Safe Counselling Australia- Candise Adams

10/03/2026

🎨 Art Therapy for Children – Creating Space for Expression
Children don’t always have the words to explain how they feel but they often show us through creativity. Art therapy gives children a safe and supportive way to explore their emotions using drawing, painting, crafts, and imaginative play.
Through creative activities, children can express feelings such as worry, sadness, excitement, or confusion in a way that feels natural and pressure-free. A trained therapist gently guides the process, helping children make sense of their emotions, build confidence, and develop healthy coping skills.
Art therapy can support children who may be experiencing:
✨ Anxiety or big emotions
✨ Changes at home or school
✨ Social or behavioural challenges
✨ Grief or difficult experiences
✨ Low confidence or trouble expressing feelings
The focus isn’t on creating a “perfect” artwork it’s about the process, the story behind the art, and giving children a voice when words are hard to find.
At Safe Counselling Australia, we use creative, child-friendly approaches to help young people feel safe, understood, and empowered.
Because sometimes a sticker, a drawing, or a splash of colour can say more than words ever could. 💛

25/02/2026

Did you know we can come to your school to deliver a Protective Behaviours Parents and or Teachers Program?
🌟 We’ve received many messages and emails from parents, teachers, and carers requesting Protective Behaviours training on site- Yes we can come to you.

🌟 This certified training can be delivered directly at your school or community setting.

What is Protective Behaviours (PB)?
Protective Behaviours is an evidence-informed framework that helps children and young people develop personal safety skills, emotional literacy, and the confidence to speak up. It teaches that everyone has the right to feel safe all the time, and that it’s okay to ask for help when something doesn’t feel right.

🌟 In this training you will:
-Learn practical tools to help children use their voice and set boundaries
-Understand why Protective Behaviours is so important in today’s world
-Explore the 10 core topics of Protective Behaviours, including feelings, early warning signs, safe and unsafe situations, trusted networks, and problem-solving strategies
-Gain age-appropriate language and strategies you can confidently use at home or in the classroom
-Learn how to respond calmly and supportively when a child discloses a concern

🌟This program is ideal for parents, carers, and educators who want to proactively support children’s safety, resilience, and wellbeing in a respectful, empowering way.

Reach out to us to book your space.

21/02/2026

This is why Roblox is not safe. Even with all the parental controls.
Please really consider the apps you’re allowing your children to play online.

eSafety Commissioner

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AnrFXpTpZ/?mibextid=UalRPS

18/02/2026

Have you ever asked your kids “How was your day?” and got back “Good,” “Okay,” or just a shrug?

You’re not alone and here’s why.

“How was your day?” is a closed question, so it usually leads to a one word answer. But what we really want is connection and conversation.
Try switching it up with questions like:
✨ What was the funniest thing that happened today?
✨ What made you laugh today?
✨ What was the hardest part of your day?
✨ Who did you spend time with?
✨ What’s something kind you did or saw today?
These open ended questions invite longer answers and help children share their thoughts and feelings more easily.

18/02/2026

As school goes back here is a great reminder for all kids that struggle at school. You will find something you love and you will excel! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. School is not a one size fits all!

13/02/2026

Please don’t ever let your children go to the toilet on their own. Even if you stand outside unfortunately it still may not be safe enough.

10/02/2026

Please monitor your child’s usage of Roblox. It is one platform I strongly encourage that your children do not use.

We’ve notified Roblox of our intention to directly test the safety commitments they made last year amid growing concerns regarding child grooming and sexual exploitation risks.

Following engagement with us at a senior level in 2025, Roblox made 9 commitments to support compliance with its obligation to keep Australians – particularly children – safer on their platform.

Roblox informed us at the end of 2025 that it had delivered on its commitments which included:
🛡️ making accounts for users aged under 16 private by default
🛡️ introducing tools to prevent adult users from contacting under 16s without parental consent
🛡️ switching off key features by default for Australian kids like direct chat and ‘experience chat’ until the user has gone through age estimation
🛡️ voice chat will not be allowed between adults and 13–15-year-olds, in addition to the current prohibition on the use of this feature by under 13s.

We’ve been monitoring the delivery of these commitments alongside our broader assessment of the service and any new features it implements.

Subject to the outcome of this assessment and testing, we may take further action under the Online Safety Act.

Penalties for failing to comply with the Act, include seeking penalties of up to $49.5 million.

New codes focused on age-restricted material such as online po*******hy, high impact violence and self-harm come into force on 9 March and apply to Roblox.

These also contain requirements for online gaming services to prohibit and take proportionate action against non-consensual sharing of intimate images, the grooming of children and sexual extortion.

For information about Roblox and key safety links, see The eSafety Guide: https://news.esafety.gov.au/4nrffAc

08/02/2026

With the cost of living continuing to rise, many couples are finding themselves in a tough position separated, but still living under the same roof.

Whether by necessity or choice, this situation can bring up complex emotional, practical, and relationship challenges.

Our latest article explores what “separation under the same roof” really looks like, why it’s becoming more common, and how couples and families can navigate this phase with clarity and support.

Read the full article here:
https://www.safecounselling.com.au/post/together-apart-when-the-cost-of-living-forces-couples-to-stay-under-one-roof

Across Australia, the cost-of-living crisis and housing shortage have quietly reshaped intimate relationships. For many couples, separation is no longer a straightforward emotional decision it’s a financial impossibility. Increasingly, people find themselves emotionally separated but physically co...

28/01/2026

School Refusal: when going back to school feels impossible

As school returns, many families are quietly struggling with school refusal.

School refusal isn’t “naughtiness”, laziness, or bad parenting. It’s a stress response and it can be heartbreaking for both the child and the parent.

What school refusal can look like:
• Big emotions before school (panic, tears, anger, shutdown)
• Physical symptoms (tummy aches, headaches, nausea)
• Difficulty sleeping before school days
• Clinging, refusal to get dressed, or running away/hiding
• A child who wants to do well, but feels completely overwhelmed

For children, school can feel unsafe, unpredictable, or too much for their nervous system.

For parents, it can feel exhausting, isolating, guilt-filled, and frightening especially when you’re trying everything and nothing seems to work.

💔 Many parents tell us:
“I don’t know whether to push or protect.”
“I’m scared of making it worse.”
“No one understands how hard this is.”

You are not alone and you are not failing your child.

Some gentle, supportive strategies that can help:
❤️Focus on connection before correction
❤️Stay calm and regulated your nervous system helps settle theirs
❤️Validate feelings without reinforcing fear (“I can see this is really hard”)
❤️Break mornings into small, manageable steps
❤️Work with the school to reduce pressure and expectations where possible
❤️Seek support early school refusal is easier to address when caught early

School refusal is a signal not a behaviour problem.
With the right support, children can return to learning and confidence at their own pace.

If this sounds like your family, support is available,
Contact Candise on 0417457357 appointments are available.

28/01/2026

Child safety must always come first.

The recent guilty plea of 33 year old teacher Naomi Tekea Craig, who admitted to an illegitimate sexual relationship with a student, is a confronting reminder that child sexual abuse can occur in trusted environments.

At Safe Counselling Australia, we work to educate children, families, and communities about Protective Behaviours, boundaries, and recognising grooming so children are safer and adults are better equipped to act.

Protecting children is a shared responsibility. If something doesn’t feel right, speak up, tell someone and make sure you’re being heard.
As a parent, adult, carer, teacher, family member, friend or a safe adult to a child, If that child comes to you with their voice shaking. Listen to what they say. Tell them you are hearing them and alert the authorities.

If you or someone you know needs support, help is available.

10/01/2026

It’s been exactly one month since the under-16s ban came into place in Western Australia. So what’s actually happening? How are young people responding—and what are adults noticing? Here is an article from my perspective as a Counsellor of what I have noticed.
🎮When A Safety Rule Becomes a game 🎮

Roger Cook Amber-Jade Sanderson

It’s been exactly one month since the under-16s ban came into place in Western Australia. So what’s actually happening? How are young people responding—and what are adults noticing? Here is an article that I have written on what i have noticed as a Counsellor.

09/01/2026

8 years ago I took a leap of faith and opened up Safe Counselling Australia! Thank you to everyone who has supported us through the years. Your support means that I get to keep doing what I love- and that’s helping others through their own journey! 💖