Huddle Wisdom
By Dr Davin Tan, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
If your child has anxiety, or a diagnosis like OCD, generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, or school refusal, you may already be feeling like you've tried everything.
Youâve read the books.
Youâve asked for help.
Youâve done your best to stay calm.
Maybe youâve tried medication.
And still, the anxiety keeps showing up.
Itâs confusing.
Itâs exhausting.
And it can make you wonder whether youâre missing something important.
Iâve worked with families in this space for years, and I see the same thing again and again.
Most parents are doing the best they can, but theyâre working with tools that donât account for how anxiety actually works.
Advice often sounds good in theory. In practice, it can be quite a different story.Â
Thatâs why I created Making Sense of Anxious Kids. Itâs a self-paced, short practical programme that helps parents better understand what anxiety does to their child, and how to respond in a way that actually helps.
Itâs not a replacement for professional care. But it will help you feel more prepared for the road ahead, and more confident in the work you're already doing.
It also helps you make better use of therapy, because youâll understand whatâs happening underneath the surface.
If you're not sure whether this programme is right for you, Iâve pulled out one of the most-used sections and made it freely available.
Itâs called the Emotional Storm Toolkit, and itâs the bit parents tend to come back to a lot.
The toolkit includes:
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A one-page meltdown map to help you stay grounded
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A printable version to keep on the fridge
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A short guide and audio walkthrough to help you use it under pressure
This is the resource I wish every parent had when their child was first diagnosed.
âThis toolkit was the only thing I could actually use in the moment. It helped me feel less lost.â
â A parent, just like you
If your child is struggling with anxiety, and youâre not sure how to support them without burning out yourself, this is a good place to start.
"Huddle Wisdom is a fantastic resource for parents and caregivers looking after children, particularly those displaying emotional or behavioral difficulties. Dr Davin Tan has put together a set of resources which make great sense to anyone seeking to reflect on parenting and childcare practices and the impact on children of various different approaches. The focus of Huddle Wisdom is on providing empathy-driven care, allowing for the recognition and management of anxiety related behavioural problems in particular. This serves to improve the relationship between children and caregivers and is universally applicable from minor struggles to more serious situations. Dr Tan has based his approach on a wide range of experience and research gleaned from a career as a child and adolescent psychiatrist and forensic psychiatrist in both New Zealand and Australia and also incorporates his own knowledge and wisdom from parenting two children. He is an active supporter of teachers and other educators. I can personally attest to the value of the courses provided by Huddle Wisdom, as well as the Huddle Wisdom courses. Dr Tan provides free value to the community through his podcast. I thoroughly recommend Dr Tan's programs to parents and caregivers, particularly those facing challenges with behavioral and emotional issues, however the techniques he describes could be equally useful in an educational environment. For those who are at a loss as to where to begin, and for those with more knowledge and experience, Huddle Wisdom offers a uniquely effective take on helping children to regulate their emotions across a wide variety of situations. "
Dr Caleb Armstrong
Forensic Psychiatrist, Founder and Director of Anteris
"Davin's course, Empathic Guidance for Anxious Sensitive Kids, has been a game changer for my parenting. These days there's so much parenting advice on the internet, but it can be difficult to know what's good advice and what's not. It gets even more confusing when different sources of information contradict each other. Davin's course outlines a solid foundation for parenting. I love his emphasis on nurturing the relationship between parent and child. This caring approach just 'feels right'. The course doesn't teach a bunch of parenting tricks or hacks to get your kids to act the way you want. Instead, it outlines a parenting philosophy that can be adapted to different situations. This has given me heaps more confidence in my parenting. When faced with a parenting challenge, I now approach the situation by asking myself "what would a Huddle Wisdom parent do?" "
Dr Andrew M
General Practitioner
"As a parent of two - one highly sensitive and the other, anxious - I have found Dr Tanâs podcasts truely helpful. His content, tips and advice is authentic, informative and teaches you how to think âoutside the boxâ with regards to handling the emotional chaos that comes with parenting. The courses offered by Dr Tan via the Huddle Wisdom have also been fantastic at providing those practical steps to put what is learnt into âpracticeâ. I have found that pretty much all of the stories and situations discussed really resonates with me and Iâm sure so many others out there. Overall, itâs been amazing having this content at my very fingertips !"
Phelia T
Digital Marketing Specialist
"I've struggled at times with the kids; trying not to yell for example. And your latest podcast about empathy to build trust and the influence them was really really topical for me and helpful. Just want to say thank you. Just want you to know you are helping lots of people probably without you realising..."
VT
Parent
"Dr Tan is an excellent psychiatrist. He truly listens and and is very personable. His knowledge is remarkable and I have been greatly helped by him."
- AS
"Dr Davin has helped my family beyond words. He listens and his expertise is the best. He has helped us, being me and my two grandsons have the best life possible. He is available, kind, caring and understanding. "
- TH
"Davin Tan is an amazing clinical psychiatrist who I can't recommend enough. He has a great podcast Huddle Wisdom which shares great Insight Into human connection and empathy - definitely worth a listen no matter where you are on your mental health journey"
