Tanya Forster Psychologist

Tanya Forster Psychologist Tanya is a Psychologist and the CEO of Macquarie Health Collective

31/07/2026

I can do hard things ✨

The goal isn’t to convince children that they have nothing to worry about.The goal is to help them believe that they can...
30/07/2026

The goal isn’t to convince children that they have nothing to worry about.

The goal is to help them believe that they can cope - even when they feel worried - and that you are right there with them! 💛

28/07/2026

Imagine there was a smoke alarm in your house.

Its job is to keep you safe.

But what if it became extra sensitive?

Instead of only going off during a fire...

it also went off every time you made toast.

That’s a little like an anxious brain.

Its job is protection.

It’s scanning for danger.

The problem isn’t that the alarm exists.

The problem is that it’s become a little too sensitive 💛

27/07/2026

One of the most common questions parents ask me is:

“How do I know if my child’s worrying is normal?”

The answer isn’t always straightforward.

Every child experiences worry.

The difference is whether those worries are beginning to limit your child’s world.

When children stop trying new things, avoid situations they once enjoyed, or need constant reassurance just to get through the day, worry may be taking up more space than it should.

The good news?

With the right support, children can learn that they don’t have to wait until worry disappears before they start living.

💛 Worry can come along for the ride, but it doesn’t have to drive the car.

26/07/2026

One sentence I use over and over again with anxious kids ✨

25/07/2026

Have you ever finished a parenting book, listened to a podcast or completed a workshop and thought...

“That all makes sense... but my child isn’t in the examples.”

If you have, you’re not alone.

One of the things I’ve loved most about creating Confident Parenting workshops is hearing from families all over Australia who are beginning to understand why their child behaves the way they do.

But over the past year, I’ve also heard the same question again and again.

💭 “I understand the concepts... but how do I make them work for my child/family?”

It’s such an important question.

Because while the principles of responsive, evidence-based parenting remain the same, every child is wonderfully unique.

The way we support an anxious five-year-old may look different to the way we support an anxious ten-year-old.

The approach that works beautifully for one child may need adjusting for another.

That’s why I’ve introduced Parent Strategy Sessions.

These private, 50-minute Zoom consultations are designed for parents who have completed one of my workshops and would like personalised guidance applying those ideas to their own family.

Together, we can talk through your child’s unique temperament, strengths and challenges, answer your questions, and develop practical next steps that feel realistic for your family.

Because sometimes the missing piece isn’t more information.

Sometimes it’s simply having someone help you connect the dots.

If you’ve been wishing you could ask, “But what would you do if this was your child?” - this is exactly what these sessions are for.

✨ You can learn more or book a Parent Strategy Session via the link in my bio.

24/07/2026

“My child is perfect at school… but they are a very different kid at home!” ✨

23/07/2026

You’ve watched the workshop. You’ve learnt the strategies. But now you’re wondering...

“How would this work with my child!?”

That’s exactly why I created Parent Strategy Sessions.

These personalised, one-on-one Zoom consultations are designed exclusively for families who have completed one of my Confident Parenting workshops.

Together we’ll:

✔ personalise the workshop strategies

✔ troubleshoot challenges

✔ answer your questions

✔ develop practical next steps for your family

Because parenting isn’t about knowing more.

It’s about feeling confident applying what you already know 💛

To learn more or to book your spot, hit the link in bio ✨

22/07/2026

“But they were so much calmer once they stayed home…”

This is one of the hardest things about anxiety.

When a child is worried about something - whether it’s school, a birthday party, sleeping away from home or trying something new - avoiding that situation often brings immediate relief.

Their body relaxes.

Their worry settles.

And as parents, seeing that relief can make us think we’ve done the right thing.

The tricky part is that our children’s brains are always learning.

When avoiding something makes the worry go away, their brain stores a very powerful message:

“Avoiding kept me safe.”

The next time that situation comes around, the worry often feels even bigger. Over time, the things that once felt manageable can begin to feel impossible.

This doesn’t mean we force children into situations that completely overwhelm them or ignore how they’re feeling.

It means we aim to support them through small, manageable steps, so they can experience something even more powerful than relief:

✨ “I felt worried… and I got through it.”

That’s where confidence begins to grow.

If you’ve ever kept your child home because they were distressed, please don’t read this as criticism. Every parent makes decisions with the information, resources and emotional capacity they have in that moment.

Instead, think of this as an invitation to find moments where you can gently shift the goal.

Rather than asking, “How do I make my child’s worry disappear?”, we can begin asking,

“How can I help my child feel supported enough to take the next small brave step?”

Because confidence isn’t built by never feeling worried.

It’s built by discovering that worry doesn’t have to make every decision.

💛 One small brave step at a time.

One of the biggest shifts in understanding school refusal is recognising that many children aren’t choosing not to go.Th...
21/07/2026

One of the biggest shifts in understanding school refusal is recognising that many children aren’t choosing not to go.

They’re struggling because school feels overwhelming.

That doesn’t mean we stop expecting them to attend school.

But it does change how we respond.

Instead of seeing defiance, we begin to see distress.

And that changes everything.

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165 Brisbane Street
Dubbo, NSW
2830

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