As a parent, if we lose sight of the human child in front of you and only seek to have compliance and dominance over the developing child - you lose connection and breach the relationship. A child’s brain does not function as an adult’s, it is growing and developing. By focusing on the child and the intention of their behavior, you will find connection and strengthen your relationship.

The beginning of Three is often a breath of fresh air after the “terrible twos.” Three has an easier time cooperating and sharing with those they are close to.

Cary, Olympia Therapy's owner, is often asked about what sensory fidgets and items she has in her clinic when she presents to the public on Play & Sensory Processing Disorder, Playful Regulation, & Playful Wisdom Parenting.

In our clinic we have sensory fidget toys in all of our treatment rooms to aid in calming, distraction while talking, and engagement in play. Research tells us that if we are meeting our body's need for regulation, our brains can process information more easily and verbalizations come easier. Our tactile, visual, and auditory sensory systems can often be regulated together with many hands-on fidget toys pictured below.

The mor...

We have to keep our body fueled, moving, well rested, curious, and engaged with other humans. And sometimes, we need to seek help when we are feeling stuck in our bodies and/or our brains. Life events happen that throw us off kilter. We experience: grief/loss, relationship challenges, social challenges, marriage, children, feeling isolated, divorce, sleep disturbances, anxiety/panic, ongoing feelings of sadness or helplessness. These are all common reasons why individuals might seek professional help. It is important that when you are seeking help, you know what to look for. Seeking out a trained professional with State Licensure is key, as their training and education is more exten...

The ACEs questionnaire was administered to over 17,000 adults and was comprised of ten yes/no questions evaluating the ten categories above; each yes equated to one point on their ACE score. The scores were then correlated against health outcomes.

Going through divorce is hard for everyone in the family. I know because I’ve been there. I’ve also worked with countless families as a therapist helping them through the process. One of the biggest worries is how it will impact the children. I’ve gathered helpful resources and tips for you. I hope you find this encouraging and it helps you establish further support for yourself and your family during this challenging time.

Young children- ages 8 and younger

Many people underestimate how much young kids know and understand. Parents often try to shelter kids from what’s happening, but little ears will hear things even when you’re careful. If they overhear parts of conversations, their...

This week, February 3-9, is National Play Therapy Week! So let's talk about play therapy and how it can help your child and your family!

What is Play Therapy?

• Play Therapy is an evidence-based practice for working with children in mental health.

• Play Therapy uses the natural language of children and the powers of play to help children process their feelings and experiences.

• Why Play? https://a4pt.site-ym.com/page/WhyPlayTherapy

• The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines Play Therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained Play Therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or reso...

As it turns out, there are lots of good reasons to employ deep breathing as a calming tool, according to science.

When parents are looking for support for children with difficult behaviors, play therapy is often a modality they find intriguing. Families who have children with diagnoses and significant behavior challenges wonder if play therapy is a helpful treatment modality to choose. Parents are often told that Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is what a child needs and they rule out play therapy as an option. So to help parents understand more fully the resources available, we wanted to provide some information on a form of play therapy specifically for those challenging behaviors.

AutPlay Therapy was created by Dr. Robert Jason Grant and it combines aspects of play therapy and behavioral ther...

The holidays are often a combination of wonderful and stressful, especially during those family get-togethers. Children and adults can feel overwhelmed by the change in routine and the increase in sensory input all around (the lights, the music, the smells, the traffic, the crowds of people). The stress and anxiety around the holidays can cause many people to turn to bad habits and over-indulgences of sugar, alcohol, and caffeine. Instead of giving into the stress of the holidays, allow it to be an opportunity to practice self-care. We can care for ourselves by maintaining appropriate boundaries with our loved ones, saying no to non-essential obligations, and finding moments of peac...