Habits That Hold™
Sticker charts. Visual timetables. Promises. Consequences.
Tired of reminding, negotiating, and getting nowhere?
When kids struggle with everyday routines – like brushing their teeth, getting dressed, or getting out the door – the problem isn’t your child or your parenting. It’s that most strategies focus on what to do (not how to do it) and aren’t matched to the way their brain learns best.
If your child keeps getting stuck or forgets things, it’s not laziness or defiance. Often, it’s their brain and body reacting to stress. When kids feel overwhelmed or uncertain, their nervous system can trigger a fight, flight, or freeze response to protect them.
In this state, the brain isn’t ready to learn or cooperate: it’s focused on survival. That’s why behaviour strategies that rely on willpower, motivation, or compliance tend to backfire – especially for neurodivergent kids.
Habits that match how your child learns
Habits That Hold™ is an emerging practice-based program that helps families build lasting change in a way that is less overwhelming for kids, and less exhausting for parents.
Instead of forcing behaviour change, we use a 4-step process based on simple, repeatable actions that are easy to start and stick with.
Step 1: The Anchor
Choosing something your child already does each day (like eating breakfast) that becomes a natural trigger for what happens next.
Step 2: The Habit
Connecting a new habit to the anchor using low-effort prompts that are easy to repeat each day.
Step 3: The Glue
Building in predictability and calm by creating patterns that feel safe and sustainable for you and your child.
Step 4: The Hold
Strengthening the habit over time with gentle reinforcement, so it sticks. No pressure – just consistency and connection.
The goal? New life skills and habits that are achievable, natural, and lasting for the whole family.
Why it works
Designed by Dr Nicole Carvill, Habits That Hold™ has been successfully piloted in our clinic. Here’s what sets it apart:
Works with the brain, not against it
Kids’ brains thrive on predictability. For neurodivergent children, this is essential. When the brain knows what to expect, it can make space for learning.
Fits your daily life
Created in partnership with an experienced therapist, your personalised Habits That Hold™ plan will fit naturally into your daily routines, without adding more to your plate.
Focuses on patterns, not perfection
There’s no need to overhaul your day with complicated changes. Simple actions – repeated at the same time, in the same way – build trust and momentum.
Leads with connection, not correction
With Habits That Hold™ you can support your child to build helpful new habits without relying on pressure, rewards, or consequences.
Builds skills for life
The program doesn’t just help with today’s struggle – it aims to support your child to grow confidence, independence, and resilience for their future.
What this looks like
Let’s say your child struggles to start homework.
Instead of the usual: “Do your homework!”
Try a prompt like: “After your snack, open your laptop and find the homework tab.”
That’s it. No pressure to finish. Just a consistent, calm cue to start.
Over time, that moment becomes predictable, and their brain feels ready. From there, skills can grow naturally, without the stress or pushback.
Ready to try a gentler, smarter way?
Success starts with understanding how your child learns – and that’s where a personalised Habits That Hold™ session makes all the difference. Every child is unique, and this first session helps us explore the kinds of prompts that best support their learning style.
✅ When the habit fits the brain, the behaviour starts to stick.
✅ When the pattern feels safe, confidence grows.
✅ When you get the right anchor, it works for everyone.
From homework cues to teeth brushing and beyond, booking a session can support the lasting change your family has been searching for.
Book a personalised session
Work 1:1 with an experienced therapist who will help you:
- Get to know your child and their interests
- Explore what’s really going on under the behaviour or roadblock
- Identify the barriers that might be getting in the way (emotional, sensory, executive functioning)
- Create a practical (printable) plan tailored to your child’s unique needs
- Turn everyday battles into confident, calm routines
Plus, your therapist will check in a few weeks later to review what’s working, adjust the plan if needed, and help you keep things on track.
Payment and rebates
- Medicare rebates may apply for eligible families.
- NDIS funding may apply if relevant to your child’s plan.
- Private health insurance rebates may be available depending on your policy.
Fill in the form below and our admin team will guide you through booking a session.
Habits That Hold™ is a registered trademark of Think Psychologists. All rights reserved.