The Brave Space

12/06/2026

Following my own harrowing journey with psychiatric medication, prescribed at a young age, I have developed an holistic program to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi, as an alternative to medication.

About 10 per cent of Australian boys aged between five and 17 were prescribed ADHD medication last year, triple the number of a decade earlier.

11/06/2026

🌊 It’s Safe to Cry:
Surfing the Waves of Emotion 🌊

Reflecting and recording our gratitude for three emotions we experienced over the course of the day on Monday. (It is tricky for kids to differentiate between physical sensations like freezing 🥶 , and primary emotions like happy 😃 - they are so closely linked).

This activity always generates some great korero within our sharing circle. At The Brave Space the children learn how every emotion has a special purpose - to teach us, guide us, keep us safe and help us connect with the world around us. Most importantly, we know that we are SAFE to feel all of our emotions… even the uncomfortable ones like anger, sadness and fear, and that this helps them to move through us, like a wave. 🌊 .

Sometimes the children are surprised to hear that crying is a normal and healthy response. Many still carry the programming that crying is something to be discouraged and shut down quickly. Thankfully, we are changing that old narrative, one session - one conscious conversation, at a time.💓

10/06/2026

I wrote an article! Without the use of AI (such a rebel, I know!)

This wasn't an easy brief but is an important conversation that I hope will inspire reflection and ultimately positive outcomes for our young people.

I'm so grateful to Logan from Whānau Compass for reaching out with this opportunity to collaborate and let more people know about the mahi I'm doing with tamariki in New Zealand - especially now that an online program is not far off!

Whānau Compass is an amazing online platform that "brings together practical guidance from professionals across Aotearoa, alongside resources designed to support tamariki wellbeing, development and connection". If you're a parent, caregiver or educator, I highly recommend giving them a follow.

NB: It appears that not everyone is able to open the links I post on my page currently. I'm so sorry about this! While I’m getting this sorted, if you are interested in reading the article, please PM me and I'll send the link directly to your messenger. Thanks for your patience - Amy :)

Children’s behaviour is often a mirror of their environment. Explore how parenting, lifestyle, and connection shape tamariki wellbeing

08/06/2026

Hey team - can we please all stop saying “My Anxiety” 😅

Today at The Brave Space we’re delving into the wonderful world of emotions.

The first step to processing challenging emotions in a healthy way is noticing and naming them (the focus of today’s session)… without identifying with them. This is really important.

Have a listen and let me know how this little tip sits with you. Shared with aroha, always! 💕

P.s. Bad hair day but this is The Brave Space where we show up anyway 🤣

07/06/2026

⭐️ Bridging the Gap -
New Zoom Group on the Way for Tween Girls!! ⭐️

To me the is a symbol of connection and bringing people together - something that has always sparked joy in my heart…. ❤️

For the past three years I have been bringing local tamariki together, in person, for the purpose of nurturing and empowering them to thrive - with a special focus on mental and emotional health. The small group dynamic and circle format works well for this mahi, helping to foster authentic connections between children who may never have crossed paths otherwise. Watching these meaningful and nourishing relationships blossom is a huge bonus of the job!

Soon I will be answering the call to bring young ones together in a different way. After an amazing mum reached out to me from the Waikato, I have decided to trial an online gathering for tween girls (10-13 year olds), starting early Term 3 - to coincide with spring and new beginnings! This will enable children from outside the area to benefit from the program I have meticulously created, and be part of something truly special. Of course there are limitations to meeting on Zoom, and it won’t be exactly the same as meeting up physically - but the underlying kaupapa is the same and many of the teachings can be adapted.

Think of it like a sanctuary for our girls to pause, connect with other children who are navigating similar situations, be held/seen in a safe space to authentically express their thoughts and emotions, and learn valuable skills to support resilience and flourishing. Places will be strictly limited to 7 and the day + time is still to be advised.

If the online offering resonates, please reach out in the DMs as I expect spots will fill quickly. Please also share with anyone around NZ (or further afield) who might be interested. More information to come very soon.

Thanks for your continued support 🙏
Amy x

06/06/2026

Lisa McCarthy, heart biz coach, wrote a cool article about me! This came about after I approached Lisa for help moving forward with The Brave Space... My dilemma? Too many ideas and possibilities, and unsure of the next step that would make the best use of my time and energy... and have the biggest positive impact on children and families.

I highly recommend following Lisa's mahi if you are a solo, soul-preneur (heart-lead business owner) in the wellbeing space, with brave aspirations to make a difference in your community and the world. ❤ ❤ ❤

NB: This link should take you through to the article. Try clicking on the words “Keeping it Light” and let me know if you have any probs. 😊

Here's something I've come to believe deeply — and that runs against most of what conventional business culture tells us. The best work doesn't come from force. It comes from flow.

03/06/2026

🐉 The Hero's Journey at Level 47 🐉

It's been one year since I embarked on the long, slow process of tapering off a psychiatric medication that was - in my belief - wrongly prescribed almost three decades ago. This medication (prescribed for depression and anxiety) has impacted me on every level, and the healing journey will continue long after I finally complete the tapering process. Naturally, strong emotions such as anger and grief surface as I 'grow' through this experience, but a victim I am most certainly not. Everything I have traversed has helped shape me into the person I am today, and the "mahi" I contribute to the world through my various roles - including mum, Yoga & Wellbeing Teacher of children (specialising in mental and emotional health) and creator/facilitator of authentic outdoor connections.

For those of us on this journey it's easy to get hyper-focused on healing and the long-term goal of becoming med free, and forget that we are already whole, perfectly imperfect and exactly where we need to be right NOW - and give ourselves permission to feel JOY by pursuing the things that light us up from within as often as we can ...(this vibration is super healing, incidentally!)

I wanted to remind myself of this last week, on my 47th birthday. Acting on a wild impulse/intuitive hit, I managed to round up six amazing and very courageous girlfriends at the last minute for an epic adventure high up in the treetops (the Ultimate Tour with Rotorua Canopy Tours).

In spite of getting a grand total of ONE HOUR's sleep the night before this adventure (one example of how medication withdrawal is adversely affecting me), and thinking I might have to leave the girls to it (lol), I did some tapping (see previous video on how tapping has saved me!), dug out my tiger leggings, and soared to new heights on this hero's journey.

Moral of the Story - ziplining with this crazy crew turned out to be an absolute high point of my life (no pun intended) - and proof that magic happens when we act on our intuition and lead with courage, instead of fear.... (which could very easily have derailed this experience for me - at several points along the way). We are NOT the identify we create around the suffering we have endured - we are the divine spark within that is stronger than any dragon our imagination could ever conjure up.

With love & courage,
Amy x

p.s. Apologies to Sam and Jessie, our extremely patient and long-suffering guides, for the inappropriate banter, hilarious (to us) commentary and late return. . We promise to leave exemplary reviews!!

25/05/2026

🔥 Powering Up 🔥

Warming up for our class with MC Yogi’s “Triumphant” - a new fave dance track of our tweens, with lyrics that tie in beautifully with our theme of Self Love today. 🩷

Unstructured, spontaneous dance is one of the best forms of movement for processing emotions and encouraging self expression. It is also really fun - especially when you don’t give a flying *bleep* what anyone thinks!

24/05/2026

🔥 Namaste = "The Light in Me Sees (and Honours) the Light in You" 🔥

I took this photo just before the very first children's Yoga & Wellbeing class I facilitated almost three years ago. Every session begins and ends with the same greeting - our Namaste.... which carries so much wisdom and encapsulates the very essence of my mahi. Every child who sits in our circle is reminded of who they truly are at their core - that innate magic that lies beneath every single label that society could possibly apply to them.

"The greatest gift we can give to another person is to remind them of what is loveable, trustworthy, and pure about who they are. When we start to see that goodness - the sacred essence in each human - it allows compassion to flow freely and miracles can happen." ~ Tara Brach (Author, Meditation Teacher & Psychotherapist).

23/05/2026

Mental health and drug safety advocate, Danielle Gansky, shares her deeply personal story of being prescribed psychiatric medication at just seven years old and the devastating toll SSRIs have taken on her life.

Mental health and drug safety advocate, Danielle Gansky, shares her deeply personal story of being prescribed psychiatric medication at just seven years old and the devastating toll SSRIs have taken on her life. AIRDATE: May 14, 2026