Dana Baltutis Coaching

30/10/2026

At 60, I'm beginning to realise that happiness isn't about having more. It's about needing less.

Since turning 60 in July, I've been reflecting a lot on life, happiness and what really matters.

I've spent much of my life working hard, building a business, learning, creating and helping others. And I still have so much I want to do!

But something is changing.

I recently came across happiness researcher Dr Arthur Brooks, who talks about how, in the second half of life, happiness comes from subtracting rather than constantly adding more.

More money, more success, more achievements, more things. When is enough, enough?

I'm realising that I don't need to keep proving myself. I want to enjoy what I've created, spend time with the people I love, keep learning, make a difference and simply enjoy being me.

It doesn't mean I've lost my ambition. I think I'm just becoming clearer about what really matters.

One question Brooks asks really stayed with me:

"Would this still matter to me if no one else knew I achieved it?"

Perhaps growing older isn't about slowing down. It's about letting go of what no longer matters and making more room for what does.

And maybe that's one of the beautiful gifts of turning 60.

For those of you getting older alongside me, have you noticed your priorities changing too?

26/10/2026

What does safety at work really mean?

In my book Attuned Workplaces, I introduce eight attunements that help people feel supported, contribute and belong. The first is safety.

Safety is like the roots of a tree. It is the foundation that helps everything else grow.

When we don’t feel safe, we can lose the capacity to do what we are capable of. Our energy goes into getting through the day.

I know this from experience.

When I raised concerns about a client, my managers thought I was “overreacting” and that I “should” have the skills to deal with it. The client went on to stalk me. Even then, I was asked to work with them again.

I felt unheard and unsupported. There were no psychology or legal teams on site, so I found my own psychologist and legal representative. The matter went to a tribunal, where it was recognised that I had not been adequately supported.

I experienced PTSD. It took many psychology and coaching sessions to rebuild my confidence and trust. I never returned to that workplace. Instead, I established my own practice.

Now, years later, I lead a team and support others to feel safe. I want people to know that when they raise a concern, they will be heard and we will work together to find a way forward.

Feeling unsafe doesn’t always come from a major event. Constant noise can make it hard to focus and leave us exhausted. Not knowing how a colleague or leader will react can make us hesitant to speak up.

Over time, we might struggle to sleep, feel teary or sick, or begin to dread the night before work.

It is natural to feel uncertain when learning something new or stepping outside our comfort zone. In those moments, we still need support and someone we can turn to.

With greater attention to psychosocial hazards under work health and safety laws, these questions matter for everyone:

- What helps me feel safe and supported at work?
- What do I need from my colleagues and leaders?
- Does my environment support my sense of safety?
- How can we support safety together as a team?

What helps you feel safe and supported at work?



https://danabaltutis.com/attuned-workplaces/

14/10/2026

How does a family cope when their child dies?

In this very moving episode of The Empowered Parent Podcast, Steve shares the day his son Ben suddenly became critically ill and passed away.

He speaks openly about holding Ben, saying goodbye, and how his family has lived with the grief that followed. We talk about faith, love, and how a child continues to shape a family’s life long after they are gone.

Thank you, Steve, for trusting us with Ben’s story and this deeply personal part of your family’s life.

Listen to The Empowered Parent Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or via this link

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2301054/episodes/19927912

[danabaltutis.com](https://danabaltutis.com)
[mytherapyhouse.com.au](https://mytherapyhouse.com.au)

14/10/2026

This week at My Therapy House, I started something simple. A Gratitude Whiteboard.

I encouraged our team to write down something they appreciate about each other.

Why?

Because so often we hear about what we haven't done, what needs improving or what we could have done differently.

But how often do we stop and tell someone what we genuinely appreciate about them?

And even when we do hear something positive, it's often said once and then forgotten.

There's something powerful about seeing those words written down. Being able to walk past them, read them again and be reminded that you matter, that you're valued and that the little things you do make a difference.

Now I'm thinking of moving our Gratitude Whiteboard out of the staff area and into a shared space where our children, families and team can all contribute.

Imagine walking into My Therapy House and seeing a wall filled with appreciation, kindness and people noticing the good in each other.

Because gratitude isn't just about saying thank you. It's about consciously noticing what others bring into our lives.

And the more we practise noticing what is good, the more we begin to see it.

What we focus on grows.

Sometimes the simplest things can make the biggest difference.

What do you think? Would you contribute to a Gratitude Whiteboard?

13/10/2026

Attuned Workplaces® starts before someone has to ask for support.

It’s about noticing what people need and responding. It’s also about being proactive in how we shape our workplaces.

The environment we create.
The way we communicate.
How we show respect.
Whether people feel safe to contribute, ask questions and be themselves.

A person can be highly capable, yet have limited capacity in an environment that overwhelms them. When we change the conditions around them, we create more room for their strengths.

Next week, the wonderful Sarah Eagle of Joy Diving Australia and I are presenting two workshops for the federal government as part of Neurodivergent Week.

Together, we’ll explore our integrated Attuned Workplaces® + Belonging framework, helping employees and leaders understand how environments, everyday interactions and expectations influence participation and wellbeing.

Belonging grows through what we do each day, including what we put in place before someone starts struggling.

26/07/2026

Do you ever find yourself thinking...

"I keep trying different things, but nothing seems to work."

"I can't seem to capture their attention."

"They don't stay with me long enough to interact."

"I'm not sure what to do next."

If you've ever felt this way, you're not alone.

The answer isn't simply finding more activities, letting the family know you are not the 'right' therapist for them, there is nothing you can do to help the child. It's understanding the foundations that support communication development and knowing what to look for before words emerge.

In this short video, Michele Ricamato shares why communication begins long before spoken language, and how understanding relationships, regulation, shared attention and play can completely change the way we support children.

If you're looking for an evidence-informed framework that helps you understand why a child communicates the way they do, and where to go next, we'd love you to join us.

Rethinking Communication Assessment and Intervention
With Michele Ricamato
Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November 2026
Adelaide

Stop wondering what to do next. Learn what to look for first.

03/07/2026

We are delighted to welcome Kristine, Occupational Therapist, to the My Therapy House® team.

Kristine graduated in 2017 and has worked with children and families across both Australia and the Philippines in clinic, home, school, community and telehealth settings.

She has previously worked with other therapy services, bringing a wealth of experience supporting children with a wide range of developmental, sensory, emotional regulation and neurodivergent profiles.

Kristine enjoys working with children from the early years through to adolescence, supporting their emotional regulation, sensory processing, executive functioning, social and emotional development, and fine and gross motor skills. She values building strong relationships with children and families and believes in working alongside parents to help children thrive in everyday life.

Kristine's warm, family-centred and strengths-based approach aligns beautifully with the values of My Therapy House®, and we are so excited for our families to meet her in the coming weeks.

13/06/2026

What happens when you realise your child may not live with you forever?

In this episode of The Empowered Parent Podcast, Graham shares the deeply personal journey of supporting Bradley into adulthood and creating a home where he can feel safe, understood, and supported to grow with dignity and choice.

We talk about anxiety, OCD, tics, and how behaviour is often communication. We also explore the power of curiosity, understanding patterns rather than fighting them, and the role the right supports can play in helping families move out of survival mode.

This conversation also goes into the real life side of supported living and the NDIS. The decisions, the staffing, the routines, the emotional load, and the unexpected moments where adulthood begins to emerge.

A thoughtful and honest episode for parents thinking about future living options, independence, and what support can truly look like.

Listen on your favourite podcast app, subscribe, and share with another parent who may need this conversation.

Buying a home for your child sounds like a practical decision until you realise it also forces a whole new identity for everyone involved. We sit down with Graham to unpack how his family moved from assuming Bradley would live with them forever to...

04/06/2026

New episode out now on The Empowered Parent Podcast with Dana Baltutis.
ALL4ONE: A Father’s Story Episode 3
School Was The Anchor… And Then It Ended.
In this heartfelt conversation, Graham shares the transition from the school years into adulthood with Bradley, and the impact that losing routine, predictability, and community had on the whole family.
We talk about:
• anxiety and transitions
• travel and regulation
• support workers and independence
• daily living skills and routines
• the hidden support parents provide every day
A warm and honest conversation for parents supporting autistic teens and young adults.
Have a listen, subscribe, and share with someone who may need this conversation.
You can listen on this link:

School can feel like it’s “for the kids”, but for many families it’s also the first place a parent stops feeling invisible. I sit down with Graham to keep following Bradley’s journey from childhood into adulthood, starting with the school years an...

23/05/2026

Yay❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️. My new book is finally here - Attuned Workplaces: The Future is Neurodivergence. It will be available this week through my website danabaltutis.com Fabulous 😍