Thrive Wellness and Consulting

28/12/2025

16 days to go!!⚡️
Until upcoming Online Workshop: A Collaborative Approach to PDA, facilitated by the incredible Sandra Dodlen from Thrive.

For a long time, access to understanding, education, and meaningful support around PDA has been limited across our region. That’s why we’re genuinely proud to be offering this workshop, which brings a neurodiversity-affirming and collaborative lens to understanding PDA and the people who live with it every day.

This workshop is suitable for parents and carers, teachers, support workers, allied health professionals, and anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of PDA or has a PDA-er in their life. Sandra brings warmth, experience, and practical insight into what drives PDA, how demands show up in everyday life, and how we can shift our approaches to better support regulation, connection, and wellbeing.

The cost of the workshop is just $15, and you can book your spot by heading to our website:
https://www.thrivewellnessandconsulting.com/pda-online-workshop.html
or by scanning the QR code below.

To support the quality of the session, places may be limited, so please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone who might benefit. We can’t wait to see the impact this workshop has and what it brings to so many people ❤️

28/12/2025

Take the opportunity to seize an appointment with one of these amazing clinicians this week whilst our service is quiet with many people on leave and some clients taking a break from sessions over the coming weeks.
Appointments currently available in Castlemaine, Bendigo, Echuca and online via videoconference or over the phone.

To Book:
- Message our page today
Or
- Call our office tomorrow on 0354823143
Or
- Send us an email at admin@thrivewellnessandconsulting.com
Or
- Head over to our website at www.thrivewellnessandconsulting.com and use our online booking system to book an appointment.

24/12/2025

From our Thrive family to yours, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We would like to take this moment to thank everyone who has been part of our service and our community for 2025 including all of our clients, the other organisations that we work with, those that have provided support to our staff and to all those that have followed our page and liked and shared our posts. By following our social media presence (which is now over 2000 followers🌟) you are helping spread the word about our services and in turn helping others seek the support that they may need.

Remember, this time of the year may not be joyous for everyone so please reach out and look after one another.

We look forward to doing it all again in 2026💛

23/12/2025

Couples don’t usually come to therapy because they’ve “failed”.
They come because they care… and things have started to feel hard, distant, or stuck.

A limited couples therapy special is currently available with Matt, who is trained in using the evidence-based Gottman Method — one of the most well-researched approaches to couples therapy in the world.

The Gottman Method has been around for over 40 years and is backed by decades of research. Drs John and Julie Gottman have studied thousands of couples and can predict relationship outcomes with over 90% accuracy based on observable interaction patterns. This approach focuses on strengthening friendship, improving communication, managing conflict, rebuilding trust, and creating emotional safety, rather than blame or taking sides.

This structured program is designed to provide clarity, direction, and practical tools couples can use in everyday life.

🌟What’s included:🌟
• 10 x 90-minute couples sessions (in person or online)
• 1 individual session for each partner (in person or online)
• A full comprehensive Gottman assessment
• A personalised roadmap identifying relationship strengths and areas for improvement
• Practical, evidence-based strategies to support lasting change

The usual value of this full couples program is $2,580.
With the current 15% special, couples save $387, bringing the total to $2,193.

To make this more manageable, flexible weekly payment options are available. This works out to $156.64 per week over 14 weeks.

This offer is available for a limited time and will close on January 31.
Places are limited to ensure quality care.

For couples wanting to reconnect, communicate more effectively, and strengthen their relationship in a meaningful way, this program can offer a clear and supported path forward.

To enquire or book, send a message or get in touch with us directly.

21/12/2025

Happy birthday Jess 🎉💛
We’re so grateful to have you as part of the Thrive clinical team. Your calm, nurturing presence and compassionate way of working creates such a safe space for clients to explore, heal and grow. The care you bring to children and families, and the way you tailor support to each individual, really reflects who you are as a person.
We hope today brings you plenty of moments to slow down, connect with the people you love, and enjoy the little things that bring you joy and peace🌿

21/12/2025

The holidays can look joyful on the outside 🎄✨… and feel completely overwhelming on the inside.

For many neurodivergent people, this time of year can bring intense overstimulation. Crowded homes, loud conversations, constant socialising, bright lights, disrupted routines, unfamiliar foods, expectations to “join in,” and very little quiet time can push already stretched nervous systems into overload 🧠💭

Overstimulation isn’t being difficult, rude, or ungrateful. It’s a nervous system doing its best in an environment that’s asking too much ❤️

If the holidays feel hard for you or someone you love, a few small adjustments and clear boundaries can make a real difference.

Some supportive strategies that may help:
•Take regular sensory breaks 🌿 even if it’s stepping outside, sitting in a quiet room, or using noise-cancelling headphones.
• Reduce sensory input where possible, such as dimming lights or limiting background noise 🔕
• Keep familiar routines where you can, including meals, sleep, and downtime 🛏️
• Give yourself permission to arrive later or leave early ⏰
• Plan decompression time before and after social events 🧘‍♂️

Healthy boundaries are especially important during the holidays. Boundaries aren’t about being unkind, they’re about protecting your wellbeing 🛑💛

Examples of boundaries that are okay to set: • Letting people know you don’t want hugs or physical touch, and preferring a wave or verbal greeting instead 👋
• Saying you’ll join for part of an event, but not the whole day
• Choosing not to attend certain gatherings if they feel too overwhelming
• Asking for quieter spaces, fewer people at once, or regular breaks
• Letting others know you may need time alone to reset 🔄

You don’t owe anyone access to your body, your time, or your energy. Clear, respectful boundaries support safer, calmer connections for everyone involved ✨

If you’re supporting a neurodivergent person, flexibility, understanding, and listening can make all the difference 🤝 Believing someone when they say they’re overwhelmed and working with them rather than pushing through can help create safer, more inclusive holiday spaces.

The holidays don’t have to look a certain way to be meaningful. Supporting your nervous system isn’t selfish... it’s necessary 💙

20/12/2025

Just letting everyone know that our Bendigo and Echuca offices will be closed only on the public holidays this Christmas/New Year period:
Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Years Day.
The majority of our staff are taking this opportunity to rest and re-energise for the coming year. If you have made an appointment with a staff member of ours during this time, please liaise with them directly about any arrangements.

During this holiday break, if you need supports please contact the helplines listed in the image below. They are all open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

We will return all calls and emails as soon as possible once we return.🌿

18/12/2025

IMPORTANT‼️ Please read & share🙏
(We know it's a lot but this is something the community needs to know)

The holidays are often described as “the happiest time of the year”… but for many people, they can also be one of the most dangerous.

As we move into the festive season, it’s important to acknowledge something that often goes unseen.

Across Australia, family and domestic violence is known to increase at this time of year. Police and support services consistently report higher rates of call-outs over Christmas and New Year. In some states, domestic-violence–related incidents on Christmas Day have been recorded at around 30–40% higher than an average day, and emergency services regularly describe this period as one of their busiest for family violence responses.

This increase is often linked to factors such as financial pressure, increased alcohol use, heat, disrupted routines, and families spending more time together in already unsafe situations. For people living with violence or coercive control, the holidays can heighten risk rather than bring relief.

Family and domestic violence can include physical harm, emotional or psychological abuse, financial control, sexual violence, threats, intimidation, and patterns of control. It affects people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds, and it is never acceptable.

If you or someone you care about feels unsafe, having a safety plan can help. A safety plan is about thinking ahead and knowing what you can do if things escalate. This might include identifying trusted people you can contact, safe places you could go, keeping important documents and phone numbers accessible, and planning how to get help quickly if needed.

Some important supports to know about: If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is available 24/7 for confidential counselling, support, and help with safety planning.
Local family and domestic violence services can provide support with safety planning, legal information, accommodation, and ongoing care.
If you’re worried about someone else, checking in, listening without judgement, and helping them connect with support can make a real difference.

Family and domestic violence doesn’t take a break over the holidays. If this time of year feels unsafe or overwhelming for you or someone you love, please know support is available. Sharing information like this can help someone in your community find safety.

17/12/2025

Please everyone stay cool and hydrated over coming days. If you do not have access to air conditioning please let us know as we may have a spare clinical space at one of our clinics that you can come and spend some time in for reprieve.

It’s going to be a scorcher this week! ☀️

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a severe heatwave warning for our region over the coming days.

Make sure you have a plan to keep cool, check in with others, stay hydrated, and keep an eye on weather forecasts.

🔗 Emergency Dashboard: https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au/emergency

🔗 BoM heatwave warning: https://www.bom.gov.au/warning/heatwave-warning/IDV21013

🔗 Extreme heat tips: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/how-to-cope-and-stay-safe-in-extreme-heat

17/12/2025

Helpful tips to support others who have lost loved ones – a Christmas and holiday reminder

Do you know someone who has lost a loved one❓ Maybe they have lost a mother, father, husband, wife, grandparent, partner, child, friend, neighbour or pet.

Christmas can be a difficult time for someone that has lost a loved one. The stress of the holiday season paired with the special occasions and reminders can exacerbate grief and loss difficulties. It may be the presents that are not purchased 🎁, the table that isn’t set for someone, the Christmas card they haven’t written or received ✉️, the house they are not visiting and so on.

But what can you do to help someone you care about to get through this holiday season❓

It can begin with something as simple as just being present. Just being there for them is the biggest gift you can give them this Christmas.

Some ideas could be:
🔵 Acknowledge their feelings.
🔵 Let them be heard and just listen.
🔵 Sit with them in silence.
🔵Give them a hug or just sit beside them.
🔵 Drop in for coffee.
🔵 Message them to ask how they are doing.

Don’t be afraid to use their loved one's name in the fear you will make them sad 🗣. Using their name doesn’t cause pain, it validates their pain and their loss. It lets them know you are thinking of them and that you are willing to sit in the uncomfortable space they are in. Remember, grief is a natural extension of love.❤️

🔴 I would love to hear stories about [say the name of the loved ones]?
🔴 I'm thinking of you, I know Christmas is especially hard for you without [your loved one's name].

Reach out, a simple message to let them know you are thinking of them.
🔵 I'm thinking of you
🔵 How can I help?
🔵 How are you doing today?
🔵 Can I come to visit? Coffee and cake work well here.

Be patient, social gatherings can be hard, but try and involve them where they are comfortable.
Be proactive, consider practical support, the little things can really help.
🔴 Cooking a meal
🔴 Helping with chores
🛒 Help with shopping
🔴 Help decorate the Christmas tree
🐶 Walking the dog
🔴 Invite them to your Christmas celebrations

Remember, support is different than fixing. Support provides comfort, it lets them know they are not alone.

Acknowledging, recognising and allowing their grief, lightens the burden.

✳️The best present this Christmas is your presence.

16/12/2025

Have you ever been curious about what happens in equine-assisted therapy?🐎
In the latest Matt & Dale Podcast episode, Jess from Thrive takes us into her world as an equine-assisted therapist and explains how people can feel calmer, clearer, and more connected after building a relationship with these sentient animals.🌿
The way Jess talks about the relationship between humans and horses is seriously beautiful.💛
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or curious about trying something different, this episode could give you a real taste.

Full episode here:
https://youtu.be/FWceZaVRQeY?si=gZcLWTsjXFgKPJnw

To book in with Jess🐎
Jessica Daniel - Thrive Wellness and Consulting https://share.google/orA7k8y3nX7EBcAJu

15/12/2025

Our thoughts and deepest sympathy is extended to everyone impacted by the tragedy in Bondi last night. To those that lost their lives, to those that were present, to the families and friends of these people, to the first responders, to everyone - we are thinking of you. So much trauma and sadness.

Our thoughts also go out to everyone indirectly impacted by this tragedy by hearing of the news, seeing the footage and maybe even as a result, reliving their own trauma's at that they have previously experienced.

We know that the mental health impacts of this tragedy, like all others, will be long lasting and far reaching. At this time, many will be wanting to find answers, connect with information about the story to try and make sense of it and maybe even to connect with others who are talking about it and sharing their views. However, please be mindful that there may be extremely horrific videos out there and that in the midst of all the news releases and video uploads is an immense about of trauma and pain. Please consider limiting exposure to distressing media coverage, speak with children about age appropriate information related to the event if needed and connect with one another where possible. Check in on loved ones and those who have experienced past trauma and reach out for supports yourself if you would like someone to talk to.

If you would like information on how to support children through this time including acknowledging their awareness and helpful tips of tailoring conversations to the child's age or development then please reach out.

We also have therapy and counselling appointments currently available every day this week so if you or a loved one needs supports please do not hesitate to contact us.

should we be afraid or made to feel unsafe in public.