Calm Connections Counselling

21/06/2026

I was delighted to launch my new workshop, ''Anchoring Parents in an Anxiety Storm'', at the Kings Community Centre this week.

I am so grateful to the wonderful group of parents who braved the cold to attend and learn more about anxiety, the vital role they play as emotional anchors, and how adopting a systemic family lens can support shifts in family patterns and create an environment that fosters resilience, growth, and connection.

This workshop integrates principles of systemic family therapy, including narrative and solution-focused approaches, alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It also explores the neurobiology of anxiety and how anxiety can become contagious within the family environment.

Parents left with the ANCHOR Toolkit—a practical framework designed to help them remain a steady and supportive presence during times of anxiety.
Using the acrostic ANCHOR, the key messages were:
A – Adjust yourself and regulate
N – Notice and be curious
C – Connect with your child or teen
H – Hold your “I” position – calm, clear, and firm (anxiety does not erase responsibility)
O – Offer breathing space to practise coping skills, build competence, and develop resilience
R – Remember to focus on your response, self-care, and self-compassion
Parents were encouraged to make one small step in the week ahead with these ideas and build from there.

Thank you again to everyone who attended and contributed to such meaningful conversations.

If you would like to bring this workshop to your school, organisation, or community group, please get in touch via my website.

https://lnkd.in/gmQ2DJAq

13/06/2026

I highly recommend this couples retreat created by Soulhearth Retreats for an opportunity to connect, recharge and nourish your relationship. 💕

09/06/2026

I am looking forward to facilitating this workshop next week at the Kings Community Centre where I will share ideas to support Parents to be an anchor when anxiety hijacks their family. Integrating family therapy concepts, we will explore:
-How to break the Anxiety Loop when the whole family gets swept up in the storm
-Practical tools to help Parent drop their own anchor and stay steady when anxiety takes over
-Support Parents's to respond from a Calm place to foster connection, safety and self-regulation with their children.

With only a few spots left, you can register here:
www.calmconnectionscounselling.com.au/anchoring-parents-workshop

24/05/2026

Community is at the heart of all connections. This, along with resilience and a positive mindset was the message that Madhavi Nawana Parker from shared with young women players and women of all ages at the Ladies Day event organised by the .comets. Love your work, Madhavi!

Clubs and community sport provide a welcoming space for families to connect with like-minded people, develop new skills and build lasting relationships that extend beyond the playing field. They offer a sense of identity and purpose, helping young people to develop a positive sense of self and feel part of community. Clubs and community activities provide a place for families to gather, connect and celebrate the richness that commuity life offers. As part of National Volunteers Week this week, we want to extend a special thanks to all of the volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy to mep make clubs and community events possible. Thank you!! Raschella

https://raisingchildren.net.au/schoolage/connectingcommunicating/connecting/helping-your-child-connect-with-others

15/05/2026

May 15th is International Day of Families and is anchored within National Families Week in Australia which is held between the 11-17th of May. The theme this year is ''Every family, Everywhere''. The week brings communities together through events, activities and celebrations that recognise the vital role families play in Australian life.
for more information on activities and events across the weekend please visit:
https://familiesaustralia.org.au/initiatives/families-week-2026/

Families Week is held every May to coincide with the United Nation's International Day of Families on 15 May.

10/05/2026

Happy Mother's day to all of Mums, stepmums, grandmums, foster mothers and other mother figures.

Wishing you moments just for you to recharge your spirit, find your calm and embrace self-love in ways that mean something to you.

Calm connections Counselling is dedicating special time out for mums at the Sacred Self-Care for mums workshop held at the King's Community Centre, Wynn Vale on May 29th.

For more details scan the QR code below.
Come along, connect, re-charge and learn simple ways to nurture you mind, body and spirit. You deserve this time just for you.

10/04/2026

At Calm Connections Counselling we are so grateful to partner up with LifeWell and The Kings Community Centre to offer the Confident Parent program.

The Confident Parent Program, developed by Dr Jenny Brown from the Parent Hope Project, offers parents a new stance in parenting based on family system’s principles. The confident parent program was conducted over 4 weeks and The course is relevant for all age groups, covering 4 parts:
1. Where is my energy directed?
2. Is worry driving my connection?
3. How do I hold clear limits?
4. Am I thinking big picture?

Parents reported feeling more calmer, reflective and hopeful. They experienced making small shifts creating a calmer home and discovering that parenting for the bigger picture was worth taking the small steps for. ❤💛

We've had a great response and are looking to run it again next term! A big thank you to Rebecca Drury and Sharon Dutton for co-facilitation and offering a Creche to make this possible for parents.

20/02/2026

Seeing its February and the month of love, I would love to share with you a concept I have shared with parents in my parenting work over the last 15 years. I have shared this with my own children, who know this letter all to well when it comes to boundaries.

It is a concept developed by psychologist, Dr Sylvia Rimm and based on the idea that children require leadership and limits from their parents to feel safe and secure. This is cleverly displayed through the ''V'' of love.

Envision the letter V. The space in the centre of the V represents the amount of choice, freedom and responsibility that a child can be given. The sides of the V represent limits and boundaries, children of all ages need this to keep them safe.

When children are very young, they are at the base of the V with very little choices and responsibilities. As they move up the V in age, they gain greater choices and greater responsibilities. The key to this, is that as they travel up the V, they need to demonstrate their maturity and responsibility with their choices to be able to move up the V. Widen the V and give them too many choices in the earlier years and they will have difficulty when not given a choice, they will resent rules and hold their parents hostage when they try to create some. Widen it too slowly and they will feel trapped, often finding other ways to get their needs met. The V gives you a guideline to widen it with appropriate and healthy boundaries and limits - a true act of love. 💛

The V of love has been very useful in my household, I hope you find it helpful too. Watch this clip from the parenting place on the 'V'of love.💛

The V in the word LOVE is a great illustration of how we can use rules to show our love. The sides of the V represent the rules we use to keep our kids safe....