Growing Gently Psychology

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Springwood, NSW
Growing Gently Psychology

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Rebecca Cefai
Child & Perinatal Psychologist
Conference Presenter
Speaker & Trainer
A neuroaffirming🧠& gentle🌱approach to the early years

Please note Rebecca is unable to offer personalised advice or counselling services via Facebook or Instagram.

13/10/2026

Eeekk!!! I am so excited that my Neuroaffirming Families Parenting Cards are now available at Nom Bulk Foods in Blaxland! 🥹💚

I have been wanting to make the cards available somewhere you can explore them in person before deciding if they’re right for you: You can flick through them, read the cards, get a feel for the resource and see what’s inside, rather than having to decide based on photos online. And, of course, you can pick up your own copy while you’re there… no waiting for delivery or paying for shipping! 🙌

Choosing where to stock these cards was about more than simply finding somewhere to sell them. I wanted a local space that felt like a good fit for the values behind them, plus somewhere accessible to neurodivergent families… because getting out of the house is hard!!

Nom was the first place I thought of!

Nom is such a welcoming space for families. There are always friendly faces, a fenced children’s play area, a comfy lounge for parents to take a breather, and easy parking. It’s a place where you can shop without the overstimulation of a busy supermarket, which I know can make a real difference for many neurodivergent families.

🌿

The Neuroaffirming Families Parenting Cards were created to support neurodivergent families through reflection, self-compassion, acceptance and a deeper understanding of neurodivergence. They’re an invitation to explore different perspectives, recognise everyone’s needs and find approaches that feel right for your family, without the pressure of getting parenting “right”.

I’m so excited to have these cards available locally and to make them a little more accessible to the families and therapists in our Blue Mountains community. 🌿

📍 Nom Bulk Foods 🪴 Est 2018 Blaxland NSW

If you’re local, pop in and have a look! And if you pick up a set, I’d love to hear what you think. 🥰

12/10/2026

Here are the reminders I got today. Passing them on to you, minus the wee on your work bag 😬 💚

AI disclaimer: AI was used to help design this post, but the ideas, reflections and photos are all human (and very much my own).

10/10/2026

A little snapshot from my latest “Introduction to Neuroaffirming Practice” Workshop where I discuss how neuroaffirming practice is a responsibility we all share as health professionals.

Because every health professional supports neurodivergent clients, whether they know it or not…

Neuroaffirming practice is NOT a niche. It is NOT be specialist skill reserved for a few. It should not only be considered when we know a client is neurodivergent.

💚

I delivered this training live but it was also recorded in landscape format so the video is not great for reels format!

21/09/2026

Content note: community tragedy, death of children

The Blue Mountains community is mourning the recent tragedy involving three young children and their mother.

There has been a lot of speculation and many opinions shared online. The reality is that we will never know the full complexity of what happened, or all of the circumstances that led to it.

But there are a few things we can be certain about.

💚 We need more support available for families.

Not just mental health services and social supports, but practical supports, respite, housing, domestic violence supports, and crisis support that families can access when life becomes too much.

💚 We need to normalise accepting support and make it easier to access supports.

Asking for help shouldn’t be something we only do when we have reached breaking point. And accessing support shouldn’t involve navigating layers of red tape when you are already overwhelmed.

💚 We need to become better at noticing.

We can’t rely solely on people who are struggling to find the words, recognise that they need help, or have the capacity to ask for it. Professionals need to take the time to observe, notice, and ask… again and again, in order to make sure families are not missed. And we can’t just rely on health or education professionals to identify families in need- Everyone in the whole community has a role.

None of this explains or changes the tragedy that has occurred. And it isn’t about assigning blame. It is about reflecting on what we can do as a community, to make it easier for families to be supported before they reach crisis point.

If you or someone you care about is feeling distressed or overwhelmed, please reach out. I’ve included some support services in this post. ❤️

18/09/2026

Planning your 2027 professional learning? 🌿

If your school is looking for professional learning that goes beyond the usual strategies for supporting neurodivergent students, I’d love to work with your team.

I currently have 2–3 bookings available for January and early February 2027, with three workshops designed to help educators pause, look beyond assumptions and think differently about the students they support:

🌱 What Do You Mean They’re Autistic?
Understanding diverse autistic profiles and moving beyond stereotypes.

🌊 But They’re Fine at School?
Understanding masking, fluctuating capacity and why home and school can sometimes look very different.

🏫 Supporting Neurodivergent Educators
A workshop for educational leaders exploring how schools can support and retain their neurodivergent staff.

And if none of these quite fit what your team needs, let’s talk. I’m very happy to tailor professional learning around the questions, challenges and learning needs within your school.

If you are looking for creative and interactive learning that is grounded in research & lived experience, get in touch!

📍 Blue Mountains • Western Sydney • Hawkesbury • Sydney • Online

📩 2–3 January/February dates available.

Learn more:
https://www.growinggentlypsychology.com.au/professional-training

Get in touch at [email protected]

17/09/2026

I’m so honoured to share that I’ve been accepted into the Centre of Perinatal Psychology’s National Network of Perinatal and Infant Psychologists.

I’m really looking forward to being part of a community of psychologists who share a deep commitment to supporting parents, babies and families during the perinatal period.

I’m especially excited about the opportunity to work alongside and learn from leading psychologists in the field, stay connected with the latest research and developments, and continue growing my knowledge and practice.

Although I had worked as a child psychologist for many years, becoming a mother was both a natural and turbulent transition for me. Once I held a baby of my own in my arms, I gained an even deeper understanding of the many challenges parents face each day.

Parenting can be hard and relentless: it’s not 9-5; it’s dawn to dawn! It is also a time of extraordinary growth and learning for both parent and child. Alongside feeding, cleaning, clothing and bathing, parents are also navigating their own changing identity, getting to know their child and finding solutions to age-old parenting challenges: an unsettled baby, a baby who won’t sleep, or a tiny toddler with very big feelings.

This experience inspired me to support other parents as they navigate this season of life. I’ve read, listened, learned and worked to deepen my understanding of the perinatal period and the unique support parents and families may need.

Membership to this network is by invitation only, which makes this recognition feel particularly meaningful to me.

I am feeling incredibly grateful, proud and excited for this next chapter.

13/09/2026

📚 Book of the Week 📚

I have so many books in my therapy room that rarely get explored, so I decided to create a new Book of the Week display to give some of these favourites (and new additions!) a little more time in the spotlight.

Starting with a new book to my collection:

✨ Inside Out: Where Are the Emotions? ✨

I chose this one because the Inside Out characters are usually a hit with kids, and this book is fun, interactive and can provide a really natural “in” to talking about feelings.

We can have fun finding the characters throughout the book, and depending on how the child is feeling and what feels right for them, it can open up conversations about different emotions, what they feel like and when they might show up.

And we don’t have to stop at the book!

We can recreate the game in the real world by hiding the Inside Out figurines around the therapy room and going on our own emotion-finding adventure. 🕵️‍♀️

Because sometimes talking about feelings is a whole lot easier when we’re playing, exploring and having fun along the way.

Comment “Inside Out” below and I’ll send you my FREE Book Review PDF which includes 3 ways you can use this book in your therapy sessions!

24/05/2026

I have a few Neurodivergent Parenting Cards left and I want them gone so I have space for the new version of the cards… Soooo, I am selling the rest of my stock for 50% off!

Address

3 Tayler Road
Springwood, NSW
2777

Telephone

+61450012252

Website

http://www.growinggentlypsychology.com.au/

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