by Alex Gildersleeve Anxiety can be confusing, especially when you can see your child or teenager struggling, but they can’t always explain why. Sometimes it looks like panic. Sometimes it looks like anger. Sometimes it looks like shutting down, refusing, procrastinating, or avoiding situations that “should be easy”. Avoidance is one of the most common ways people try to cope with anxiety. It makes sense. When something feels scary, uncomfortable, or overwhelming, the quickes

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson What is separation anxiety disorder?   In order to comprehend separation anxiety disorder, it is crucial to first acknowledge the typical challenge that infants and toddlers face when encountering strangers and when separating from their parents and caregivers. Infants exhibit stranger anxiety by crying when approached by someone unfamiliar to them. This natural phase of development is linked to the infant's process of recognizing their parents or ot

By Dr. Michalle Hutcheson   What are the executive functions? Executive functions are a set of cognitive processes that are essential for the cognitive control of behaviour. These processes help an individual manage themselves and their resources to achieve a goal. They are crucial for problem-solving, planning, and executing tasks. The main executive functions include: Working Memory:  The ability to hold and manipulate information in one's mind for short periods. This is cr

by Suzie Rigby The employment landscape has changed significantly in recent years.  Organisations are recognising that to optimise retention and attract talent, offerings need to meet evolving employee expectations.  Beyond the shared fruit bowl and subsidised gym memberships, traditional, top-down incentives might now include flexible and hybrid work arrangements and prioritisation of a healthy workplace culture.   We devote a significant percentage of our life to our work a

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson Stimulus control therapy is a research based treatment for insomnia. It is designed to help you establish a consistent sleep-wake cycle, strengthen the association between the bedroom, sleep time and sleepiness, and weaken the association between the bedroom and wakefulness. Below are some rules for better sleep that you can try to help improve your sleep hygiene. Other important factors include getting regular exercise, eating well, managing anxiety

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson Barkley (1997) developed a model that predicted the deficit in behavioural inhibition that typifies Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) reduces effective use of the four executive abilities that underly self-control and goal-directed behaviour. This deficit thereby indirectly disrupts the control of goal-directed motor behaviour by its influence on these executive functions. As a consequence, the actions of individuals with ADHD are contr

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson Diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be a daunting process. At Head On Health, we are here to support you and your child every step of the way to guide you through the process while conducting a thorough and comprehensive assessment to ensure your child gets all the support they need. That is why we are one of the most recommended clinics on the Gold Coast for these types of assessments. We love working and supporting families on thei

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson There is no doubt that managing an anxious child can be stressful for both parents and children. We can all experience anxiety from time to time, however, children with an anxiety disorder will experience anxiety persistently in certain situations. They will most likely be preoccupied with anxious thoughts and worries, be hyper-vigilant to safety concerns or anxious situations (e.g., whether there is a dog nearby, whether you are going to stay close

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson If you aren’t online, you don’t exist… There is a great book by Rosalind Wiseman called Queen Bees & Wannabes. One of the first chapters summarises her research and experiences with Technology, Media and Girl World. However, a lot of the advice in that chapter relates to boys as well. I have summarised some of it here, however, I highly recommend this book to all parents of teen girls. It is comprehensive, easy to read and full of great tips. Kids li

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson Selective mutism is a condition in which a child can speak well in situations in which they are comfortable such as at home with parents but stop speaking in certain situations like at school or kindergarten. Selective mutism can also affect adults. The pattern of speaking will vary from child to child but most have a very limited range of people they will speak to. The condition is usually first noticed when the child starts school or kindergarten.

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson Meltdowns can be a source of often daily stress for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Of course, emotions are a child's way of communicating to parents that they need help. With other children this might be a simple fix of finding a toy or providing food. Problem solved and the meltdown stops. But for a child with ASD, the cause of the meltdown can be baffling. One, because kids with ASD have difficulty communicating what the

by Dr. Michalle Hutcheson Which allied health people should you see and what do they all do?! It can be so confusing! Just remember. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many services at once. We are looking at the endgame here, getting your child functioning as best you can for adulthood, not fixing everything right here and now. Persistence and consistency works wonders over time! So here’s the list of peeps and what they all tend to do. There can be some overlap between servi