Amy Payne

The importance of #Therapeuticlifestorywork 💞 thank you @TheMoffles #TLSW #storytelling #truthtelling

"Nobody clapped for social workers. We struggled for recognition as key workers. We weren’t furloughed and paid to stay at home" mysocialworknews.com/article/over-f…

@KimSGolding @wwnorton This would be an amazing gift 🪁

To celebrate the release of The Healing Relational Trauma Workbook next week I am giving away one copy. Follow, like and retweet for a chance to win. International okay. Winner announced end of February.

Should we listen to distressed children? One of the comments levelled at me over the last few days is that the views of the children I see don’t count, because they have mental health problems and therefore by definition their emotional reactions are excessive. My job, goes the argument, is to help them see that they are engaging in thinking errors and therefore to reduce their anxiety so they can return to school and everything can carry on as before. This is exactly the reason why I am speaking up. I’m concerned that by defining the distress of young people as a mental health problem, we make the assumption that they are irrational. We locate the problem in them. We assume that they are wrong to feel the way they do. No matter how developmentally inappropriate the requirements of a school might be. No matter how controlling a school environment is. No matter how many more tests are introduced. The child’s reactions have been effectively neutralised, turned into something which must be treated. That’s what I have been asked to do as a psychologist. Fix the child, so they return to school without complaining and stop waking up at night worrying or being disruptive. It doesn’t work like that. Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. If you’re in an environment which causes you serious ongoing stress and you have no power to change that or ability to leave, then you are going to feel anxious or depressed. Many adults experience this in unhealthy work environments. Psychology can’t and shouldn’t try to make natural emotional responses go away. Our emotions are important. Distress doesn’t always mean there’s something wrong with a person. It can mean that the environment isn’t working for them, and something needs to change. We treat children’s distress as the problem, and I’m saying what if in fact they are pointing out a problem - and the rest of us aren’t listening? (Illustration by @_MissingTheMark)

Bethany Brand acknowledged that recovery from trauma can also be challenging at the 2022 International Childhood Trauma Conference, particularly for children and young people. Is this something you have seen in your work with children?

Stories are an extension of ourselves, which is why we must actively listen to children and young people when they share stories with us. The quote in this image is from our 2022 International Childhood Trauma Conference featuring Lou Cozolino.

It’s on all of us to ensure children are protected and their rights are upheld. The quote in this image is from the 2022 International Childhood Trauma Conference featuring Cindy Blackstock.

Join us for a free online discussion with psychiatrist Dr. Judith Herman and Foundation CEO Dr. Joe Tucci, discussing Dr. Herman’s new book, “Truth and Repair”, and sharing insights from her research on trauma, healing and repair. Register now: professionals.childhood.org.au/course/judith-…

In working with children and young people who have experienced trauma, we learn to meet them where they are at, without judgement. The quote in this image is from our 2022 International Childhood Trauma Conference, featuring Lou Cozolino.

🌈When you trust that healing & growth for our children happens in good relationships and help them have the courage to join you there, you really are giving a great gift 🐾💕 #adoption #fostering #kinship #care #residentialcare #PACE #love #parenting #courage #thanks #stories

Words matter ❤️ Let your children overhear you saying nice things about them ❤️ Remember that your words become their internal voice ❤️ Be kind ❤️ Talk nicely about others. When we point out the good in others, it becomes easier to see the good in others @TheDanishWay

We lead increasingly busy lives especially if we have multiple responsibilities and work in the Caring sector. Practising self-care does not mean you are choosing yourself, over another person. It means that you are simply being mindful of your own needs ❤️

Four basic “C” principles for Parenting ❤️

The Beacon House Resource Advent Day 10: The Relational Regulation Game! These regulation fortune tellers are themed for fight, flight, freeze & collapse responses & are designed to ground the players back into the here & now. Click here: calendar.myadvent.net/?id=c3ec814dd7… #BHResourceAdvent

The Beacon House Resource Advent Day 9: Out with the old, in with the new? A new resource looking at traditions and how they might be evolved and adapted along with some inspiration from our therapists! Click here: calendar.myadvent.net/?id=c3ec814dd7… #BHResourceAdvent

As a fan of the previous version, I really appreciate this one more! Thank you @BeaconHouseTeam

🌈 Look on our website for free Moffle Christmas Stories & colouring pictures 🐾💕 moffles.com 🤓📚 #stories #story #storytelling #PictureBooks #CHILDRENSBOOK #kidlit #christmas2022 #Christmas #adoption #fostering #residential #care #KinshipCare #resources #activities

I am so looking forward to this again this year! It is an awesome little gift of practice each day! Thank you @BeaconHouseTeam

Today #TLSW Australia welcomed Professor Richard Rose back to Australia by having an 2023 (and beyond) Planning Day with him. It was an awesome day! #TLSWA #TLSWi #Planning #future #communityofpractice #BerryStreet #Therapeuticlifestorywork