ABC Children & Young People’s Therapy: Specialist Neurodivergent Support

05/01/2026

Just a quick note for clients 😊

Amanda is currently away and will be returning on Friday 9th January. Once she is back, she will be in touch to organise sessions and respond to messages.

Ellie and Anna are already back and running sessions as usual, so please feel free to contact them directly if you’re booked in with them.

Thank you so much for your patience 💛

24/12/2025

24/12/2025

This…

20/12/2025

Another great video explaining how to help children who are experience negative self talk.

19/12/2025

Reflection matters – in therapy and in parenting 💬

In therapy, reflection helps people feel heard and understood. But it’s just as powerful in everyday life and parenting.

Try this: next time you’re talking, ask the other person to reflect back what you’ve said (in their own words). Then pause and notice how it feels.

Did it feel like they really listened?
Did it help you slow down, process, or think more clearly?

Being reflected back can calm emotions, organise thoughts, and build connection – for adults and children alike.

13/12/2025

These videos are great and demonstrate the healing power of play therapy ❤️

11/12/2025

What’s happening at Mossbourne isn’t an isolated case – it’s a predictable outcome of an education system that’s been shaped for decades by high-stakes targets. Ever since the 1988 Education Reform Act, schools have been incentivised to prioritise performance metrics over pupil wellbeing. When a school’s funding, reputation and survival depend on numbers, some institutions inevitably resort to unscrupulous methods to secure them.

So it’s no surprise that environments emerge where rigid behaviour systems, public humiliation, shouting, and intimidation are justified in the name of “high standards”. And it’s always the most vulnerable pupils who pay the greatest price.

The safeguarding review makes it clear: yes, Mossbourne achieved impressive Progress 8 scores – but at too high a cost for some pupils. That’s the real story. Children aren’t data points, and “success” built on disregarding their emotional safety is not success at all.

What we’re seeing now is not a one-off outlier, but the long-term consequence of policy decisions that placed competition above care. Until we address the system that rewards this behaviour, we’ll continue seeing schools that look outstanding on paper while pupils’ mental health quietly deteriorates behind the scenes.

Review details 'isolating, shaming' practices at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy

01/12/2025

This is so true—whether we’re talking about traditional play therapy or video-gaming-based therapy. The fantastic therapist at Redwood has inspired many of my videos (with permission, of course) and continues to show how the therapeutic process creates safety, connection, and genuine opportunities for healing.

01/12/2025

Stopping a preferred activity is incredibly hard for many children, especially those who are overwhelmed or neurodivergent.
Timers and explanations don’t work because dysregulation isn’t logical — it’s emotional.
A gentle boundary (empathy → instruction → calm repetition) supports safety, predictability, and co-regulation.
The first use may take ten or more repeats, but it gets easier each time as the child feels more secure.

25/11/2025

Wizardkeen is a popular YouTuber, who’s also been involved in producing ‘Reflect World’ for Minecraft Education an emotional and wellness world for classrooms. But this is my favourite video.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

24/11/2025

I’ve always admired the Finnish education system - but it’s frustrating how quickly some educators reduce its success to “respectful families.” A little critical thinking shows it’s far more complex. Finland’s outcomes are rooted in a nurturing social structure, genuine community values, and proper investment in children, families and public services. It isn’t about ‘better parenting’; it’s about better resourcing.

Finland’s education system is a remarkable example of quality over quantity. Children attend school for only 4–5 hours per day, enjoy less homework, and have ample playtime, yet consistently rank at the top globally in learning outcomes.
The key lies in highly trained teachers, personalized learning, and emphasis on well-being. Shorter school days reduce stress, foster curiosity, and allow students to develop social and emotional skills alongside academics. Finland proves that effective learning doesn’t require long hours — it requires thoughtful pedagogy and nurturing environments.
This approach challenges traditional education norms worldwide, showing that student-centered learning and balance can produce both happiness and academic excellence.