Nourish Play Therapy

08/12/2025

Executive dysfunction isn’t laziness — it’s when the brain’s “manager” struggles to plan, organise, and follow through. Recognising the traits is the first step to understanding and support.

Typically associated with dyslexia, ADHD and autism.

Introducing the After School Restraint Collapse Toolkit for Parents & Educators
Electronic download available via link in comments.
An executive function checklist is included in this pack.

08/12/2025

08/12/2025

Why December Feels Big for Many Children
December brings a shift in rhythm. Normal routines change, school days look different, and the build-up to the holidays can feel like a lot to hold. Even small changes in schedule can unsettle a young person who relies on predictability to feel safe.

Mounting Sensory Triggers
Lights, music, decorations, crowds, smells — December is a sensory rollercoaster. For some children, this creates excitement. For others, especially those who are already carrying a full emotional load, it can tip them into overwhelm. Their behaviour may change long before adults can see the reason.

Excitement and Anxiety Can Look the Same
A child who seems “over-excited” may actually be anxious or unsure. Big events, visitors, end-of-term assemblies, and social expectations all place extra demands on their nervous system. What looks like silliness, clinginess or irritability is often dysregulation in disguise.

When Emotional Capacity Shrinks
Sleep can be disrupted, their usual coping tools may falter, and transitions become harder. December often reduces a child’s capacity to tolerate frustration, leading to more meltdowns, refusals, or emotional shutdowns. Their behaviour isn’t defiance — it’s communication.

What Helps Adults Support Them
Slowing down where you can, offering extra co-regulation, and keeping expectations gentle can make a meaningful difference. Predictable pockets of calm, visual schedules, sensory breaks, and early empathy help a child feel anchored when everything around them feels more intense.

You’re Not Imagining It — December Is a Lot
If your child seems more emotional, reactive, or sensitive right now, you’re not alone. December triggers are real, common, and human. Understanding them is the first step to responding with connection rather than frustration.

04/12/2025

04/12/2025

So many parents tell me, “They know they need to turn it off… so why is it still so hard?”
The truth is: it’s not a behaviour issue — it’s a brain issue.

Young people aren’t getting “addicted to screens”.
They’re getting caught in a dopamine loop their developing brain isn’t built to manage alone.

This visual breaks down what’s really happening inside the brain — and why switching off can feel almost impossible in the moment.

Save this for later, and let me know which part stands out for you.

If you didn't catch the original screen-dopamine cycle post a link is below ⬇️

04/12/2025

When behaviour makes more sense through a dopamine lens
So many challenges we see — screen battles, difficulty starting tasks, emotional swings, hyperfocus, burnout — make far more sense when we understand how dopamine works differently in neurodivergent brains. This isn’t attitude. It’s chemistry.

When the dopamine gap shows up in daily life
ADHD brains often have lower baseline dopamine and fewer receptors. Autistic brains can process reward differently, favouring deep interests over novelty. These differences shape motivation, focus and self-regulation long before behaviour ever enters the picture.

When screens meet a biological need
Screens provide rapid, reliable dopamine loops — clear goals, instant feedback, predictable rewards. For many neurodivergent young people, that means regulation, not 'addiction'. It’s why transitions feel so intense, and why understanding the why changes how we respond.

When we need to look beyond willpower
Task-shifting, motivation, transitions, emotional regulation — these all rely on dopamine pathways. Neurodivergent children aren’t choosing to struggle. Their brains are working harder to do what comes instinctively to others.

When knowledge reduces conflict
This visual breaks down the dopamine science simply and compassionately, helping families move from frustration to understanding. If screens are a daily battle, this is the missing piece that helps everything make sense.

Earlier today I shared ADHD & Screens and Autism & Screens, each explaining how dopamine, sensory needs and executive function shape screen engagement. Have a look — together, they paint the full neurodivergent picture.

04/12/2025

04/12/2025

Sometimes tics get bigger in moments that are meant to feel good. Birthdays. Trips. Days out. Fun plans.
And that can feel confusing.

Excitement wakes up the same parts of the nervous system that stress does.
Your body is buzzing, alert, ready.
That extra energy can push tic urges forward.

It does not mean something is wrong.
It does not mean you should avoid the things you love.
It just means your nervous system is responding with intensity.

A little awareness goes a long way.
Plan small regulation breaks.
Drink water. Slow your breathing.
Give your body space to settle.

Excitement and tics can coexist.
You’re allowed joy, even when your body joins in loudly.

03/12/2025

Is your child “screen addicted”… or is something else happening underneath?
Here’s the checklist every parent should see — and the part that matters most:

WHAT THIS CHECKLIST MEANS
If you’re nodding along, your child probably isn’t “addicted”.
They’re dysregulated. Overwhelmed. Seeking stimulation because it feels easier than slowing down.
What they need most is support, co-regulation and realistic boundaries — not shame or fear.

Please comment Screen for our free information sheet.

01/12/2025

Here at PESI, we often find ourselves reflecting on how powerful the work of a therapist truly is.

As therapists, it can be too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day. The never ending phone calls, emails, and referrals can sometimes feel like a revolving door. And since the change we make is often in small, almost immeasurable moments, we can sometimes forget how powerful a healthy, attuned, relationship really is.

Whether you work with children, teens, adults, or couples, the therapeutic relationship that you so carefully craft DOES make huge changes in the lives of those who enter your office. Thank you from all of us here at PESI for showing up every day and putting in the work to make our world a better place. 🫶

28/11/2025

Some days feel steady.
Some days feel full of tic urges.
Some days fall somewhere in between.

None of these days mean you’re going backwards.

Tics naturally rise and fall.
Your energy changes.
Your stress changes.
Your hormones, sleep, routine, and environment change.

Progress is not about having fewer tic days.
It’s about understanding your body more deeply.
Noticing patterns.
Using your tools.
Showing yourself patience when it’s messy.

You’re not starting over.
You’re growing through every part of your journey.