Welcome to THRIVEChild

Welcome to THRIVEChild! In this introduction we answer the 5 common "W"s of THRIVEChild:
Who is it for? Why was it created? What’s it about? When is the right time? And, Where should I begin?

The 4 Pillars of Progress

Developing a structure to approach your Child’s Healing Process

Child Development 101

Development is pre-programmed from conception onwards in an exquisitely choreographed ‘dance’ between the individual child’s genetics, their biochemistry and every experience and exposure. All being well, development should ‘unfold’ as easily as breathing, to create a symmetry of body-mind maturity. To move forward we need to reset and 'reprogram' our children's development.

Think ‘Systems’ Not ‘Symptoms’

It's only natural to notice symptoms, signs, behaviours. After all, they are what we see, hear and experience. But symptoms are confusing. One symptom may have many causes. In fact, we may never know the causes, or more likely, there are multiple reasons for any problem we observe. That's because bodies are complex.
But when we learn to look beyond symptoms and focus on 'systems', the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fall into place. This is a core learning throughout THRIVEChild, and one that parents come to value greatly.

Your Child’s Developmental Timeline

To begin, we learn how to take a child's history and map out their unique timeline. In the live workshop that follows, this becomes the foundational step of a comprehensive Assessment Suite to help uncover your child's specific needs and challenges. 

Observe, Assess and Understand Your Child

There is no ‘once and done’ solution to a child’s developmental challenges. Each child needs an ‘expert parent’. You are the 'concierge' of your child's future. We explore the THRIVEChild ‘Change Cycle’ and how to become the catalyst for progress.

Your Child's Starting Point

Putting all assessments together, parents compile their child’s baseline analysis & receive a ‘snapshot’ of potential priorities and likely underlying issues.

Being a Change Maker

In THRIVEChild we are constantly moving between phases where we Learn, Expand, Apply & Personalise. Every step in this process is essential, and creates the ideal upward 'spiral' to lasting progress.

No Triumph, No Tragedy; No Guarantees; No Instruction Manual

How do parent's attitudes and expectations shape the outcomes? How can we give our children the best gift of all - that sense of self worth while also desiring that they can reach their highest potential?  It's not one or the other, it's one and the other.

Super-Nourished Principles

Starting from the beginning, the priority is first, to discover the many reasons why 'super nourishment' is so important for spectrum children. Before they can grow and thrive, we must help them heal.
By drawing on these principles, we can better understand the way food affects our children and what we can do to support them.

Customising SUPER Nourished For Your Family

Do you wish your child would eat well, but don't know how to make that happen?  Perhaps you never thought cooking was for you?  But, food is THE foundation for health and healing and it doesn't have to be complicated. If you need a place to start, a simple step that doesn't involve specific recipes and can be adapted to all sorts of tastes & textures, this is it. 

Bridging The Nutrition Gap

One of our best-loved classes in THRIVEChild. Learn how to adapt the Supernourished Plan to suit you and your child. Working WITH the body's natural instincts, WITH your child's food challenges, it's amazing how quickly their tastes can change and these habits can continue for a life time. 

10 High-Impact Changes to Start Today

Our focus is on “Ten High-Value Changes” to help you see results soon for your neurodivergent child. Together, we will explore some tools we’ve developed to group symptoms, identify patterns, and implement changes that often lead to quick wins in our clinical experience. This session is designed to provide an overview of some of the most significant progress blockers we commonly see in children on the spectrum. In future lessons, we will unpack each topic in greater depth, exploring how to implement these changes and why they are so important for your child’s development.

Understanding Epigenetics

Genetic material changes over the life span. Our job is to create perfect conditions for healing, maturation and well-being.

Choosing and Using Tests

There is no 'one, right, only set of tests for every child. However, some tests offer huge value because they focus on core elements that have the greatest potential to harm or heal.
 We share a personalised decision path to guide testing priorities covering core at-home and in-clinic options, genetic tests and more advanced investigations for certain circumstances.

Decoding Test Results: A Parent’s Guide

A guided analysis of the most useful at-home tests helps parents interpret key markers, relate these to next steps they can take with or without professional guidance.

Personalising Diets for Your Child’s Needs

There is no 'one size fits all' diet for spectrum children. Of course, there are some general principles to guide how we nourish and protect children's bodies. But your child is unique and that might mean creating a special diet plan for them, then adapting it to their needs over time.
In this session, we explore common special diets, how they can help, when they might be needed, and how to use them to help your child. In doing this, we also consider the 'down-side' of restrictive diets and how to balance nutrients while also exploring different options for your unique child. Find out about the 'nudge' principle, adding before subtracting, and tracking progress over time.

Choosing & Using Supplements

Food supplements are a core tool in balancing childrens' biochemistry for optimal development. They can help fill nutrient gaps, provide support for brain, body and microbiome and meet specific needs for unique individuals. And yet, supplements must be used in a targeted and appropriate way. We consider the wise way to supplement: food is the foundation with select supplements as needed over time.

Understanding Gut & Microbiome

Where does 'the gut' fit in to the big picture of health and development? Parents often say 'If I can fix the gut, I know everything will be OK' - but is that really the case?  What part does the microbiome play? What about food? And why does this 'inside-out' system have such a profound impact on body and brain?
We explore the GI system through different 'lenses' - form, function, and, most importantly, the 'Systems Approach' to development over a child's timeline.

Understanding Biochemistry

Puzzle pieces for understanding the brain, development, Central Nervous System vulnerabilities.

Understanding Immune Defence & Tolerance

In this session, we’ll explore the fascinating and critical topic of immune balance. Understanding how the immune system functions and adapts can help us better support the health and development of our children, especially those with unique developmental challenges. 

Understanding Brain Balance

Brain foundations & function – problems in Autism; neurodevelopment & early influences; gut-brain & neuroimmune health; nutritional brain support; neurotransmitter & behaviour balance; environmental & lifestyle impacts; behaviour regulation & emotional health; practical strategies & interventions.

Understanding Detoxification

Detoxification is a natural and continuous process essential to good health. It involves the body identifying, processing, and safely removing waste products, toxins, and harmful substances that can impede development and well-being. For children on the spectrum, the need for effective detoxification can be even more pronounced. Understanding how this process works, why it matters, and how we can support it is critical to their overall health and growth.

Daily Health Habits for Thriving

A body's function and wellbeing are shaped by a dynamic interplay between self and surroundings, nature and nurture. Or maybe we should say nature 'multiplied' by nurture. That's why it's so important that we create a home environment, daily habits of living and life experiences that will help, not harm.
In this session, we explore some of the impactful changes we can make to create health for our children, and for ourselves.

Healthy Home Environment

Clean air & water; avoiding environmental toxins; mould & mycotoxins; indoor safety; Avoiding pesticides, herbicides, synthetic chemicals, and fragrances. We prioritise practical strategies, what to do when things go wrong and how to deal with unhealthy indoor environments away from home. 

Beyond Biomedical: The Bigger Picture

While biomedical strategy is at the centre of a healing plan, many interventions can help shape your child's progress. We focus on core aspects of development including visual and reflex integration, motor planning & skills, speech and language and many other therapies to consider.

“ Magic Bullets” – What Works & What Doesn’t

Vitamin D optimisation; Magnesium, taurine, SAMe & methylation support; B12 & neurological function; active folates & genetic factors; synergies & personalised strategies; Plasmalogens & brain regeneration; chlorine dioxide & immune modulation; Spell to Communicate & AAC; FMT; Peptide therapies.

Exploring Medication-Free Approaches

Herbal antimicrobials & immune support; chlorine dioxide & oxidative therapies; DMSO & cellular penetration; silver solutions & infection control; fever as immune defence; natural antiparasitics & gut balance; probiotics & microbiome restoration; urinary antiseptics & infection prevention.

Tantrums, Aggression, Regressions & Plateaus

Is your child stuck in the 'terrible twos' even though that milestone passed by a long time ago? Have you seen regressions, plateaus, behaviour problems that make you lose hope and spend every day (or night) in turmoil?  
We explore some simple principles and practices that you may find life-changing.

Beyond Autism: Understanding Co-Occurring Conditions

Prenatal infections, seizure disorders & brain inflammation; stealth infections & chronic immune activation; PANS/PANDAS & neuroimmune disorders; heavy metal & environmental toxicity; mitochondrial & metabolic dysfunction; gut-brain axis & dysbiosis; blood sugar instability & mood; neurotransmitter imbalances & excitotoxicity; iron overload & folate transport issues; connective tissue, mast cells & immune regulation; cerebral hypoperfusion & vascular dysfunction; genetic & rare metabolic conditions.

Navigating Health Care Systems

As we work to help our children heal, grow and thrive, how to choose and develop the best possible network of Professionals to support your child.