Let's Reconnect with Breanna Jayne Sada

Why are more Australian families choosing homeschooling and alternative education pathways?In this episode of Let’s Reconnect, psychologist Breanna Jayne Sada explores the rise in homeschooling, school refusal, and “school can’t” among children and teenagers across Australia. Joined by Alecia Hancock, owner of ND Perspectives in Perth, this conversation dives into the emotional and practical realities families face when mainstream school no longer feels safe, sustainable, or appropriate for their child. Together, they discuss neurodiversity, anxiety, school disengagement, sensory overwhelm, and the difficult decisions parents are increasingly making in order to protect their child’s wellbeing. This episode is not about whether mainstream school is “good” or “bad.” It’s about understanding why more families are reconsidering traditional education and what support children may need when school becomes overwhelming.In This Episode We DiscussThe rise in homeschooling registrations across AustraliaWhy more children and teens are disengaging from mainstream schoolThe difference between “school refusal” and “school can’t”How autism, ADHD, anxiety, and sensory overwhelm can impact schoolingThe hidden challenges neurodivergent children face in classroomsAutism burnout and its impact on mental health and attendanceTransitioning from primary school to high schoolThe emotional impact on parents navigating these decisionsWhat homeschooling can actually look like in AustraliaSocialisation myths around homeschoolingThe role of allied health professionals in supporting familiesKey TakeawaysMany families do not feel they are “choosing” homeschooling, but responding to a child in distressSchool environments are often designed for neurotypical learners, which can create ongoing overwhelm for some childrenBurnout in autistic children and teens is real and can significantly affect functioning and wellbeingHomeschooling and alternative education pathways are becoming increasingly common in AustraliaThere is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to education and wellbeingProtecting a child’s mental health and sense of self may require flexibility and individualised approachesTopics CoveredWhat is “School Can’t”?A growing term used to describe children who are not simply refusing school, but who genuinely cannot cope with the demands of the environment due to overwhelm, burnout, anxiety, or neurodivergent needs.Neurodiversity and Mainstream SchoolThis episode explores how sensory sensitivities, transitions, social expectations, classroom environments, uniforms, noise, and lack of flexibility can impact autistic and ADHD children.Autism BurnoutAlecia shares how burnout gradually built over time for her son and how stepping away from mainstream schooling helped him reconnect with his personality, humour, and wellbeing.The conversation covers:Registration processesCurriculum requirementsFlexible learning approachesInterest-based learningSocial opportunities for homeschooled childrenThe realities of balancing work and homeschoolingHelpful ResourcesND Perspectives – https://www.ndperspective.com.au/Let’s Reconnect Podcast Instagram – @letsreconnect_podBreanna Jayne Sada – @breanna.jayne_psychologistRaising Children's Network - School Refusal GuideUnderstanding School Can't - Headspace This episode may be helpful for:Parents concerned about school refusal or school can’tFamilies navigating neurodiversity and educationTeachers and school wellbeing staffAllied health professionalsParents considering homeschooling or alternative schooling pathwaysAnyone wanting to better understand the emotional realities behind school disengagementIf this conversation resonated with you, share this episode with another parent, teacher, or professional who may benefit from hearing it.And if your family has experienced homeschooling, school refusal, alternative education, or transitioning back into mainstream school, Breanna would love to hear your story.Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do we teach children what healthy love, self-worth, boundaries and emotional safety look like before harmful relationship patterns begin?In this powerful and deeply important episode of Let’s Reconnect, Breanna Jayne Sada speaks with educator, advocate and founder of the Self Love Safe Love Collective, Lauren Armstrong.Lauren shares her lived experience of domestic violence in both childhood and adulthood, and how that inspired her mission to help children build an internal compass strong enough to guide them toward safe, respectful relationships and away from harm.Together, Breanna and Lauren explore how parents, teachers and trusted adults can start age-appropriate conversations with children about safe love, unhealthy behaviours, self-esteem, boundaries, coercion, emotional safety and family violence prevention.They also discuss why these conversations cannot wait until the teen years, and how teaching children to value themselves may be one of the strongest protective factors we can offer.This episode also includes an important discussion on the rise of teen gambling in Australia, new government restrictions on gambling advertising, and what parents need to know.In This Episode We DiscussWhat “safe love” means for children and teenagersWhy self-love helps protect young people from unhealthy relationshipsHow childhood experiences can shape adult relationship patternsSigns of controlling, coercive or emotionally unsafe relationshipsHow parents and teachers can respond if a child discloses abuseWhy believing children mattersHow to repair after yelling or conflict at homeTeaching children confidence without arroganceAge-appropriate relationship education for tweens and teensThe rise of teenage gambling in AustraliaWhy betting ads during sport matter for childrenKey TakeawaysChildren learn what love looks like early.The relationships they witness and experience can shape what feels normal later in life.Self-worth is protective.Children who value themselves are more likely to notice disrespect, coercion and unhealthy treatment.You don’t need all the answers.Parents, teachers and coaches do not need to “fix” everything. Often being a safe adult who listens is the first step.Repair matters.No parent is perfect. Apologising, owning mistakes and reconnecting after conflict builds trust.It is never too late.Whether your child is 5 or 15, healthy relationship conversations can start now.Resources Mentioned1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800Lauren Armstrong - Self Love Safe Love CollectiveSelf Love Safe Love Collective Self Love Safe Love on Instagram Purchase the books hereBreanna runs a short 4 hour course for adults called Conversations about Gambling. If you'd like her to run this for your organisation you can get some more information here If you like this episode or see it importance, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another parent, teacher or caregiver. These conversations help protect children.Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges facing both adults and children today — and if you’re a parent, chances are you’ve seen it show up at home.In this episode of Let’s Reconnect, I sit down with psychologist and mum Nancy Sokarno to have an honest, practical conversation about anxiety. Together, we unpack what anxiety actually is, why it shows up, and how parents can better support both themselves and their children through it.With anxiety affecting around 17% of Australians each year, this is a conversation that so many families need .We also answer listener questions and share simple, evidence-based strategies you can start using straight away.What you'll hear about;What anxiety actually is and why it’s a normal human experienceWhy no one is immune to anxiety — including parents and psychologistsThe difference between helpful anxiety and when it becomes overwhelmingHow anxiety can show up differently in children, teens, and adultsWhy understanding your child’s anxiety is more powerful than trying to “fix” itHow generational patterns can shape how we respond to anxietyWhat to say (and not say) when your child is anxiousPractical ways to support your child without reinforcing anxietyKey Takeaways; Anxiety is common and part of being human — it’s not something to eliminate, but something to understandYour child’s anxiety may not look the same as yoursCuriosity builds connection — asking “what does this feel like for you?” can open powerful conversationsParents often carry their own anxiety, which can influence how they respond to their childSupport starts with connection, not controlWe answer listener questions including;“I’ve always been an anxious person — how do I stop passing this onto my children?”“What do I do when my child’s anxiety seems to be getting worse?”“How can I support my child when I don’t fully understand what they’re feeling?”We discussed practical strategies including;Using open, non-judgmental questions to understand your child’s experienceSupporting your child without immediately trying to remove discomfortRecognising your own anxiety triggers as a parentBuilding emotional safety so your child feels comfortable opening upSmall ways to respond in the moment when anxiety shows upIf this conversation helped you better understand anxiety, either in yourself or your child please share it with someone who might need it too.And if you haven’t already, make sure you follow Let’s Reconnect so you don’t miss future episodes. You can also follow Nancy on Instagram @psychwithsokzLet's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode of Let's Reconnect Breanna is joined by Frank Iorfino - Associate Professor at the University of Sydney- Brain and Mind Centre Frank discusses how things like our phones, smartwatches, digital health platforms and AI can help support young people's mental health. Frank is also one of the brains behind MIA - AI applied expertise for personalised mental health care and he talks about how AI will help fill the gaps within the Australian Mental Health system, how does the pro's weigh up against the risks of AI for mental health support. We also discuss the new Age Verification Laws now in place in Australia for accessing explicit pornopgraphic content and what this means for young people but also a warning for parents that this isn't a free pass. Frank has a Substack where you can sign up to called Minds and Machines and i encourage you to check out Minding Your Mind to help you find the right support Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Let's Reconnect Breanna Jayne Sada is joined by Australian Institute of Family Studies Research Officer Holly Helprin to answer the questions what does neurodiversity mean? and what does neuro affirming mean?. We explore what research AIFS is doing in this space and what progress is still needed. Supporting neurodivergent children and young people-AIFS have created a set of short, accessible resources that aim to enhance readers’ basic neurodivergence literacy, laying the groundwork for further learning and promoting informed and affirming discussions about neurodiversity. They can be used by anyone involved in supporting neurodivergent children and young people, including practitioners supporting children and families as well as parents and carers. Child Family Community Australia News-Sign up to CFCA News - a fortnightly e-newsletter supporting practitioners working in the child and family services sector. Keep up to date with the latest and upcoming webinars, practice resources and sector-relevant research and events. Neurodiversity-affirming practice (NAP) in community-based mental health guide (to be published shortly)-AIFS have written a framework for family and community services to apply neurodiversity-affirming practice (NAP) to their work with all children, young people and families. This practice guide aims to support practitioners to work in a way that recognises, understands and respects diverse ways of thinking, learning, functioning, and experiencing the world. Neurodiversity-affirming practice (NAP) in community-based mental health course (to be published shortly)-AIFS designed this free, on demand course for practitioners who work with children, young people and families in community-based mental health settings. Whether you're new to NAP or want to deepen your understanding, this course will guide you through practical strategies, reflective activities and real-world examples to help you create a culture that values difference, reduces harm and empowers every child and family to thrive.Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode Breanna Jayne Sada is joined by Victoria Barendsen from The Safe Kids Project to discuss how to prevent Child Sexual Abuse. We discuss if it is possible for our children to have safe sleep overs and how teaching children about consent and their bodies works in combating child sexual abuse. Please take a moment to follow the podcast, rate us and share this episode with a friend who has children and would be interested. If you are in Australia and worried about yourself or someone else and would like to speak with someone about anything in this episode you can contact 1800 RESPECT If you are in New Zealand and would like to speak to someone you can contact Safe to Talk Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks episode of Let's Reconnect Breanna answers some listener questions and discusses some exciting news including her now regular writing for Kiddipedia you can see her most recent article here about supporting a child who is anxious about going back to school- trying to minimise the risk of school refusal.If you are enjoying the podcast please take a moment to rate, comment and share the podcast on whatever platform you listen and thank-you for your support! Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weeks minisode we discuss that often a parents worry for their child is displayed as anger and how this can impact relationships with our children when we misrepresent our worry. We discuss that anger is actually a secondary emotion and when we deal and display the primary emotion we are less likely to progress to anger. We also discuss the Netflix documentary The Evil Influencer the Jodi Hildebrant story - you can see the Guardians article on it here. I reflect on important learning we can all take away and some warnings about engaging the wrong therapist. Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can visit the Feel the Magic Organisation via their website to look at their online and in person programs and to make a referral. Thank you again to Kristy Thomas for joining us to discuss how adults can support a child who is greving the loss of a family member. Grief support is also available via GriefLine in Australia from 8am - 8pm on 1300 845 745 Here is the article published by the Guardian about the Grok Statement from X regarding them putting in a Geoblock on users creating sexualised and child pornographic material in counties where it is illegal. Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you worried about your child's behaviour? Maybe it's their gaming or phone use that's worrying you or maybe its their attitude towards their school, studies or sporting endeavours.In this mini episode "minisode" of Let's Reconnect Breanna takes you through the Stages of Change Model - a therapeutic model professionals use when working with someone who is wanting to change a problematic behaviour. We discuss how parents or people worried about a child's behaviour can tailor their conversations, support and approach to children or teens based on where they are along the 'stages of change'. Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Let's Reconnect we discuss the Bondi Terror Attack and advice on how to support kids who may have been impacted or exposed after Breanna was asked by both parents and the media about what they can do to help.Here is a link to some fact sheets by Emerging Minds and Hedspace on this topic We first take a deep dive with some parents who joined Breanna on location to discuss when they intend to introduce smart phones to their kids and what worries them about their children getting access to a smart phone. We discuss some considerations for Parents if they are introducing a smart phone to their kids this Christams.We will take a break over Christmas and have some exciting episodes coming up for you. Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psychologist @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual mental health support or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with.Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join as as we dive into topics that impact the lives of Children and Young People while the goal of helping Parent's Reconnect with their kids.This Episode we discuss what the podcast Let's Reconnect is all about and explore the biggest topic in the news at the moment which is the Australians Government Social Media Age restrictions for under 16 years olds. The Social Media Ban as it has been called comes into place on December 10 2025.You can find the esafety commisioner resources here to get accurate information and support about the social media age restrictionsCheck out the news about social media platforms trying to hide the research that showed their platforms were dangerous for Youth Mental HealhTeach Us Consent - Fix our Feeds - campaign for the government to support Australia's to opt in and out of algorithims on social mediaLet's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and engage with us on socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out via social media.Let's Reconnect next episode. In the meantime, subscribe and follow our podcast and socials @breanna.jayne_psych @letsreconnect_pod. If you or your child would like to write in with a question or story, or you’d like to be a guest advocating for the needs of children and young people, please reach out.Disclaimer:The information in this podcast is general and not a substitute for individual clinical advice or treatment. While I am a registered psychologist, I am not providing personalised guidance here. Every child and family is different, and what’s discussed may not suit your situation.If you have concerns, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional. For immediate help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or call 000 in an emergency.Views expressed are my own and not those of any organisations I am associated with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.