http://Www.safebasepsychology.co.uk/

Safe Base Psychology, Sheffield (2025)

07/11/2025

I’ve spent the last few days learning all about “blue light spotting” 🚓🚒🚑 (yes, it’s a thing!) to connect with a young person who can be really hard to reach. Instead of trying to draw them into my world, I took a step into theirs. The result? Connection, conversation, and shared smiles. And today, as their incentive and something meaningful for them, I stopped a fire officer in Morrisons and arranged a visit to the fire station after our session. Their excitement says everything. 🔥

One of the most meaningful ways to engage with autistic children is by exploring and valuing their special interests. These interests, whether it’s trains, animals, gaming, space, numbers, or a TV character, are not “obsessions” or something to be discouraged. They are powerful bridges to communication, learning, and emotional connection.

When we step into their world and show genuine curiosity and respect for what they love, something really special happens:

✨ The child feels seen, understood, and accepted.
✨ Trust and connection grow naturally.
✨ Communication becomes easier and more joyful.
✨ Their interests become pathways to learning and shared experiences.

Special interests are not distractions from development, they are gateways to it. 💛

It’s these moments—led by their interests—where relationships truly grow. 🌈

So next time you want to connect, start with what they love. Sit beside them. Notice what matters to them. The connection will follow. 💙

13/10/2025

I have met some amazing families providing autism assessments. I always feel deeply honoured to walk alongside families on their autism assessment journeys.

Each story shared, each moment of insight, and each connection reminds me why compassionate, authentic, and supportive practice matters so much.

As a psychologist, I aim to ensure that every assessment honours the child’s individuality, celebrates neurodiversity, and empowers families to feel seen, heard, and valued.

Receiving such kind feedback last week (pictured) is a reminder that gentle curiosity and respect can make a real difference.

13/10/2025

Over the last 6 weeks I have met some amazing families providing autism assessments. I always feel deeply honoured to walk alongside families on their autism assessment journeys.

Each story shared, each moment of insight, and each connection reminds me why compassionate, authentic, and supportive practice matters so much.

As a psychologist, I aim to ensure that every assessment honours the child’s individuality, celebrates neurodiversity, and empowers families to feel seen, heard, and valued.

Receiving such kind feedback last week (pictured) is a reminder that gentle curiosity and respect can make a real difference.

06/10/2025

😴 Sleep, Mood & Resilience — They’re More Connected Than You Think! 🌙

As a psychologist, I often see how sleep plays a huge role in how we feel, think, and cope. 🧠💭

When we’re well-rested, our brains process emotions more effectively, helping us regulate mood and respond to stress with perspective and patience. But when sleep is disrupted, the emotional part of the brain (the amygdala) becomes overactive, meaning we can feel more anxious, irritable, or low.

🧩 Focus & Decision-Making:
Lack of sleep impacts attention, memory, and problem-solving, making it harder to concentrate or stay motivated.

💪 Resilience:
Sleep is like emotional “recovery time.” It’s when the brain repairs, restores, and resets — helping us bounce back from challenges and keep things in balance.

✨ A few small steps can make a big difference:
🌿 Keep a consistent sleep routine
📵 Switch off screens 30–60 mins before bed
🕯️ Create a calm bedtime environment
💭 Try gentle mindfulness or relaxation before sleep

29/09/2025

🌱 Stage-Based Anxiety in Children: A Parent’s Guide

Anxiety is a normal part of growing up. Children’s worries change as they develop, and most fears are part of healthy growth. Knowing what to expect and how to support your child can make all the difference. 💛

👶 Infancy (0–2 years)�It’s common for babies and toddlers to cry when separated from parents or caregivers. This “separation anxiety” shows their growing awareness of the world.�✨ How to help: Create predictable routines, use short goodbyes, and reassure them with a calm return.

👧 Early Childhood (3–6 years)�At this stage, children may fear the dark, monsters, loud noises, strangers, or non-family members. Their imagination is vivid, and they’re learning what feels safe or unfamiliar.�✨ How to help: Acknowledge their fears instead of dismissing them (“I know the dark feels scary”), use night lights, practice “pretend bravery” games, and gently model safe interactions with new people.

🧒 Middle Childhood (7–11 years)�Worries become more realistic about school, friendships, media-based fears or safety. Kids start comparing themselves with others and may feel pressure to “fit in.” They also start to hear about world news and consider their safety within that wider space. �✨ How to help: Encourage open conversations, break big worries into smaller steps, praise effort (not just results), and practice calming skills like deep breathing.

🧑 Adolescence (12+ years)�Teens may feel anxious about friendships, body image, school performance, and global issues. Their ability to think about the future can fuel worries.�✨ How to help: Listen without judgment, validate their feelings, encourage problem-solving, and support healthy routines (sleep, exercise, downtime).

🌟 When to Seek Extra Support�If fears are intense, long-lasting, or stop your child from enjoying daily life (like refusing school, withdrawing from friends, or frequent tummy aches), it may be time to seek professional help.

At Safe Base Psychology we can support you to support your child or work directly with your child.

22/09/2025

🌈The ups and downs of emotional wellbeing

Some days we feel steady. Other days, we feel pulled in different directions — hopeful, frustrated, tired,, curious, sad, joyful… all at once. And that? That’s okay.

Emotional wellbeing isn’t about staying at “happy all the time.” It’s more like a landscape. Hills. Valleys. Sometimes fog. Sometimes sunshine breaking through. What matters is that we learn to move through it, notice it, meet ourselves where we are.

What matters is that we learn to move through it, notice it, and meet ourselves where we are.

✨ Gentle reminders for a “valley” day:
• 🛑 You don’t have to fix it. Feelings aren’t always problems to solve. Letting them be can be healing.
• 🍵 What small thing might help today? A walk 🚶, a cup of tea ☕, listening to a song you love 🎶. These small acts matter.
• 🤝 Reach out if you can. Sometimes just sharing how you feel can lighten the load.
• 💙 Be kind to yourself. We often expect resilience, consistency, positivity—but we’re human. Compassion matters more than perfection.

🌄 If you’re in a “peak,” day enjoy it.
🌧️ If you’re in a low, it won’t stay forever.
🌈 If you’re somewhere in between, uncertain, mixed, stuck, that’s part of the story, too.

You’re not alone in this. You’re not broken. You’re just being human 💙

——
Safe Base Psychology

18/09/2025

✨ Choosing the Right Therapist – Part 3: Types of Therapy ✨

So, you’ve searched therapy databases, looked at websites, and thought about what type of therapist might be best for you… but now you’re faced with a maze of acronyms and approaches! 🤯

Let’s take a look at some of the main types of therapy you might come across and what they mean:

🌱 Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Psychodynamic psychotherapy helps individuals explore how past experiences and relationships influence current thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. By understanding these unconscious patterns, individuals can develop healthier ways of responding and experience personal growth.
🧠 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) CBT is a structured, practical therapy that focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and behaviours. It helps individuals develop healthier thinking habits and coping strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and depression.
💫 Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) ACT encourages individuals to accept difficult emotions while living in alignment with their core values. This therapy combines mindfulness techniques with a commitment to making value-driven choices, fostering a deeper sense of purpose and resilience.
🔄 Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) CAT helps individuals recognise and change repeating patterns in relationships. By identifying unconscious relational dynamics, this therapy provides the tools to break free from unhealthy patterns and cultivate more fulfilling, authentic connections.
💖 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) DBT equips individuals with skills to manage intense emotions and improve interpersonal relationships. Through mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance techniques, DBT helps create a more balanced and emotionally resilient life.
💡 EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps individuals process distressing memories. By reprocessing these memories, it reduces their emotional impact and supports recovery, allowing for greater emotional healing and growth.

17/09/2025

✨ Choosing the right therapist: part 2 ✨

Finding the right support can feel confusing, so here’s a quick breakdown of common therapist roles:

🔹 Counsellor
Helps with specific issues like stress, relationships, or grief.
Often short-to-medium term and more present-focused.

🔹 Psychotherapist
Supports with deeper-rooted issues such as trauma or long-term struggles.
Usually longer-term, exploring both what’s happening and why.

➡️ In practice, “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are often used interchangeably. These titles aren’t legally protected in the UK, but many professionals choose to register with the BACP or UKCP.

🔹 Psychologist
HCPC-registered psychologists complete doctoral-level training.
Protected titles include Clinical, Counselling, Educational, and Forensic Psychologist.
They can support with complex mental health needs and often draw on a range of approaches.

💡 The “right fit” depends on your goals, your needs, and the connection you feel with your therapist.

💙 Reaching out is a powerful first step. Most therapists offer an initial chat so you can ask about their approach and see if it feels right. At Safe Base Psychology, we’re always happy to discuss how we can support you on your journey.

16/09/2025

✨ Choosing the right therapist: part 2 ✨

Finding the right support can feel confusing, so here’s a quick breakdown of common therapist roles:

🔹 Counsellor
Helps with specific issues like stress, relationships, or grief.
Often short-to-medium term and more present-focused.

🔹 Psychotherapist
Supports with deeper-rooted issues such as trauma or long-term struggles.
Usually longer-term, exploring both what’s happening and why.

➡️ In practice, “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are often used interchangeably. These titles aren’t legally protected in the UK, but many professionals choose to register with the BACP or UKCP.

🔹 Psychologist
HCPC-registered psychologists complete doctoral-level training.
Protected titles include Clinical, Counselling, Educational, and Forensic Psychologist.
They can support with complex mental health needs and often draw on a range of approaches.

💡 The “right fit” depends on your goals, your needs, and the connection you feel with your therapist.

💙 Reaching out is a powerful first step. Most therapists offer an initial chat so you can ask about their approach and see if it feels right.

📞At Safe Base Psychology, we’re always happy to discuss how we can support you on your journey.

13/09/2025

Sorting out and cleaning some therapy resources after a busy week…check out this weeks game choices…. Dobble, Shut the box and Pass the pigs! Which would your inner child choose??

I usually start my sessions with a choice of a game….this isn’t just “fun”—it’s powerful 💪

When working with children and young people in assessments or therapy, beginning with a simple game can:
🎲 Break the ice and reduce anxiety
🎲 Build trust and strengthen the therapeutic relationship
🎲 Give children a safe way to express themselves
🎲 Boost engagement, focus, and motivation for the session
🎲 Offer insights into social, emotional, and cognitive skills

Play creates connection. Connection opens the door to progress. 💡

👉 Whether it’s a quick card game, a puzzle, or a playful activity, these moments of joy can set the tone for meaningful work ahead.

11/09/2025

🌟 The Power of the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique 🌟

Recently, two of my friends — both amazing mums to high-energy, high-feeling children — reminded me just how powerful this simple grounding technique can be.

On a tricky day during the summer holidays, it helped everyone pause, breathe, and reset. Such a great reminder for me — and one I wanted to share with you. 💙

If you haven’t tried it, here’s how it works:

1️⃣ Notice 5 things you can see
2️⃣ Notice 4 things you can touch
3️⃣ Notice 3 things you can hear
4️⃣ Notice 2 things you can smell
5️⃣ Notice 1 thing you can taste

It’s quick, practical, and works anywhere — at home, at school, or even on a busy walk. A simple way to calm the nervous system and bring yourself (and your kids!) back to the present moment.

💭 I’d love to know — have you tried this before? How did it work for you?

Safe Base Psychology

07/11/2025

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