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 them 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 just laziness or defiance. Often, it’s their brain and body reacting to stress. When kids feel overwhelmed or unsure, their nervous system goes into protect mode, triggering their fight, flight, or freeze response.
In that state, their brain isn’t ready to listen, 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.
How it works
Say your child struggles to get organised in the morning.
You’ve tried the sticker charts, visual timetables, rewards and reminders. And still – the mornings are chaos, leaving the house is a battle and everyone is stuck in a loop that isn’t working.
Habits That Hold™ offers a simple, actionable plan that you can use to help your child build new skills in a way that feels achievable (and even fun) for the whole family. With our support, you’ll know exactly what to say and when to say it, tailored to how your child learns best. For some kids, rhymes and jingles help things stick. For others, it might be a gesture or visual cue.
That’s where professional guidance can make all the difference.
In an online Habits That Hold™ session, we’ll work together to:
- Choose the right anchors and prompts for your child’s brain and learning style
- Troubleshoot what’s really blocking progress, emotionally, behaviourally, or neurologically
- Create a practical plan tailored to your families unique needs
- Know how to respond when things don’t go to plan
- Turn everyday battles into calm routines
When the right approach is in place, routines start to feel predictable and safe. As the brain relaxes, skills can grow more naturally – without stress or pushback.
Throughout the process we stay focused on creating a space where you can speak openly about your challenges, free from blame, pressure, or judgment.
Our goal is to support the development of life skills and habits that feel achievable, natural, and lasting for the whole family.
And we won’t be left to roll it out on your own. Your therapist will also check in a few weeks later to adjust the plan if needed, and help keep things on track.
Why it works
Designed by Dr Nicole Carvill, here’s what sets Habits That Hold™ 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 new skills.
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 routine with complicated changes. Simple actions – repeated at the same time, in the same way – build trust and momentum each day.
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.
Ready to try a better way?
Success starts with understanding how your child learns, and that’s where a personalised online Habits That Hold™ session can help.
✅ 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.
Payment and rebates
Sessions can be booked online or in person, priced from $230* for eligible NDIS particpants. There are also several other options that may help cover the cost of your session, including:
- Medicare rebates may apply for eligible families.
- NDIS funding may apply if relevant to your child’s plan.
- Private health insurance rebates may apply, depending on your policy.
Fill in the form below and our admin team will guide you through fees and booking a session.
Habits That Hold™ is a registered trademark of Think Psychologists. All rights reserved.