I became an occupational therapist (OT) primarily because I could have benefitted from occupational therapy as a child. My mother, who worked as both a speech and language pathologist and a special education teacher, often says to me, “Where were you when you were growing up?”. This is especially touching, since she was the one who set me on my path of becoming an OT years ago. 

I was that sensitive child who (despite being highly articulate) would lose all sense of myself and break into meltdowns when I got a wrinkle in my sock. I was that kid who hyper focused and tuned everything else out–my mom would often say “Earth to Katie…” as she had a hard time getting my attention when I was hyper focused. I was that kid who grew into that adult who had extreme rejection sensitivity, and who had a hard time reading social cues. The one who knew what other people were feeling, even without them saying a word. The one who was/is sensitive to crowds. The one who experiences such things as “time blindness”. I now recognize these as signs of neurodiversity (which includes ADHD, OCD, ASD), as well as my history of trauma (including childhood trauma). 

Becoming an OT was not a straight path for me. I was on the fence about becoming an OT until I studied pediatric therapy and the work of Dr. A. Jean Ayres. Though I didn’t fully grasp all the concepts at the time, I felt them. I sensed that this work was deeply healing and therapeutic. I began to understand myself better, and even started applying some of the OT work to my own development.

One of the biggest shifts came after I became a mother. My intuition kicked in strongly, and I began remembering talking to imaginary friends, seeing and feeling things others couldn’t as a child, and even communicating with people who had crossed over. I could see visions, and interpret things that simply had no other explanation. To make it through school and appear “normal,” I had pushed much of this awareness aside. But around 2007, it all came rushing back. It led me to a question that has shaped my work ever since: What if some of the neurodiverse children I work with aren’t just sensitive to sensory input—but also intuitive?

These experiences taught me something essential: many children—especially neurodivergent ones—are incredibly intuitive. They sense more than they can explain. When given a safe, nonjudgmental space, they share things that might otherwise be dismissed as “imagination.”

I began to see a pattern: children who were sensitive to sensory stimuli often seemed equally sensitive to energetic or emotional stimuli. These weren’t just “behaviors” to manage—they were signs of deep perception and vulnerability.

As I deepened my work, another layer emerged: trauma. According to epigenetic research, we can inherit the trauma responses of not only our mothers, but of our ancestors. This multigenerational trauma relies on several factors, including environmental triggers. In other words, we can feel trauma from our ancestral patterns deeply if we are traumatized or experience traumatic events in our lifetime, especially in early childhood.

Some argue that being neurodiverse is itself, traumatizing. Not only because of the challenge with the regulation of sensory information coming from the environment or from within the body (interoception), but because our daycares, schools, and jobs are not set up to honor the needs of a neurodiverse person. Outdoor play and engagement with the natural environment is becoming more and more limited in schools. Recess is taken away as a punishment (this is one of the most challenging things that I witness). Academics are prioritized over experiential learning, socialization, and emotional regulation. We are trying to build skyscrapers without a foundation, put simply. This is challenging for any person, but all the more challenging with someone who is neurodiverse.

So, how does intuition fit in with trauma? If you have experienced trauma in your lifetime, you will understand that safety becomes the primary goal. You may learn to “read the room” very very quickly. You become adept at anticipating or sensing the needs of others, and to make sure that everyone has their needs met (ahead of your own needs) to ensure safety. This is an example of the “fawn” response. You may become hyper focused on the needs of others, because you feel the needs deeply yourself. 

So, how does this all fit together? Does neurodiversity cause trauma? Does trauma present like acquired neurodiversity? Does trauma create heightened intuition? Does neurodiversity mean having a bigger “antenna” to other realms? Does having heightened intuition cause trauma? Honestly, I believe that they can all influence each other. I think that there are a lot of interesting questions to ask, and perhaps more surprising things to come from this contemplation. I have seen recent phenomena like the Telepathy Tapes begin to connect the autistic community to intuitive abilities like telepathy. I have heard trauma experts talk about the similarities between neurodiversity and trauma, and I have also heard people discussing having heightened intuitive abilities as a result of childhood trauma. 

I believe we have a lot to continue to learn about the intersection of trauma, neurodiversity, and intuition. I think as we open up to consider these things, the more we can understand ourselves, our children, and how to support each other. Keeping an open mind and an open heart is a crucial step in navigating the complexity of these factors. 

If you suspect that your child or yourself has any or all of these traits, know that you can get support. Seek out help with a therapist who is open minded about these matters. Get support for any trauma that needs attention, consider a diagnostic evaluation for yourself or your child–especially if you are looking to have school or work support or modifications. Make sure to get movement (muscle work is very grounding), eat and sleep well, and get plenty of time in nature. Unplug from time to time. Learn to trust your gut. Meditate to begin to cultivate or more deeply cultivate your intuition.

If you are looking for support for your sensitive child, the AboutPlay team works with children this way. Additionally, I see children for intuitive consultations at AboutPlay. If you are seeking help as an adult for cultivation of your intuition, check out some of the offerings at The Energetic Heart. As always, get out and play. Move your body. Love your neighbor. Let’s support each other in our understanding and evolution as humans. 

Did you know that occupational therapy was founded in 1917 by a group of people in Clifton Springs, NY, who wanted to provide a more humane environment for folks in mental health hospitals?

These folks (namely George Edward Barton, William Rush Dunton, Susan Cox Johnson, Thomas Bessel Kidner, Isabel Newton, and Eleanor Clarke Slagle) untied mental health patients from their beds, and gave them activities to “occupy” their hands and minds. Activities such as gardening, basketweaving, and painting were taught as a way to give people a purpose, regardless of their perceived abilities. 

Our profession has evolved and grown so much in the last 108 years; branching from solely being in the mental health arena, to physical disabilities, to pediatrics, growing into wellness spaces. and so much more. Even within the scope of pediatrics, there is so much diversity! Hospital settings, Early Intervention, outpatient clinics (like AboutPlay), school therapy. And from there, each team has its own unique flavor, as the healing modalities that are available are V A S T. 

Our founders were rebels. They went against the norm of restraining people with mental health challenges against their will, by literally untying them, bringing them out to “occupy” their hands and minds, connect with others, while improving their mental health. This was, for the most part, unheard of in these times. Several of our OT pioneers were also rebels, in their own way. We celebrate the work of the late Dr. A. Jean Ayres. With a fascination for neurology, she began to study it while working with children with Learning Differences in the 1960s. Dr. Ayres put together the puzzle pieces and began to notice that there was far more going on with the children that she was working with than just in their minds; there were physical and postural differences, sensory processing differences. 

Our field continues to grow, change, and evolve in exciting ways. It is stretching into new areas, and claiming wellness based models instead of disease based models. OT is ultimately about finding what is resonant, purposeful, and meaningful to a person, and then helping that person achieve it. A person’s “occupations” may include many things; we look at needs of a person in the context of home, work or school, and leisure or play. We look to inspire, find the “edge”, create activities based on meaningful goals. We take cultural beliefs, identity, religious and spiritual beliefs into consideration when working with people. We get creative!

At AboutPlay, we consider ourselves as rebels in our own way. We infuse our more traditional modalities (Ayres’ Sensory Integration, Reflex Integration, DIR/Floortime) with holistic Integrative Health practices including aromatherapy, energy medicine (Reiki and other quantum practices), yoga, and reflexology. We work intuitively with the children, and are always learning new things to enrich our practices. 

It is likely that you, or someone you love, will benefit from OT support one day, if you haven’t already. We are in schools, hospitals, daycares, skilled nursing facilities, homes, clinics, and more. You may even take an adaptive yoga class, a breath work class, or get coaching from an OT. Our field is growing and changing shape with each year. It’s truly an exciting profession to be a part of!

If you know an awesome OT, give them a shoutout this month. 

This month, I wanted to stay on the theme of Fight, Flight, Freeze responses, and also add in the Fawn response. Below, you will find out more about what is going on in the body from a neurological and physiological standpoint, and learn new ways to handle these common responses. 

You have probably heard about the Fight, Flight, Freeze and Fawn reactions; our popular culture has had increasing awareness of these reactions in recent years. Let’s go ahead and break down a few things, including, what causes these reactions, the breakdown of the stress response, and how to help your child when they are stuck.

What causes these reactions?

These reactions occur in a split second; they are reflexive. They are not thought out, plotted out, or conceived. The responses are ingrained in us to help keep us safe when we are in danger. The stress response happens when we experience an environmental threat (like a car driving fast as you are crossing the street, a person or animal threatening harm) or an internal threat (a past memory of harm or abuse or even the threat of it–think PTSD).

Sometimes, we notice that our children have a very strong inclination to having these responses frequently, in extreme expressions, or both. They may come from trauma (“Big T”: separation/divorce of parents, car accident/extreme injury, a death of a loved one or pet, abuse, neglect–or even “Little T”: brief separation from a parent, change in friend group, bike accident, change in school or class, or a move). The trauma may be from infancy or early childhood; we hold trauma in every cell of our bodies. 

Additionally, we live in our modern day, with too little time outside, too many screens, and too many processed foods. We (generally speaking) are set up for a heightened stress response with fewer foundational elements that support us. 

What’s more, Epigenetics points to the idea that we can carry the stress responses of 10 generations (yes, that’s right) in our DNA. We are literally born wired to have strong responses, and then we get a helping of our own personal experiences.

Breakdown of the Stress Response

A series of things happen very quickly, before one is even conscious of what is happening:

• Amygdala (alarm bell in the brain) gets triggered and communicates to the Hypothalamus 
• Hypothalamus (in the brain) signals the Autonomic Nervous System–specifically the Sympathetic System
• Sympathetic System acts like the GAS pedal
• Hypothalamus releases Epinephrine (Adrenaline) into the bloodstream, which releases more glucose into the bloodstream for the organs for quick energy, increases blood pressure and heart rate, suppresses appetite, and stimulates lung capacity
• Prefrontal Cortex (executive “thinking” part of brain) becomes inhibited

The specific responses are varied. Your child can experience Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn. Or a combination. Let’s break down the response and what it may look like:

Fight

The fight reaction can include physical fighting. Think of a “meltdown”. Your child may hit another person (including you), or react with strong physicality. If they are not reacting physically, they may threat to; and it may include screaming, yelling, becoming destructive with things in their physical environment. When a child is in this response, they engage with others; they are looking for engagement. A smaller presentation of this response is being argumentative. The Fight response involves the Moro primitive reflex.

If a child is escalated into this reaction, it is best to give them space to ride it out; while setting boundaries to help keep themself, yourself, and any others safe. Offer alternatives for them to punch or slam a pillow down, or to try to pull apart a towel with their hands. Muscle engagement helps. Try to not escalate to match them; even though they may want that. Hugs help to integrate the Moro response.

Flight

The Flight reaction includes trying to escape, avoid, or run away from a situation. It may involve literal running away, wanting to escape into their bedroom, or even wanting to hide. This reaction usually indicates that the child needs alone time, or wants to be by themselves. A smaller presentation of this response is avoidance. The Flight response also involves the Moro primitive reflex. 

If a child is escalated into this reaction, you will need to make sure that they are safe, first and foremost. If this happens in shops or out in public, your child may endanger themselves. If it happens in the home, let your child know that you understand that they need space. Give it to them so that they can try to self-regulate, and let them know you understand what they are feeling. Check back in and let them know you are there for them when they are ready. Again, the use of hugs is great here, to integrate the Moro.

Freeze

The Freeze reaction includes a literal freeze: no movement, their eyes become wide, and they hold their breath. Children experiencing Freeze (one of the most primitive reflexes–it’s an intrauterine response) typically have a hard time separating from parents to go to school, social events, or appointments. They may want to sleep in your bed, and not want to be alone. They may avoid sleepovers as they get older. A smaller presentation of this response can be challenges starting new things, or not being able to address things–a stronger form of avoidance. The Freeze response involves the Fear Paralysis primitive reflex.

If a child is experiencing a frequent Freeze response, they need to know that they are loved. They need the attention and love that they are craving. Rhythmic body and facial tapping, massage, and rhythmic rocking can be supportive. Deep breathing exercises are very important for this, as shallow breathing keeps us in the Sympathetic Nervous System state. Set aside screen free (parents, you too) quality time to play with your child each day. 

Fawn

The Fawn reaction includes when a child is always checking in to make sure another person (who has become upset)’s needs are being met–over their own. This is usually a result of some kind of trauma. The child fears the response of others greatly, and tries to make sure that the others’ needs are taken care of over their own. 

If a child is experiencing a Fawn response, you can coach them on how to advocate for themselves. This response may also indicate a need for psychological support through a counselor or play therapist. 

More Ways to Help

• MOVE! If your child is having stress, help them to regulate with movement. The stress hormones need you to move them out. Take a walk with your child, get outside, get on swings, go for a bike ride, play on a trampoline.
• LABEL THEIR FEELINGS FIRST! As parents, we often try to rush to the solution, without honoring the feelings that need to be expressed. Show them that you see, hear, and understand their fears, worries, anger, frustration, and just BE with that for a few moments. 
• BREAK THE LOOP!  If your child is stuck in a loop (kind of like a broken record) and AFTER you have acknowledged their feelings, bring in a distraction (“Hey, did you see that bird?!”, or “Who did you eat lunch with today?” or even “What color are your socks?”). The distraction will bring them back up to the Prefrontal Cortex (which has become inhibited in stress). It will sometimes be enough to help them to move on, and if not, they may be more available to solutions. 
• OFFER LIMITED CHOICES FOR SOLUTIONS! Don’t overwhelm your already overwhelmed child with open ended questions or limitless choices in times of stress. Favor “Would you like alone time, or do you need me with you now?” instead of “What do you need?”. 
• SEEK SUPPORT! If you are feeling in over your head, and your child is really struggling, make sure to get support from an OT or person trained in primitive reflex integration. If trauma is suspected or known, make sure that your child has access to psychological support such as counseling or play therapy. 

If you are curious about how you can help yourself, with more information about how to handle this as an adult, please use this link to look at my blog post on adult stress responses on The Energetic Heart website.

Many children who we work with in our occupational therapy practice have amplified fight, flight, and freeze responses. These are responses that help with our survival, simply stated. We have a split second response when we are in danger: imagine crossing an intersection and a car tears around the corner towards you. Your body reacts quickly to get out of danger. This is one example; this survival mechanism is pre-cognitive, a “reflex” to keep us safe.

Fight, fight, and freeze responses can become exaggerated in us, for many reasons. And just to add to the conversation, they can be “activated” by thought or memory alone–external physical danger is not required to tip the body into a stress response. Some potential reasons for exaggerated responses of the nervous system are sensory sensitivities, amplified worry/anxiety, long sustained periods of stress, and trauma (trauma can include exposure to neglect and threat). 

To take this a step further, the fight, flight, and freeze responses have specific primitive reflexes that are associated with them. In short, primitive reflexes are important for our development; they emerge to help us attain motor skills in infancy and early childhood. They are physical responses to stimuli, which are ideally repeated until they integrate into the body; and when they do, a wider range of motor skills are possible. When they do not fully integrate (for many potential reasons) or, alternatively, they become unintegrated with physical or emotional trauma, emotional and physical development and capacity become stunted.

The body’s The fight/flight response involves having an active Moro Reflex. This startle response emerges in early childhood and is meant to become integrated within the first year of life. For many people, it does not fully integrate, or if it has integrated, it may have un-integrated due to trauma. When this reflex persists, we see explosive or fleeing behavior in fight/flight patterns, heightened sensory sensitivity, irritability, and poor or lack of ability to self regulate their emotional state.

The freeze response is related to the Fear Paralysis Reflex. This reflex emerges in utero, and is meant to be integrated before birth. When this reflex persists, people can become stuck in a freeze: their eyes widen, and they hold their breath. They have a hard time advocating for themselves in the moment (they may think of a better response to any given person or situation after the fact). When this reflex is overactive, we see separation anxiety in children from their parents during the day (think school drop off), or night (sleeping alone). It can feel and be paralyzing for children to move ahead in their lives to the point that they remain stuck in fear and avoidance patterns. It is one of the most primitive reflexes that we address. 

So, how can you help your child if they are experiencing these responses? 

Here are tips for fight/flight (Moro Reflex integration):

• Hugs! Using the flexor muscles of the body is the opposite of the physical startle/Moro response (which stimulates the extensor muscles). 
• Name the emotion that your child seems to be experiencing BEFORE trying to “fix” the situation or even offering solutions. For example, “It looks like you are feeling ____. It’s a big feeling!”
• Soothing salt baths with magnesium (epsom salts). Children must be 4 years old or older. 
• Humming, swaying or rocking the body, and deep breathing together (even if your child refuses, if you do this with/around them, mirror neurons help them to experience the benefits). 
• Change of scenery. Even if it’s 5 feet away, or in another room. 
• Go outside. Play, walk, or bike in nature. Nature helps to soothe and heal the system. 

Here are tips for freeze (Fear Paralysis Reflex):

• Deep breathing, inflating the belly on the inhale, deflating the belly on the exhale. Fear Paralysis involves holding the breath, so deep breathing helps!
• Massage, body tapping, facial tapping. 
• Facial massage. 
• Swaying, rocking, humming–these stimulate the Vagus nerve, which soothes the nervous system. 
• Change of environment, get outside if possible! Engage in a nature scavenger hunt (acorns, rocks, pinecones, etc.)
• Staying with your child; hold them and comfort them. Reassure them that you are there for them.

Notice that none of the recommendations include using screens (iPad, phone, computer, TV). Using screens for soothing actually creates more long term issues for your child. When you go in to soothe them or to help them with emotional regulation, please also remember to put your devices down, and to be fully present with them. 

If you are wondering about receiving specific support for your child if they are having issues with either of these, please look for an occupational therapy practice that is versed in Primitive Reflex Integration and Sensory Integration Therapy. 

Strange times. We could not have foreseen this, although there are many folks saying that the writing has been on the wall for some time now. Nonetheless, here we are. At home. Many of us continuing to shelter-in-place, or at the very least (and hopefully), operating in some socially-altered capacity. Like it or not, our lives and how we interact with others is altered for the foreseeable future. We know firsthand the social, economic, and emotional tolls that this is taking, and can imagine (for many of us, anxiously), what effect this may have for us in a longer-run worst-case-scenario type of way. But beyond social, economic, and emotional tolls, what does this mean for our central nervous system? More specifically, our for our tactile system?

What do you mean, our “tactile system”? 

Our tactile system is our sense of touch, and stimulation of it is critical to our brain’s development and function. When functioning well, our tactile system senses, measures, and modulates environmental stimulation including pain, temperature, light touch, and pressure. Sensory receptors in our skin carry messages up through different spinal tracts, and to our brain. Here the information is made sense of, or modulated, for an appropriate motor response. A very basic example of this loop is touching a hot surface, like a stove. Our skin perceives the heat, sends the signal up to our brain, and we withdraw our hand in a matter of a second or two. Ideally, we store this information in our memory, in order to avoid it happening again. 

Our tactile system helps us to connect with others. When our system is functioning well, we can handle, perceive and accept socially/emotionally appropriate touch well. Hugs, handshakes, high fives, pats on the back are all accepted and integrated well. We can tolerate having our hair cut, our nails trimmed, our face washed, and a variety of textures of clothing (even tags) and yes, food textures and temperatures. Furthermore, with a well functioning tactile system, we don’t need or seek out excessive touch input, and we can recognize (by feel) when we have food on our face, and if our clothing is on backwards. 

Hmm. This does not sound like me, my child, my partner….why is that?

Well, there may not be one nice neat and tidy answer for this.

First of all, there could be sensory processing differences. Even at birth, some of us were born being…a little different. For example, after being brought home from the hospital, my mother panicked as she tried to bathe me, and I screamed as though I was being very threatened in a much more severe way. My mother, 24 at the time and me being the first born, was at a loss. She called the nurse, who gave her the very sensible advise to “put a t-shirt on her”. And so, my mother put a t-shirt on me in the bath, and I was fine. I went on to have a number of tactile sensitivities that would confound my mom–I was very sensitive to having my hair brushed, face washed, and–heaven forbid–a wrinkle in my sock could send me into a severe meltdown that would leave me to go sock-less many times. Conversely, some people cannot get enough of tactile input. These folks love messy play, and often times would just assume be covered in paint, mud, shaving foam, etc. These are two responses that are on different levels of a spectrum. 

Secondly, we have made a lot of adaptations to the materials that our skin is constantly in contact with. We are the generation of the yoga pant, stretchy, tag-less clothes. We have soft polo shirts and stretchy jeans. Our towels are soft and fluffy. We are not used to the harsher fabrics–even regular denim–of decades past. Many of us choose fabrics that can move, stretch, and feel good in–both at home and work. Now, for many of us who have been working from home with the onset of the virus and shelter-in-place, the outfit is one and the same. Loungewear is a daily thing, and I have seen an uptick in marketing for this type of clothing. 

Thirdly, trauma. Yes, I know that this is becoming a more readily discussed topic, and even buzz word of our times, but that is because research is showing us just how much trauma can affect our brain function. Trauma can be acute (one time occurrence), chronic (sustained abuse patterns), or complex (multiple factors, situations/occurrences). And then there is perceived trauma. This is sometimes referred to as “little ‘t’ trauma”, and could occur for a child who has been lost for 2-3 minutes in a grocery store, as one example. Children who have difficulty with separation from parents experience their own form of trauma every time they have to be dropped off at school. Now, I understand that this is a big claim, and I am in NO WAY accusing parents of traumatizing their child intentionally at a school drop off. I am just trying to illustrate different ways to measure and identify terms of trauma. We hold onto trauma in our bodies, in our cells. It can affect the way our brain works. Including how our tactile system responds to non-threatening touch, namely flight, fight, or freeze. 

To clarify, the flight, fight or freeze response is not strictly reserved for a person with a history of trauma, but it is a primitive brain response to keep us out of danger. Children with sensory sensitivities or sensory modulation issues can have this response without a history of trauma, as well. 

Some people speculate that the pandemic has a very high chance of creating trauma for many people. Here is a link from Psychology Today that is illustrating what could potentially happen and how to take care during this time. 

(For more information on types of trauma that children can experience, click here. This is a link to look at for how you can help children who have experienced trauma.)

So…how does this pandemic play into our tactile system, and what can we do to help our kids and ourselves? 

So, now specifically for the tactile system; think about how much tactile information children are exposed to in a typical school day. Bumping into classmates, standing close in line, hugs/high fives from friends and teachers, sitting in cozy spaces or at least on a rug or carpet squares, PE class, art class, classroom activities, circle time, outdoor play, organized sports.  And more!

During the pandemic, we are washing hands more than ever (which is great for tactile seekers, and not-so-great for tactile avoiders), but we are also now more cautious. Cautious of touching surfaces, of touching (and even getting too close) to others. There is talk (even advice from Dr. Fauci) of making the social handshake obsolete when we return to our new normal. As we have been dealing with this in the US for a couple of months now, many of us are beginning to wonder just what things might look like in our world, moving forward. There is little certainty at the moment, which plays on our anxiety, for sure. There are things that we can do to help our tactile systems (and nervous system function during this time). 

Suggestions for tactile activities for those you are isolating with:

• Cuddle time. Set aside time to be extra cuddly with your children, your partner. Think about massages: foot rubs, shoulder rubs, hugs. 
• Baths are great for the tactile system. You can add in Epsom salt (safe for children over age 4 years due to the magnesium content). 
• Messy play! Finger painting, play with shaving foam or soap, cooked and cooled pasta play, sandbox/kinetic sand, cornstarch and water in equal parts (beware–very messy, and great!), dry rice or bean bins to hide and find toys in.
• Skin stimulation. Use of textured washcloths, loofahs, or silicone scrubbers to clean body in the bath or shower. 
• Different textured soaps–foam, slime, salt or sugar scrubs–great for all of the hand washing!
• Weighted blankets. This actually stimulates the proprioceptive (positional sense) part of the nervous system as well as the tactile system, and it can help people to feel more grounded and safe during this time. 
• Earthing/Grounding. There has been more awareness for this movement in the past few years. This is, specifically, walking barefoot on the ground, and lying on the ground to gain benefits of the earth’s electric energy. More information is here on earthing. 

Suggestions for other ways to help nervous system stay regulated, and to release stress:

• Exercise. Children: get outside and play! Run, walk, bike with your kids. Dust off that mini trampoline, build outdoor structures for play, invest in that cool geo-dome. Adults: Daily exercise is highly recommended. 30-60 minutes of walking, hiking, biking, jogging, yoga, and/or strength training are all great things to do. With the opportunity of more time on our hands, take advantage of continuing (and perhaps expanding) your routines, and discovering a potential new hobby.
• Sleep. Children: even though in-person school is on hold, make sure your kids are getting enough sleep for their age. This is a good list for sleep recommendations for children of different ages. Adults: Try to get at least 8 hours a day. This can be challenging for those experiencing anxiety, and can be a little too easy for those experiencing depression. Please be gentle and kind to yourself. If struggling to sleep, you may consider supplements such as 5 HTP, melatonin, lemon balm tincture, GABA, and/or magnesium (consult with your healthcare provider, please to make sure that these are safe for you, especially if you are taking prescription medications, are pregnant/nursing, etc). If you are getting too much sleep, try adding in some gentle exercise daily. 
• Food. Children: Eat as many well balanced meals as possible, focusing on fresh food and limiting foods with dyes and preservatives. Trader Joe’s products avoids artificial food dyes, and frozen foods have limited preservatives. Sneak in extra fruit (and leafy veggies!) with smoothies. Adults: Eat well, making sure to take in good amounts of vitamin c and citrus (lemon/lime water) for immunity. Eat as much fresh food as possible, and look to expand your cooking abilities. Limit alcohol, sugar consumption. These have a quick-fix effect, but can be damaging over the long run. 
• Meditation. Children: Mindfulness can be taught to children. You can start with the idea of keeping still during a long breath. Schools have been incorporating mindfulness and meditation during the day, so ask your child if they learned how to do it in school. Adults: Daily meditation can help to build the connections between your amygdala (small alarm center of the brain) and your prefrontal cortex (thinking, reasoning). What this means is, that with regular practice, although you still may react initially to news/events/situations, your resilience and recovery time will improve. See more effects of meditation here.
• Journal. Children and Adults: There is just something about the act of putting pen to paper; specifically, handwriting has a specific effect on the brain. Also, there is evidence that journaling can promote good mental health. Get in the habit of writing a little down every day. I suggest that you have 2 journals: one for your anger/anxiety, and another for gratitude and envisioning how you would like the world to look like in the coming months, years. 
• Psychotherapy. Children: If your child had been receiving support, continue with telehealth sessions, if available. If your chilld seems significantly more anxious, and is experiencing distress, reach out  for support. Adults: If you are currently receiving talk therapy with a counselor, social worker, or psychologist, continue your work. If you are struggling and need help, here . Stay connected with others. Reach out on the phone, continue to FaceTime, Zoom, Google Hangout/Meet. Do something to help a friend or neighbor. Check in on your loved ones. The act of reaching out to lend a helping hand can benefit not only the person receiving the help, but the person offering it. 
• Limit Media Consumption and Screen Use. Children: As challenging as this is right now, try to limit your child’s consumption of screens as much as possible during the day. The benefits far outweigh the challenges, as excessive screens can have such a negative impact on behavior. Adults: Be mindful of your sources, and limit consumption during the day. Too much can keep us in an overwhelmed, fear based state of mind that affects our nervous system negatively. 
• Forgiveness. Adults: Start with yourself. Things are far from “perfect”, and never were in the first place. Forgive yourself for making mistakes, not handling things the way you could have, for not being “enough”. Forgive others during this time, if you are able to, as well. Most folks are functioning in a sub-optimal way at some point during any given day, week, month since the pandemic has reared it’s head.  You free yourself when you can forgive others. This is also a wonderful practice to model for your children. 
• Gratitude. Children and Adults: This one might feel like a cliche, but it is important! Count your blessings on a daily basis. This may be especially good to do right before bed, especially if you have trouble with sleep. This is also great to do around the dinner table in the evening with your kids. 

All in all, take care of yourselves. Offer support often to others, and seek out support as much as you need to. This situation can bring on a lot of fear. When the fears come up, stay grounded and try to bring yourself back to the present moment. Take a barefoot walk. Get cuddle time with your kids. Breathe deeply. Know that this situation is temporary, as is everything. 

Have you ever wondered why people are learning how to “get grounded”  and why people are bothering to use sage and other herbs to smudge, or clear their space? I believe that there are actually a number of reasons contributing to the recent uptick in the awareness and regular use of these old rituals. I will describe some issues that may be causing people to feel ungrounded, and offer some tips to use that can be helpful for both grounding and clearing a space. 

• Media  We are experiencing a lot of information coming at us in record ways, thanks to the constant stream of media that is now available to us–both a blessing and a curse. It is easy to get swept up, overwhelmed and lost into the troubles of the world.
• Nature Deficiency  Most of us are simply not spending enough time outdoors, in nature. Being in nature is one of the most grounding practices available. In recent years, the pendulum has started to swing back, with people practicing “earthing”, or walking barefoot outside for several minutes a day, and using the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, or “Forest Bathing” that is spending a time around trees, as well as simply hiking or walking in nature. 
• Lost in Thought  With all of the media and lack of being outdoors, it is very easy to become lost in thought. When we are lost in our thoughts, we can become anxious if focusing too much on the future, or have depressed thoughts if we dwell too much in the past. The popularity of Mindfulness practice is also growing in recent years to our western culture in reaction to our modern conundrum. 

How do you know if you need to get grounded? Well, if you feel lost in thought, are anxious, worried, or are feeling a depressed mood, you can certainly benefit by using grounding practices. 

By using grounding practices, we can begin to feel more connected with our bodies and the earth. Some of these practices include:

• Get outside  Go for a walk, take off your shoes and walk barefoot in the grass, touch trees, go hiking. This is incredibly beneficial for the central nervous system, and can heal many ails. 
• Meditate  Practice a meditation where you visualize roots coming out of your feet, or your tailbone (if sitting) and growing into the ground. Feel your connection to the earth (even if you are inside), and breathe deeply for even just a few moments. 
• Practice yoga  Yoga is a wonderful grounding practice that offers a variety of ranges for any level of practicioner
• Exercise  Exercise can be very grounding, especially if you can do it outside. It gets you in your body, and helps you to focus on your breath.
• Eat Grounding Foods  Grounding foods can be things that are literally grown in the earth, such as potatoes, turnips, radishes, and other root vegetables. Dark chocolate can also be a very grounding food.

Clearing exercises can also be very helpful to keeping your home, office or even car clear. How do you know if you need to clear yourself or your space? If there has been an argument in a space, or there has been a period of sadness. If you have brought in objects from a thrift store into your home, or simply if you feel that your space just needs it.

Here are some rituals that can be used in your space or on yourself.

• Smudging The use of burning dried herbs, woods, or resins is an old practice that has been used in many cultures. They include the use of sage, juniper, lavender, marigold, palo santo, and even tobacco. They may be used loosely in a fireproof bowl, or in a bundle, or “smudge stick”. These can be purchased at shops, online, or even made by bundling and drying fresh herbs.
• Smudge or Essential Oil Sprays  Some people are sensitive to smoke, or may prefer the ease of using a spray in a shared space, such as an work space or in a car. These can be purchased or made at home with essential oils and water. 
• Sound Vibration  Another way to clear a space is by using singing bowls, bells, chanting or singing, and even clapping. This is an effective way to remove stagnant energy in a space. 
• Declutter  The simple act of decluttering your space is amazingly powerful to clear the energy. Too many things can really clutter up your thinking and energy flow. 

It is good to experiment with these practices, (safely when smudging) to know what suits you, as they can be highly personal. Take some time to bring them into your life and you should notice a real difference in feeling both grounded and clear. 

As you may have noticed, we have a brand new website with lots of new and shiny offerings for you.

We have created this new site so that you have more information on the services we provide, including individual therapy, group therapy, consultations, community-based classes and even support for therapists.

Up first, we have amazing 8 week groups starting next week, the popular “Tool Kit Club” group where children get to learn about self regulation and make and take home items to help with getting regulated. There is still room in both groups—ages 5-7 and ages 8-10. Check the links out for more details, and contact Kate to reserve your child’s spot today!

Secondly, we will be offering a series of classes at our Grant Park location for adults and teens. The first class is for Grounding and Clearing. Please check out this link to register and pay online! Class sizes are limited, so sign up to reserve your space today—and check out groups that are coming up in the next few months—including our popular and free Shoe Tying Clinic!

Finally, we also are very excited to announce that Kate is taking adult and teen clients on Mondays at the new location in Little Five Points, called “The Energetic Heart”.

These sessions can be held as needed and include focus on wellness and energy work that Kate has been practicing for the last several years. Please check out more information on adult and teen services here.

As a quick note, we do not currently accept payments on this website for therapy services; we will continue to use Theranest as our Client Portal for secure payments. You will be able to register for non-therapy classes online, however. We are excited to offer this to you! Check out the whole site to see what we’re up to.