Bethany Black, LPC, CPT

11/15/2025

Our final post in today’s series exploring the five Protective Responses — Fight, Flight, Freeze, Flop, and Fawn — looks at the Fawn Response.

Fawn is when safety depends on keeping others happy.
It can look like quick apologies, people-pleasing, or trying to soothe others — even while struggling inside. This isn’t confidence or maturity; it’s survival through appeasement.

The nervous system learns that harmony equals safety. But over time, this can lead to exhaustion, low self-worth, and difficulty expressing needs.

Understanding fawn helps us reassure children that they are safe to say no, to have feelings, and to be themselves — even when others are not okay.

Comment PROTECT if you would like this series made available in our Resource Store with printer friendly duplicates.

For practical tools to recognise and support these responses in real time, see our Timeline of a Meltdown visual — printer-friendly A4 portrait and landscape versions available via Linktree Shop in Bio ⬇️

11/11/2025

11/11/2025

Children borrow our calm before they learn to create their own. That’s why caring for your emotional state is caring for them.

How do you refill your cup so you can show up calmer for your child?

Begin your mindful parenting journey — take our 3-minute quiz to receive your personalized plan for more peace and connection:
https://bit.ly/Emotional_Intelligence_Quiz

11/11/2025

Why Rereading Books to Kids Is Great 📚✨

I know the Little Blue Truck, Pout-Pout Fish, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom hate to see us coming lol!😅

11/11/2025

When a young person is in meltdown, their nervous system has moved into survival mode.
This means the thinking, reasoning, language-based parts of the brain are offline.

So phrases like:
“Calm down.”
“You don’t need to be upset.”
“Use your words.”
or “Stop it.”
aren’t just unhelpful — they can intensify the overwhelm.

Not because the child is choosing not to listen —
but because they are not able to in that moment.

This post breaks down what not to say at each stage of the meltdown cycle:

• Escalation
• Crisis (the peak)
• Recovery (the Blue Phase)

Because the timing of our response matters just as much as the words we use.

If you want a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the brain during these stages — and how to support each phase with calm, connection and safety — you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

FOLLOW for our next post - What to Say During a Meltdown

11/10/2025

A meltdown isn’t a child 'losing control' on purpose.
It’s the nervous system moving into overwhelm — often because things have felt too loud, too fast, too uncertain, or too much for too long.

When we understand the phases of a meltdown, we can respond with care rather than correction.
We can spot the early signs.
We can keep connection safe.
We can help a child return to calm without shame.

Today we’re exploring the Timeline of a Meltdown— what’s happening in the brain and body, what it looks like, and how we can support at each stage. Visuals for parents/educators and child voice style for young people. For more support, see our Timeline of a Meltdown Resource Pack – link in comments below ⬇️ or Linktree Shop in Bio.

11/08/2025

Next week, our class will learn the “Thank You Song” a joyful reminder to appreciate life’s simple blessings: sunshine, moonlight, family, and friendship. Through music, we’ll help our children discover how gratitude can fill their hearts with kindness and joy. 💛

11/08/2025

When teaching gets a little heavy, just remember…
You’re making a difference every single day. 💛✨

11/08/2025

Little ones experience the world through their senses first.
Sound, movement, touch, light — it can all feel very big.

When a young child covers their ears, hides behind you, cries, or suddenly 'can’t cope', they are not being difficult.
They are showing us that their nervous system is overwhelmed.

They need co-regulation.
A calm presence.
A pause.
A soft voice.
Time to settle before we ask more of them.

For more support, see our Sensory Processing Checklist – link in comments below ⬇️ or Linktree Shop in Bio.

11/06/2025

When a child says “I hate you” or “I’m dumb,” they’re showing you their pain, not the truth.

“I hate you” often means “I’m overwhelmed and don’t know how to cope.”
“I’m dumb” often means “I feel like I’ve failed and I need reassurance that I’m still enough.”

Both are cries for connection, not correction.
Your calm presence helps them feel safe enough to see themselves differently. ❤️

📖 From my book, Guidance from The Therapist Parent — available at www.thetherapistparent.com and on Amazon.

11/06/2025

Instead of “How was your day?”, try questions that open the door to real connection 💬✨

Ask things like:
💭 “What made you laugh today?”
🎨 “Did anything surprise you?”
🤝 “Who did you sit with at lunch?”
❤️ “What was something kind you did or saw?”

These questions invite your child to share their world — not just their day.

👉 For more ways to connect with your child, check out Guidance from The Therapist Parent at www.thetherapistparent.com or on Amazon.