Kim Marie Norton Career Guidance and Life Skills Support

15/06/2026

13/06/2026

30/05/2026

28/05/2026

Proprioception is one of the most important senses you’ve probably never been taught about.
It’s the 'body awareness' system that helps a child know where their body is in space, how much force to use, and how to move smoothly and safely.

When it’s not working smoothly, children can look clumsy, crash into things, press too hard, avoid certain movements, or constantly seek deep pressure (tight hugs, squeezing, heavy work).

This isn’t laziness or attention-seeking.
It’s their nervous system asking for information.

Save this post for the next time a child is climbing, crashing, leaning, or “too rough” — it might be proprioception doing its best to cope.
To save, click on the image, tap the three dots, and choose Save.

25/05/2026

An online learning program for students who refuse to attend school and teens with anxiety, autism or ADHD is launching in Queensland with government approval.

https://www.noticer.news/blended-online-learning-launched-school-refusers/

23/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17ZNQKEQwC/

There’s a version of task paralysis that people often misunderstand.

Sometimes it’s not avoidance.
Not laziness.
Not lack of care.

Sometimes a person has genuinely thought about reaching out, replying, making the call, answering the message, scheduling the appointment, or reconnecting with someone multiple times.

But the nervous system keeps calculating the emotional load, cognitive effort, transitions, expectations, decisions, and energy required to initiate the task… and the brain stalls.

For many people — especially those experiencing chronic stress, burnout, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, or nervous system overload — even small relational tasks can begin to feel neurologically “expensive.” Research on executive functioning, cognitive load, stress physiology, and neurodivergence increasingly supports the idea that access to action fluctuates under conditions of overload, even when motivation or care remain intact (Miyake et al., 2000; Arnsten, 2009; Porges, 2011; Barkley, 2015).

The care is still there.
The intention is still there.
The access to action is what fluctuates.

This is one of the reasons I often say:
Capacity is not character.

Sometimes what looks like disinterest from the outside is actually a nervous system running out of bandwidth.

— Darcy Stephens, LPCC


References:
Arnsten, A. F. T. (2009). Stress signalling pathways that impair prefrontal cortex structure and function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 410–422.
Barkley, R. A. (2015). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A handbook for diagnosis and treatment (4th ed.). Guilford Press.
Miyake, A., et al. (2000). The unity and diversity of executive functions and their contributions to complex “frontal lobe” tasks. Cognitive Psychology, 41(1), 49–100.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. Norton.

21/05/2026

High School Exams

It is that time of year again..............
"Below are some of my top tips for managing stress and anxiety around study and the exams themselves".

Good luck all and if you need any extra assistance, please reach out for an online session (or two).
(NDIS sessions available under Mentoring / Skill Development)

Kim
(Registered Professional Career Development Practitioner)

Tools and strategies for managing stress and anxiety for study and exams themselves. These strategies are suitable for all ages and stages of education.

20/05/2026

This type of progress summary report is incredibly important because it helps special education teams clearly document patterns, triggers, successful supports, and measurable growth over time instead of relying only on memory or isolated incidents. A structured report like this allows teachers, parents, counselors, and support staff to work together using the same information, making interventions more consistent and effective across settings. It also highlights student strengths and progress, not just challenges, which is essential in neuroaffirming and supportive educational practices. For students with PDA profiles or emotional regulation difficulties, having clear data about what helps de escalate situations can significantly reduce stress, improve participation, strengthen communication between school and home, and support better long term outcomes for the student.

17/05/2026

PDA behaviors are often connected to anxiety, overwhelm, and nervous system threat responses rather than simple defiance or disrespect. Many students experiencing demand avoidance feel a strong internal loss of control when pressure increases, even during everyday classroom expectations. Reducing unnecessary demands, offering collaborative choices, and using indirect supportive language can significantly lower stress and improve participation. Emotional safety should always come before compliance. Students may need additional processing time after requests, especially during moments of overwhelm. Avoid public correction, repeated verbal pressure, or power struggles, as these often increase shutdowns, avoidance, or escalation. Flexible approaches, predictable routines, calm tones, and regulation supports help students feel safer and more capable of engaging. Instead of focusing only on task completion, reinforce moments of trust, communication, recovery, self-advocacy, and emotional regulation. A connected and supportive relationship is often the most effective intervention for students with PDA-related profiles.
BERMED

12/05/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D5VDZhhf9/

Some people spend their whole lives trying to control everything - other people’s choices, the future, every outcome, every mistake.

But the tighter we hold on, the more anxious, exhausted and overwhelmed we become.

Peace often begins when we stop fighting what we cannot control and start protecting what we can - our boundaries, reactions, energy and wellbeing.

A lot of people need this reminder right now. Share this with someone who carries the weight of everything on their shoulders.

Free LETTING GO OF CONTROL POSTER

LIKE the photo and comment "CONTROL" and we will send you a message with a link to a free PDF of this resource.