Renate's Social Work Counselling & Consultancy

14/06/2026

A gentle reminder to extend kindness to ourselves and others.

14/06/2026

Follow the feelings challenge reposting from Wholehearted School Counseling.

08/06/2026

In our daily lives, the challenge is often to break the many things we have on into manageable steps. The image below is by artist@colormehappii.

15/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/18EKAKKLGu/

We all deserve to be safe, respected and valued in all our relationships – no matter where we are from, or the language we speak. For translated resources about family violence and ways to access support, visit www.areyousafeathome.org.au.

06/05/2026

Important time away to pause and to learn. Looking forward tg this day of learning.

30/11/2025

Kidshelpline has a social media platform that they are billing as being good for kids' mental health.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HJcSHF4eL/

Did you know Kids Helpline has a social media platform that isn't included in the under-16s social media ban? Check it out: https://kidshelpline.info/4pqPtND

21/11/2025

This creative visualisation is a calming relaxation, taking you away from the busy-ness and chaos of modern life, to a pristine beach. Suits ages 5-15.

21/11/2025

Important information from Executive Functioning Toolbox in assisting guiding our emotional and social growth.

"Social emotional learning" is defined as a process for helping children gain critical skills for life effectiveness, such as developing positive relationships, behaving ethically, and handling challenging situations effectively.

The specific skills that allow kids to function and complete daily occupations (such as play, learning, participating in social situations, rest, dressing, writing, riding a bike, interacting with others...) are those social emotional skills that help children to recognize and manage emotions, interact with others, think about their feelings and how they should act, and regulate behavior based on thoughtful decision making.

One piece of addressing underlying needs in kids is the fact that the "behaviors" that we see have an underlying cause that can be found as a result of regulation of emotions, making decisions, and acting on impulses. Social emotional skills are not always a cut and dry aspect of development.

When we equip our students with tools to identify their emotions and self-regulate, we are giving them tools for life and promoting a positive environment for learning.

One way is to connect emotions to behavior- Children may not have the language knowledge or understand how to explain what they are feeling.
-They may need concrete examples or scenarios to help them understand how their emotions are tied to their behavior.
-Does a storm make them feel nervous or scared?
-How do they react when they feel anxious about a test or quiz?
-When they argue with a sibling, how do they react?

How to help? https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities-2/

21/11/2025

The premise of this book is that calling ourselves and others "lazy" is often a misapplied, moral labelling of our capabilities, they way our brains and what we have on our personal plates. This book and the book review by Creative Well-being Melbourne allows to mellow to a kinder stance.

I thought this book was going to be more focused on neuronormative standards but was surprised to learn about the broader impacts of the laziness lie. The book shows how the belief that our value comes from constant productivity runs deep in our culture and how it harms people across many different contexts. What often gets called laziness is more accurately the result of exhaustion, unmet needs, or barriers outside of our control, and this argument is made with clarity and care.

Research and lived experience are woven together to show how the laziness narrative takes hold and how difficult it can be to challenge it. The book explores the realities of burnout, illness, disability, trauma, and structural inequality, helping the reader to see that there is always more behind the surface than a lack of willpower. It was refreshing to see how the lens widens from individual responsibility to the collective and systemic pressures that shape our lives.

One of the strongest invitations in the book is to treat rest, boundaries, and limits as essential rather than shameful. The message is to listen to our bodies and minds, to respect our own capacity, and to notice the ways we have internalised pressure to always be achieving. This felt validating on a personal level and also in thinking about how to support others who struggle under the same weight of expectation.

This is a book I would recommend widely because it has something to offer for anyone who has ever felt guilty for not doing enough or wondered why they cannot keep up with constant demands. It provides insight into how these pressures are shaped by history and society while also offering compassion and validation. The overall effect is both comforting and challenging, leaving the reader with a sense that choosing rest is not only permissible but deeply necessary.

Found here: https://amzn.to/47V21XU

21/11/2025

On this lovely Saturday morning, learning more about self and looking after ourselves is on the cards. Thank-you to the Gottman Institute for providing this Recipe for Self-soothing.

Ever wondered about the science behind self-soothing? It’s your body’s natural recipe for calm.

When emotions run high, techniques like deep breathing and visualization help lower your heart rate and clear your mind.

It’s how you move from emotional flooding to grounded connection. The more you practice this skill, the easier it becomes to handle stress, together.

Want the full blog post? Click here: https://bit.ly/48XYTuU