Registered Psychologist · Perth & online · English & Español
Understanding what lies beneath. Healing through connection.
Attachment-based, trauma-informed psychology for children, families and adults, and warm, practical education for parents who want to understand what lies beneath their child’s behaviour.
Scientific rigour, without losing sight of the person.
Therapy & clinical services
Compassionate, evidence-based support, tailored to you.
A trauma-informed, attachment-based approach to healing, rooted in compassion and backed by science. Sessions are available in English and Spanish.
Adults · online & in person
Psychological therapy for adults
Support for anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, emotional dysregulation, relationship difficulties and life transitions, in a safe, collaborative space.
Children · in person
Child play therapy – Interplay
Attachment-based, play-based therapy for children, working closely with parents to support emotional regulation and family relationships.
Parents
Parenting consultations
Understand your child’s emotional needs and strengthen your bond, with practical, attachment-informed guidance for everyday challenges.
Couples & families
Couples and family therapy
Attachment-based, systemic and trauma-informed support to improve communication, repair disconnection and build more secure relationships.
Health professionals
Clinical supervision
Reflective, ethical, attachment-informed supervision for psychologists and other health professionals.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us a little about what’s happening and we’ll help you find the right path.
Why Connected Minds
Your child’s behaviour makes sense. You don’t need to be perfect.
Big emotions, meltdowns, clinginess and separation struggles are not signs that something is wrong with your child, or with you. They are signals. When we slow down and get curious about what lies beneath, we can respond to the need instead of fighting the behaviour. And when things go wrong, as they do in every family, repair is always possible.
From behaviour
to the need underneath
From reaction
to understanding
From theory
to connection
From perfection
to repair
Workshops & courses
Learn at your own pace, alongside other parents.
Evidence-informed education for parents and caregivers, grounded in attachment science and years of clinical work with children and families. These are educational programs, not individual therapy.
Pregnancy · babies 0–2
The First 1000 Days
For expecting parents and parents of babies aged 0–2.
What secure attachment really is (and isn’t), how babies communicate through cues and crying, co-regulation in the earliest relationship, and why responsiveness and repair matter more than getting everything right.
Live workshop · Dates coming soon
Children 2–12
Understanding What Lies Beneath Behaviour
For parents of children aged 2–12.
Meltdowns, anxiety, clinginess, defiance, big emotions. Move from “How do I stop this?” to “What is my child trying to tell me?”, and discover why co-regulation comes before correction.
Live workshop · Dates coming soon
Flagship online course
The Secure Connection Method™
A relationship-based framework for families.
Pause · Decode · Understand Need · Co-regulate · Repair · Connect · Grow. A self-paced course built from what parents find most helpful in the live workshops.
In development · Join the waitlist
The Secure Connection Method™
Connection before correction. Co-regulation before control.
This is not a behaviour management program. It is a relationship-based framework that helps parents understand what lies beneath behaviour and build secure, emotionally safe relationships.
01
Pause
Notice your own nervous system before you respond.
02
Decode
Get curious about what the behaviour is communicating.
03
Understand the need
Safety, connection, rest, comfort, predictability, autonomy.
04
Co-regulate
Lend your calm before you teach.
05
Repair
Reconnect after conflict. Repair over perfection.
06
Connect
Small daily moments that build secure attachment.
07
Grow
Support emotional growth over time.
About us
Meet Francisca, our founder.
Francisca Lessa Stewart is an AHPRA Registered Psychologist based in Perth, originally from Uruguay, working in English and Spanish. Her work sits where attachment, early childhood development, perinatal and infant mental health and relational neuroscience meet.
After years of working therapeutically with children and families, she kept seeing the same thing: parents who care deeply, feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice, and just want to understand their child. Connected Minds exists to translate the science into something warm, clear and usable in real family life.
Master’s in Psychotherapy · Couples & family therapy, William Street Centre · Attachment-based play therapy
Free resources
Small reads, big understanding.
Practical, warm guides that translate attachment science into everyday moments. Leave your email for instant, free access — in English or Spanish.
Free guide · pregnancy & 0–2
The First 1000 Days
How the earliest relationship shapes your baby’s emotional and cognitive development.
Free guide · newborns
Connecting with your newborn
Nine simple activities to build emotional connection from the very first weeks.
Free guide · parents
What lies beneath addiction
Childhood, stress and the developing brain — a clear, compassionate summary for parents.
You’ll get instant access to your guide after you press the button. Your details are kept private and you can unsubscribe at any time. These resources are general education, not individual therapy.
Questions
Frequently asked
How do I know if therapy is right for me?
Therapy is for anyone seeking personal growth, emotional balance, or support through life’s challenges. An initial consultation will help us understand what you need and whether this is the right fit.
How do I book a session?
You can book directly through our online client portal. If you’re not sure which service fits, leave your email and we’ll help you find the right path.
How long does therapy take?
Healing is a personal process, and the length of therapy varies for each person. Some people find short-term therapy helpful for specific concerns, while others benefit from longer-term support to process deeper experiences. We move at a pace that feels safe for you.
Can couples therapy help even if we are not in crisis?
Absolutely. Many couples come to therapy not only to resolve conflict but to strengthen their relationship, improve communication and deepen emotional connection.
Do you offer online sessions?
Yes. Adult therapy, parenting consultations and supervision are available online and in person in Perth. Child play therapy (Interplay) is in person.
Do you work in Spanish?
Sí. We work in English and Spanish, with individuals, families and parents.
Are the workshops therapy?
No. Workshops and courses are general education for parents and caregivers. They don’t replace individual assessment or therapy. If you’re worried about your child or your own wellbeing, please speak with your GP or a mental health professional.
I yelled again today. Is it too late?
Not at all. Every parent loses it sometimes. What matters most is what happens next: repair. It’s one of the most powerful things you can model for your child.
