, follow their interests, and rebuild self-belief.

As a tutor, I specialise in supporting children and young people with neurodiversity, helping families make that transition smoothly and confidently.
I know how much courage it takes to make a change like this. Every family’s journey is different, and I’m here to meet your child exactly where they are, with patience, understanding, and a belief that they can thrive.

📞 Hazel: 07867 802 580
🌐 walkwithhazel.com

Education doesn’t have to look one way. Maybe this half term is the time to explore another.

Walk & Talk Therapy in Winter? Absolutely.I know what you might be thinking… “Who wants to go outside when it’s cold, gr...
15/10/2025

Walk & Talk Therapy in Winter? Absolutely.

I know what you might be thinking… “Who wants to go outside when it’s cold, grey, or even a bit damp?”

But here’s the truth: walking outdoors during the darker months can be especially powerful.

Why?

1. Fresh air and movement help lift low moods and combat the winter slump.

2. Natural light, even on cloudy days, supports our body clock and boosts energy.

3. Talking while walking side-by-side often feels easier than sitting face-to-face.

4. It’s a reminder that we can keep moving forward, even in colder, darker seasons.

Yes, it might mean wrapping up warm, a cosy hat, or even bringing a stop at a cafe, but those little acts of care become part of the therapy, too.

So if you’re feeling the weight of winter, walk-and-talk therapy can offer a space to breathe, reflect, and feel lighter, whatever the season brings.

Message me if you’d like to know more or to book a session.

07867 802580

29/09/2025

The things my dad did for me! Thank you for being there for me 🤍

It’s been a while since I posted here. Social media often shows the positive, uplifting side of life… but sometimes, lif...
29/09/2025

It’s been a while since I posted here. Social media often shows the positive, uplifting side of life… but sometimes, life isn’t like that.

Recently, I lost my dad. It’s been painful, and at the same time, life doesn’t pause, there’s still work, family, and the everyday routine that keeps rolling forward. I’m okay, but I won’t pretend it hasn’t been hard.

I know many of you are carrying your own struggles too, whether it’s grief, stress, or just the weight of keeping everything going. Sometimes looking after ourselves and managing daily life can feel like they clash.

If any of this resonates with you, please know you’re not alone. Reach out, talk, or even better, let’s walk it out.

Huge congratulations to one of my wonderful GCSE students on her amazing results today!!!It’s been such a joy to watch h...
21/08/2025

Huge congratulations to one of my wonderful GCSE students on her amazing results today!!!

It’s been such a joy to watch her hard work, positivity, and determination pay off. She has truly shown that effort and resilience go hand in hand when working towards a goal.

What’s even more exciting is that her results have opened up so many doors, so much so that she now has the “good kind of stress” of choosing between higher-level courses and A-levels!

I couldn’t be prouder of the journey she’s taken and the confidence she’s gained along the way. Well done, the future is bright! ☀️

Address

Langport, Somerton
Somerset

Telephone

+447867802580

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