About Us
Welcome to KNOTS!
I’m Sarah, a registered counsellor, life coach, and proud mother of two, living in the scenic Derwent Valley, Tasmania. I’m also the founder and CEO of Kids and Teens in the Valley, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting young people and their families in our community
With more than 15 years of experience and over 5 years running wellbeing programs in schools, I’ve seen how anxiety, trauma, bullying, stress, and learning challenges can deeply impact children—and their ability to thrive in school. These challenges affect more than just attendance; they can shape a child’s confidence, relationships, and overall well-being. As parents, you understand how these struggles can influence your child’s happiness and future. My goal is to support families in navigating these challenges, helping children build resilience, heal, and rediscover their strengths in a safe, supportive environment.
Seeing so many bright young kids slowly disappearing from school was heartbreaking. At first, there were just a few absences here and there, but eventually, it reached a point where they flat-out refused to go to school. Parents would throw up their hands, unsure what to do.
They understood the importance of education and wanted the best for their children, but it was clear that something deeper was going on. The battles in the morning, the tears, the frustration – it was like watching a family slowly unravel under the weight of these challenges and feeling alone in their struggle.
As a counsellor and parent, I saw the toll it took on families. It was a wake-up call for me, realising that we need to do more to support our young people.
It’s not just about getting good grades or fulfilling obligations; it’s about understanding their needs, their fears, and their struggles. We need to create a safe space where they can open up and seek help without feeling judged or dismissed.
Together, we can work towards creating a more supportive environment for our young people, one where they feel understood, valued, and, most importantly, not alone.
I quickly realised that our current school-based support for school avoidance is far from adequate in addressing the problem. It became clear that a comprehensive framework was needed—one that supports both parents and students by tackling school avoidance holistically and practically.
Having witnessed firsthand the struggles faced by parents and students working through the complexities of school avoidance, I no longer wanted to provide ‘band-aid’ fixes that failed to address the real problem. I wanted to help families get the knowledge and support they need to make meaningful changes, improving outcomes for both parents and students.
My passion for supporting and championing families through the critical school years led to the creation of KNOTS (Kids Not Open to School).
KNOTS is a holistic community focused on tackling school avoidance by providing much-needed support and skills development to parents and young people (currently available to 13-17-year-olds).
At KNOTS, we provide more than just traditional counselling. The KNOTS community is a place where parents and students can develop a lasting support network and find understanding and encouragement while working through the challenges of school avoidance.
When you join the KNOTS community, you’ll be able to customise the support you and your child receive, based on your needs and comfort levels. You can choose.
CREDENTIALS
- Adv Diploma of Professional Counselling
- Certified Life Coach - BPS305
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
- Study Major - Child Development & Effective Parenting
- Study Major - Workplace Counselling
- ACA Member
- Working with School Refusal – A Tiered Approach
- Tuning in to Teens - Trained Facilitator
- Coaching Young People for Success - Trained Facilitator
- Friends Resilience Program - Trained Facilitator
- Social Stencil - Trained Facilitator
- Secret Agent Society (SAS) – Trained Facilitator
