Spirited Hearts the podcast

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Here is Part 2 of the series all about supporting and advocating for our child on their schooling journey. As we enter a new school year, you might find helpful tips and strategies to support your child in a new classroom with a new teacher.

In this episode, Nic and I discuss:

• how to advocate for your child at school
• how little actions can cause trauma
• using play to heal your child's experiences
• how to discover what happens to your child at school, through play
• how to choose the right school for your child
• chronological versus developmental age, and why it is important
• questions to ask teaches
• strategies for approaching teachers when something does not feel right for you or your child
• plus much more

Where to Find Nic:

Instagram @peacefulparenting

Website

Where to Find Steph:

Instagram @stephanieheartfield

Website

Resources Mentioned:

The Heartfield Way Mentor Program to Elevate Your Parenting and Teaching

Aware Parenting

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In this mini series, Nic and myself decided to share our experiences homeschooling our children, and then sending them back to school. This choice was initiated by our children, and left Nic and I with many mixed feelings. Especially, after spending so long dedicating ourselves to homeschooling and taking our children out of school.

We recorded this episode in February 2025, and while almost a year has passed, everything we discussed is still relevant today.

In this episode you will hear:

• our journey sending our children to school after homeschooling
• why we homeschooled and some challenges we faced
• parental expectations vs the needs of our child
• our concerns about the school system
• how to do school your way
• experiences of grief and loss in our child's education
• the challenges teachers/educators face and the complexities of the school system
• plus much more

Where to Find Nic:

Instagram @peacefulparenting

Website

Where to Find Steph:

Instagram @stephanieheartfield

Website

Resources Mentioned:

The Heartfield Way Mentor Program to Elevate Your Parenting and Teaching

Aware Parenting

The Marion Method

Episode 27 The Power & Freedom of Expressing Our Authentic Self with Nic Wilson

Episode 33 Supporting & Advocating for Our Children at School with Nic Wilson

Episode 51 Steph & Nic's Homeschooling Series Part 1

Episode 53 Steph & Nic's Homeschooling Series Part 2

Episode 57 Steph & Nic's Homeschooling Series Part 3

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In this new episode, which for full disclosure was recorded in 2024 (I apologise for its very late release), I had the pleasure of chatting with Linde Lambrechts. She is an Aware Parenting Instructor based in Europe, has a background in psychology and is the Mum of 2 boys.

In this episode you will hear:

• Linde's journey into motherhood
• the insecurities experienced on the motherhood journey
• challenges faced with Aware Parenting
• what to do when listening to the big feelings is hard
• how to meet your own needs as a Mum
• passing down Aware Parenting to the next generation
• how to support our own feelings
• plus much more

Where to Connect with Linde:

• Linde's Instagram @lovinglimits

Resources Mentioned:

• Tears & Tantrums by Aletha Solter
• The Marion Method
• The Heartfield Way Mentor Program
• Subscribe to Email to Join the Community and to receive offers on Steph's programs

If you enjoy listening to the Spirited Hearts podcast, please consider leaving a rating or review. Thank you for your support.

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It's been almost a year since I recorded an episode of my podcast. There is a reason, and in this episode I explain why. I will also share with you all a little bit more about The Heartfield Way Mentor Program. Something I spent a long time creating, and is aimed to support parents/carers and teachers/educators.

In this episode I will discuss:

• the energy of 2025 and the lessons I learnt
• therapy and mental health plans
• journey of an autism diagnosis
• how I get teachers on board to support my children
• assumptions and expectations
• redefining productivity
• plus much more

Resources Mentioned:

• Creator's Friend Planner 
• Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum by Sarah Hendrick
• Subscribe to my email list - for a discount code on The Heartfield Way Mentor Program

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Heartfield is a Child-Centred Play Therapist, Registered Counsellor, Early Childhood Educator and Certified Level 2 Aware Parenting Instructor. 

She is passionate about supporting children and families through play therapy and parenting, in addition to providing mentoring for educators and caregivers. With a background in psychology, counselling and early childhood education, Stephanie helps children process emotions, heal from trauma, and build resilience with play therapy at her private practice. She is dedicated to assisting the neurodivergent community, based on personal experience with her son, as well as her own AuDHD diagnosis.

Stephanie has a decade of experience as an Early Childhood Educator and co-founded Spirited Hearts Natural Learning, a play-based family day care, which operated from 2014-2024. 

She is also the host of Spirited Hearts® The Podcast, where she shares heartfelt conversations on parenting, childhood development, and emotional well-being.

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In this episode I am joined by Kate Christensen. She is a Mum, Sacred Female Yoga Teacher & Women's Embodiment Psychotherapy Coach.

In this episode we discuss:

• our journeys into motherhood
• the feminine psyche
• female embodiment practices
• how to embody self-compassion
• understanding the nervous system
• how to meet our needs
• self-leadership
• plus so much more

Where to Find Kate:

Instagram

Facebook

Coaching Offers

Resources Mentioned:

• When the Body Says No by Gabor Mate
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
• The Secret Language of the Body by Inna Segal

ABOUT KATE:

I’m Kate a Devoted Mother, Sacred Female Yoga Teacher & Women's Embodiment Psychotherapy Coach. I get so excited when I witness the women I work with returning home to their bodies and feminine essence and feeling so much permission to EMBRACE & EXPRESS their fullness and uniqueness — in their homes and in the world. I work with a mythic map of the female psyche and nervous system, with a focus on helping women to release perfectionism and over-functioning, discover the greater context for the challenges they face and shift from living a life based on outer expectations, to one aligned with their True Self/Soul.

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In this episode I am thrilled to introduce you to Dr Jodi Mullen. She is a Play Therapist, Supervisor & Counsellor and has been working in this space for 30 years. Jodi has shared so much wisdom in this episode, including her own journey into Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT).

We also discuss:

• how our culture's socialisation is not supportive of our children's needs
• why saying "use your words" is not helpful to children
• different approaches in play therapy
• how CCPT helps children heal
• CCPT and neurodivergence, including Autism & ADHD
• choosing the right therapist for your child
• plus so much more

Where to Find Jodi:

• Website: Integrative Counseling Services
• Instagram: @drjodimully

About Jodi:

Dr. Jodi Weinstein Mullen, PhD LMHC NCC RPT-S CCPT-Master is a professor at SUNY Oswego in the Counseling & Psychological Services Department, where she has been a counselor educator for nearly 30 years. She is the Director of Integrative Counseling Services, with offices in Central New York.  Dr. Mullen is an international speaker, author, credentialed play therapist and play therapy supervisor.  Dr. Mullen provides training, consultation, and supervision to professional helpers all over the world. She has authored books on play therapy, counseling children and adolescents, grief counseling and parenting. Dr. Mullen was the 2008 recipient of the Key Award for Professional Training & Education through the Association for Play Therapy. She is the proud Momma of Leah & Andrew.

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In this episode I am joined by Jess Wojcinski of Aura Botanical Homeopathy. Jess is a Clinical Homeopath and Mum of 3.
In this episode, Jess shares her health battles, as well as her journey in naturopathy, herbal medicine and before, finally finding her calling in homeopathy.
We also discuss:

• What is homeopathy
• The history of homeopathy - it has been around for over 200 years
• How homeopathic remedies are made
• The vital energy of the body
• Homeopathy and intergenerational trauma
• Creating and living a healthy lifestyle
• Plus so much more

Where to Find Jess:

• Website
• Instagram

Resources Mentioned:

• RMDY First Aid Kit
• Fighting Fire with Fire by Ton Jansen
• Homeopathic Psychology by Philip M Bailey
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
• The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Holly Ringland

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In this episode I'm pleased to introduce Meg Rankin, who is a fellow Aware Parenting Instructor. Meg has worked for 20 years as a social worker and counsellor, supporting women in pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

In this episode we discuss:

• Birth debriefing
• Recognising birth trauma
• Preparing for birth
• Birth as women's business
• Continuity of care during pregnancy and birth
• How birth trauma impacts infants
• Supporting our child through embodied memories of birth trauma
• Plus so much more

Where to Find Meg:

• Website
• Instagram

Resources Mentioned:

• Jane Hardwick Collings
• Rhea Dempsey
• The Emotional Life of Babies by Marion Rose

ABOUT MEG:
Meg Rankin is a Melbourne-based Mum and Social Worker with 20 years of counselling experience, working predominantly in the pregnancy, birth and early parenthood space.

Meg currently works in a tertiary hospital offering training to health professionals supporting women and babies who have experienced trauma. Meg also runs her own business, offering Birth Debriefing, Counselling for Parents, and Clinical Supervision to care professionals and will soon add Women's Circles to her offerings, along with Aware Parenting support. 

Throughout her career, Meg has worked in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland, supporting parents from all walks of life. Meg is always moved by the capacity and drive of women to step into their power in motherhood and forge a new path for their family, regardless of their background. 

Meg supports parents of children of any age, but she’s especially passionate about working with parents of babies and toddlers, as this is the space she’s worked in for two decades!

Meg practices from a strengths-based, trauma-informed lens, and believes in the healing power of sharing stories - that when we are heard, held and honoured, we all have the innate ability to heal.

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In this week's episode, I speak with Travis Dowling co-founded Queensland Theatre for Young People, runs the Acting degree at USQ and is passionate about how drama can positively impact social and emotional skills for young people.

In this episode we discuss:

• the research on drama and wellbeing
• the drama continuum
• how drama is essentially a form of play and can be therapeutic
• bringing more play and drama to the classroom
• the importance of student-led learning
• plus so much more

Where to Find Travis:
Website: https://qtyp.com.au/
Email: [email protected]

About Travis:
Travis Dowling has been facilitating workshops for young people for the last 20 years across 300 schools nationally and at organisations outside of schools including Queensland Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Hot House Theatre Company, University of Southern Queensland, Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology amongst others. Travis has developed and taught programs nationally and is currently running the Acting Degree at the University of Southern Queensland where he is completing a PhD focusing on how the impact on Drama can develop life long social skills for young people.

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Welcome to 2025 and this brand new episode, which I actually recorded 6 months ago! What can I say, life happened, we made it to a new year and I am delighted to introduce you to this week's guest; Kylie Ellison. She is a Counsellor, Play Therapist - Supervisor and Mum.

In this episode we discuss:

• The definition of Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT)
• Developmentally appropriate therapies
• Looking beneath the behaviour
• How CCPT holds space for parents/carers
• Learned helplessness, parental burnout and Mum guilt
• Fostering communities for our family
• Plus much more

Where to Find Kylie:
Centre for Play Therapy Website
Centre for Play Therapy Instagram
Play Therapy Training Australia Website
Play Therapy Training Australia Instagram

Resources Mentioned:
Dibs in Search of Self by Virginia Axiline

ABOUT KYLIE
Kylie is a Registered Counsellor, and Play Therapist- Supervisor who has been working with children, young people and families in the human services field for the past 19 years.

Kylie commenced her career working alongside mental health practitioners in adult mental health, before moving into the area of child protection and disabilities.

In 2016, Kylie discovered a passion for Child Centered Play Therapy as a way of working alongside children and their parents/ carers. Subsequently, Kylie established Centre for Play Therapy, an organisation committed to supporting children to work through difficult feelings and experiences through the provision of Child Centred Play Therapy services. Today the organisation operates across South- East Queensland, with a commitment to accessibility of play therapy services in Australia.

In 2021 along with Centre for Play Therapy, Kylie founded Play Therapy Training Australia, to offer a professional training program and provide a pathway to registration as a play therapist for professionals in Australia.

Along with overseeing both companies, Kylie was a previous Board member and previous President of the Play Therapy Practitioners Association, a professional association established for those interested in or trained as play therapists in Australia.

Kylie is passionate about creating a community of play therapy practitioners that fosters access to training and therapy services along with advocacy for play therapy in both the community and professional arenas.