communication

How music therapy can help anxious children

According to the NHS, as many as one in eight children aged five to 19 faces a mental health challenge. And a significant number of these cases are related to some form of anxiety. Of course, a degree of anxiety or worry may be a normal state of affairs for young people – particularly when [...]

The Power of Vulnerability for Student Wellbeing

Adolescence is a period of immense physical and emotional vulnerability. For most of us vulnerability has negative connotations – we see it as a weakness and something we should try to avoid. Vulnerability is defined as being easily hurt, influenced or attacked, so it makes sense that we try to avoid it at all costs! [...]

By |2019-07-25T13:56:07+10:00July 22nd, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Emoji are a natural substitute for gesture ???

We’re much more likely to be hanging out on social media than at the watercooler these days. But just because we’re no longer face-to-face when we chat, doesn’t mean our communication is completely disembodied. Over the last three decades, psychologists, linguists, and anthropologists, along with researchers from other traditions, have come together to understand how [...]

By |2021-02-25T15:14:32+11:00July 8th, 2019|Categories: Social Media, Technology|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Can AI Train Forensic Interviewers to Unlock Child Trauma?

Forensic interviews are intended to gather evidence from minors who may have information about a crime under investigation. But many children who have been traumatized—often by those in a position of (supposed) care and authority—are unable to express, or explain, what has happened to them. Even highly trained professionals are at times ill-equipped to decode [...]

By |2021-02-24T18:00:40+11:00January 25th, 2019|Categories: Technology|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Encouraging Positive Mental Health

Mental health is becoming a more widely discussed topic. It’s apparent that maintaining positive mental health can contribute to stronger overall well-being. However, there is a stigma commonly associated with mental health issues that often prevents those from seeking help. Where do we begin? Our children. 14 percent of Australian children between the ages of [...]

By |2018-06-18T17:39:01+10:00June 18th, 2018|Categories: Mental Health & Wellbeing|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Social Emotional Learning; What it is and why it matters

There’s a lot of talk about Social Emotional Learning, but what exactly is it?  The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines Social Emotional Learning or SEL as “the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve [...]

Better Communication Can Help Save Lives From Suicide

An Australian suicide study has shown a worrying failure in communication between family members and health professionals. Professor Brian Draper, lead researcher from UNSW, said the study identified a gap in the medical guideline about health professionals sharing information with relatives. The research team examined 74 suicide cases in New South Wales and Queensland, and [...]

Are You Hearing Me?

Giving someone your full attention in conversation isn’t easy, but it is a skill we can practice and hone. Have you ever tried to have a conversation with somebody who wasn’t listening to you? Could you tell? Have you ever seen yourself nodding and smiling during a conversation while in your mind you were landing [...]

Listening Is Not Enough to Mitigate the Malady of Modernity

Any simple time-and-motion study in our homes, workplaces, shopping malls or transport hubs will show that the more time we spend with devices in the digital realm, the less time there is to spend with people in the human realm. At the same time, it's probable that constant online violence dulls us to real pain. [...]

The Power of Talking Sideways to Children

Good family communication is the key to successful parenting at all stages, but it’s not always easy. We all know the advice about getting down to a toddler’s tantrumming level, offering a stroppy six-year-old a non-judgmental ear and giving a tired teenager peace to think and a cup of tea after a tough exam, but [...]

Go to Top