Pebble & Tide Counselling

Pebble & Tide Counselling Online counselling for children, teens and young people across Australia. Neurodiversity-affirming support for ADHD, Autism, anxiety and trauma.

ACA registered counsellor, Youth Mental Health First Aider, and Mental Health Council of Tasmania member.

When goodbye feels really big Separation anxiety doesn’t always look like tears at the school gate. It might be a sore t...
09/08/2026

When goodbye feels really big

Separation anxiety doesn’t always look like tears at the school gate. It might be a sore tummy before school, not wanting to go, asking over and over who will pick them up, getting angry over something that seems small, trouble sleeping alone, or needing just one more hug before you leave.

For some kids, goodbye really does feel that big. They might know that you’re coming back, but knowing something and feeling safe with it aren’t always the same thing.

Something simple that can help is having the same little goodbye routine each time. Maybe it’s a hug, a special handshake and the same words, “You’re safe, I love you, and I’ll see you after school.” Then say goodbye and go.

It can be really tempting to hang around until they’re okay, especially when they’re upset. But a long goodbye can sometimes make it harder because they don’t know when the actual goodbye is coming.

We’re not trying to teach kids that they shouldn’t be worried or that goodbye shouldn’t feel hard. We’re helping them have enough experiences of “this was hard, I got through it, and my person came back” that eventually goodbye doesn’t feel quite so big.

Imagine two people driving to the same destination. One is travelling on a quiet freeway with cruise control on. The roa...
23/07/2026

Imagine two people driving to the same destination. One is travelling on a quiet freeway with cruise control on. The road is clear, the signs are easy to follow, and the journey feels relatively effortless. The other is driving through peak-hour traffic. They're constantly checking mirrors, braking, changing lanes, watching for hazards, ignoring distractions and making split-second decisions. They both arrive at exactly the same place.

From the outside, it looks like they completed the same journey. But one of them had to use far more mental energy to get there. For many people with ADHD, everyday life can feel like that second drive.

Starting a new job has made me realise I need to be more intentional about how I use my energy. I love the work I do, and I also want to have enough left in the tank at the end of the day for my family, my hobbies and myself. That's one of the reasons I've been trialling some new systems at home. Not because I'm trying to become more organised, but because I'm trying to reduce the amount of mental effort my brain spends on everyday tasks.

I've been experimenting with both new habits and new systems to make life a little easier. One thing I've started is habit stacking, which simply means attaching a new habit to something I already do. While the kettle boils each morning, I put on a load of washing and start the dishwasher. After dinner, I've been building a new routine of packing the dishwasher, washing the pots and pans, then wiping down the benches, sink and stovetop before I sit down for the evening. When I brush my teeth, I quickly wipe over the bathroom sink before ducking into the toilet to give that a quick wipe too.

I've also started creating systems that make future life easier. I've filled the freezer with slow cooker dump bags and batch-cooked meals so that after a long day at work, dinner is already sorted. Future me doesn't have to make another decision or find the energy to start cooking from scratch.

None of these things are about being "better" at life or "fixing" my ADHD. They're about making everyday life a little easier and working with my brain instead of constantly pushing against it.

If these little changes leave me with more energy for the people and things that matter most, then I'd call that a success.

When we hear the word "play", most of us picture young children with toys. But play doesn't have an age limit.As childre...
09/07/2026

When we hear the word "play", most of us picture young children with toys. But play doesn't have an age limit.

As children grow, play simply changes. It might become kicking a footy with friends, building in Minecraft, making music, drawing, climbing trees, telling jokes, role-playing, creating videos, skateboarding, baking, or spending hours inventing imaginary worlds together.

Sometimes, older children stop playing because they're worried it's "babyish" or they feel pressure to grow up too quickly. But play is never childish. It's one of the healthiest things we can do.

Play helps children and teenagers:
- Build friendships and social skills
- Develop confidence and resilience
- Process emotions and stressful experiences
- Practise problem-solving and creativity
- Take healthy risks in a safe environment
- Simply have fun, which is important in its own right

Even adults benefit from play. We just call it different things: hobbies, sport, gardening, gaming, art, music, puzzles, fishing, or spending time with people who make us laugh. Play reminds our brains and bodies that life isn't only about responsibilities.

So if your child still loves LEGO at 13, builds elaborate Minecraft worlds at 15, collects Pokémon cards at 17, or enjoys dressing up for cosplay as an adult, that's not something to rush them out of.

Play isn't something we grow out of. It's something we should never lose.

A little update from me.You may have noticed Pebble & Tide has been a little quieter lately.Over the past few weeks I've...
21/06/2026

A little update from me.

You may have noticed Pebble & Tide has been a little quieter lately.

Over the past few weeks I've been preparing to start a new part-time counselling role within a school setting. It's an opportunity I'm really looking forward to and one that will allow me to continue supporting children and young people while gaining experience in a different counselling environment.

Because of this transition, I'm not currently accepting new counselling clients through Pebble & Tide. Existing clients will continue to receive support as arranged.

Pebble & Tide remains very close to my heart, and while things may look a little different for now, I hope to continue sharing resources, insights, and reflections along the way.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. I'm excited to see where this next chapter leads.

27/05/2026

My private telehealth practice is currently at capacity and I am unable to accept new clients at this time.

For existing clients, the booking system remains open as usual via pebbleandtide.com.au

If you feel like you’re repeating yourself all day and nothing is sticking, try this for a day. Just give one short inst...
26/05/2026

If you feel like you’re repeating yourself all day and nothing is sticking, try this for a day. Just give one short instruction at a time. Not a whole list. Not a reminder speech. Just the next step.

So instead of “Go brush your teeth, get your shoes on and grab your bag”, try “Teeth.” Then pause. When that’s done “Shoes.” Then pause again.

It can feel a bit strange at first, especially when you’re in a rush, but a lot of kids and teens simply can’t hold all the steps in their head at once when they’re tired or overloaded.

You’re not doing anything wrong. It’s just about making the next step easier to land. If this feels like your daily life, you’re not alone. Small shifts like this can make things feel a lot less heavy at home.

If you’d like more simple, practical ideas like this, Pebble & Tide shares tools to support children and young people in everyday life.

A little professional development update for Pebble & Tide.I recently completed Youth Mental Health First Aid training, ...
18/05/2026

A little professional development update for Pebble & Tide.

I recently completed Youth Mental Health First Aid training, with the assessment wrapping up today.

I’m walking away with practical tools, deeper understanding, and renewed confidence in supporting young people with empathy, safety, and care.

I’m a big believer that learning never stops in this field, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to grow.

If your afternoons feel like survival mode, try this:1. Snack + water firstBrains and bodies can’t regulate on empty.2. ...
15/05/2026

If your afternoons feel like survival mode, try this:

1. Snack + water first
Brains and bodies can’t regulate on empty.

2. Quiet transition time (5–15 mins if possible)
No questions. No demands. Let them “land”.

3. Choose one calming activity
Pick ONE:
• colouring
• Lego
• play dough
• outside time
• shower/bath
• headphones/music

4. Connection moment
Say something simple like:
“I’m happy you’re home.”
No pressure. Just safety.

This routine helps kids move from school mode → home mode, without exploding in between.

Signs your child may be masking at schoolA child can look “fine” at school… and still be struggling. Many kids work incr...
13/05/2026

Signs your child may be masking at school

A child can look “fine” at school… and still be struggling. Many kids work incredibly hard to mask. They follow rules, act polite, try not to cry, try not to stand out. But masking comes at a cost.

Signs your child may be masking at school:
- emotional outbursts at home
- headaches or tummy aches (especially weekdays)
- exhaustion after school
- irritability over small things
- shutdowns or going quiet
- “I don’t want to go” in the mornings
- big emotional reactions over minor school issues

Masking doesn’t mean your child is being dramatic. It means they’re using all their energy just to cope. You don’t need to push harder. You need to reduce demand first, then support skills.

Try this today: 10 minutes of quiet transition time after school = Snack + water + no questions yet.

If this sounds familiar, save this post.

With school returning for term 2, are you seeing after-school meltdowns? After-school meltdowns are not “naughty behavio...
11/05/2026

With school returning for term 2, are you seeing after-school meltdowns?

After-school meltdowns are not “naughty behaviour”. They are often a sign your child has been holding it together all day… and once they’re in their safe place (home), the pressure finally releases.

School can take a lot out of kids:
- following rules
- sitting still
- concentrating
- coping socially
- masking anxiety or neurodivergence
- dealing with sensory overload

So when they walk through the door and fall apart, it’s not manipulation. It’s decompression.

What helps:
- keep afternoons low-demand
- offer food + water
- allow quiet time
- reduce questions at first
- connection before correction

If this is your child, you’re not alone. This is common, and it’s workable with the right support.

Save this post for the hard afternoons. 💙

Address

PO Box 369
Somerset, TAS
7322

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 11am - 7:30pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+61492944798

Website

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