<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Olympia Therapy PLLC]]></title><description><![CDATA[Supporting Children & Families in caring for their Emotional & Mental Wellbeing. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/blog-1</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:19:06 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.olympiatherapy.com/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Parenting When the World Feels Unsafe: Helping Children Stay Regulated During Collective Stress]]></title><description><![CDATA[When the world feels like it’s stopping again, children don’t just watch—they feel it in their nervous systems because it is happening again.



Not a pandemic—at least not the same kind. But that feeling. That pit-in-your-stomach, world-tilting-sideways feeling that parents know too well. The one where you wake up, check the news, and think, "How do I possibly explain this to my children today?"
We're six years past March 2020, and our bodies remember. Our children's bodies remember. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/parenting-when-the-world-feels-unsafe-helping-children-stay-regulated-during-collective-stress</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699a2fa633aebccb4867956f</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 21 Feb 2026 23:07:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_516db9ab020845f38724ba576ec47563~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What to Expect When You Bring Your Child to Play Therapy]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you're reading this, you've likely made the brave decision to seek support for your child. Maybe you've noticed they're struggling with big emotions, navigating a difficult transition, or simply need some extra support. You want to help them, and you're wondering what happens when you walk through our door. That's exactly what we're here to talk about today.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/what-to-expect-when-you-bring-your-child-to-play-therapy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6976850f6e1e6fddb8172819</guid><category><![CDATA[Play]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Development]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 23:38:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_51eb8ff44a744832b7a34cd22bb4aced~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[After Resilience: Why My 2026 Word is Sovereignty]]></title><description><![CDATA[Last year, I asked you to choose a word for 2025. I chose resilience.
I had no idea how much I would need it.
What Resilience Cost Me
And somewhere in all that getting through, I lost something.
I lost me.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/after-resilience-why-my-2026-word-is-sovereignty</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6952e74e84a202e306c21a8e</guid><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:23:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_3273c1857f2143f7a68f19e82308a676~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_780,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Marble Jar of Trust: Why the Small Moments Matter Most]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve ever listened to Brené Brown, you may have heard her talk about trust in a way that is deceptively simple: as a jar filled one marble at a time.



Each marble represents a moment—tiny, often forgettable on their own—when someone shows up for us. A small kindness. A kept promise. A gesture of understanding. A pause to really hear us. None of these moments build trust instantly, but together they accumulate into something solid, steady, and safe.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/the-marble-jar-of-trust-why-the-small-moments-matter-most</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69325ea673a2e017867d5817</guid><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 04:45:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_c74f6f5febe94966a66eecb341224e2a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Amy Pittman LMHCA &amp; Cary Hamilton LMHCS</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Setting Boundaries for Joy: Finding Gratitude &#38; Glimmers This Holiday Season]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are all about encouraging boundaries in relationships because they foster healthy connections and improve self-esteem and self-compassion. But here's what we're learning about boundaries and mental health: when we protect our time and energy through healthy limits, we create the capacity to actually notice the good moments—what trauma therapist Deb Dana calls "glimmers." 



These small moments of warmth, connection, and joy are everywhere during the holidays, but we can only see them ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/setting-boundaries-for-joy-finding-gratitude-glimmers-this-holiday-season</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692504849e408507314b3263</guid><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Development]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 27 Nov 2025 18:06:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_ddc37d52e3ef4e41a6caf6d08d7bb437~mv2_d_1242_1216_s_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Thriving (not just surviving) During the Holidays]]></title><description><![CDATA[‘Tis the season, after all! Promoting gratitude as a stress-reduction tool as we head towards Thanksgiving may sound trite, and many studies have demonstrated that practicing gratitude supports mental, emotional, physical, and social well-being.  Intentionally identifying things that are going well and that we are grateful for can shift our mindsets and moods, reduce stress, improve sleep and interpersonal interactions, and over time, can even train our brains to look for moments of gratitude.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/thriving-not-just-surviving-during-the-holidays</link><guid isPermaLink="false">690c174996a2942ab27a7e2b</guid><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ages & Stages]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_16bb1d9149e145cca1603e563312b7ac~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katrina Swenson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Living and Understanding ADHD: A Journey Through the Maze—From Both Sides]]></title><description><![CDATA[October is here, and with it comes ADHD Awareness Month. As someone who sits in a unique intersection—a licensed mental health counselor and child mental health specialist, registered play therapy supervisor, clinic owner, AND a mom to neurodivergent kids with ADHD and SPD married to a neurodivergent partner—I can tell you that ADHD awareness isn't just professional knowledge for me.  It's a lived experience.

Here's the twist: I'm neurotypical.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/living-and-understanding-adhd-a-journey-through-the-maze-from-both-sides</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f1b04550873aaf5db0e37f</guid><category><![CDATA[Neurodiversity]]></category><category><![CDATA[Sensory Wellness]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 03:38:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_110ff75254e748dbbefdcee7cd50ec02~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_532,h_366,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Suicide Prevention:  Let’s Get Awkward!]]></title><description><![CDATA[“Are you thinking about suicide?”   It’s an awkward question, right?  
Scary, even.  If there’s one thing we know from suicide research, however, it’s that this question, though uncomfortable, is essential. So let’s get awkward, because it’s September, and September is National Suicide Prevention month.  There’s no better time to talk about what to do if someone you love is talking about suicide, or if you suspect they are considering it.  ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/suicide-prevention-let-s-get-awkward</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d4179b68c9246bcfd538f2</guid><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:34:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_e31bd167d9444a848b16db19944763ee~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katrina Swenson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[School’s in Session, and so are the Funky Attitudes!  ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let them rest and play.  
If you’ve ever been dying to get home from work so that you can do something fun for you, you know the value of rest and play to a tired mind and body. Play positively impacts brain function, reduces stress, and supports resilience.  All humans need play, and it can be especially useful when going through a stressful transition.  ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/school-s-in-session-and-so-are-the-funky-attitudes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68be12d3b8f1382eed684e8e</guid><pubDate>Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:38:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c54692fb62254060a7d5447bbe089468.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M. Hamilton &amp; Katrina Swenson</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When a Child’s World Changes: Supporting Young Hearts Through Grief and Loss]]></title><description><![CDATA[Grief doesn’t wait for children to be “old enough” to understand it. Whether facing the loss of a loved one, navigating their parents’...]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/when-a-child-s-world-changes-supporting-young-hearts-through-grief-and-loss</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b4742677136647fe8a6359</guid><pubDate>Sun, 31 Aug 2025 16:48:55 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_f24d2fb1b1c742218486080a64604bf7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_647,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[When the Storm Hits: Why Your Child's Mental Health Can't Wait for After-School Hours]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here's what every parent needs to understand: stressed brains don't learn. When a child's nervous system is overwhelmed—whether by anxiety, depression, trauma, or neurodivergent challenges—their brain literally cannot access its higher-level functions needed for academic learning.



The science is clear: chronic stress affects brain structure and function. The amygdala, our fear center, becomes hyperactive, while the hippocampus, vital for learning and memory, becomes compromised.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/when-the-storm-hits-why-your-child-s-mental-health-can-t-wait-for-after-school-hours</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68aa0464e0731e332665dcad</guid><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ages & Stages]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Neurodiversity]]></category><category><![CDATA[Play]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2025 18:28:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_87c55b83e5e2417e9b7382fec8403113~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Value of Continuing Therapy in the Summer Months]]></title><description><![CDATA[Therapy is like watering a plant. The growth you see today was nurtured weeks or months ago, and ongoing attention is what keeps that growth alive. Summer breaks can disrupt a child’s therapeutic rhythm, leading to regression in areas such as emotional regulation, social skills, and coping strategies.



Even skipping just 6–8 weeks can undo hard-earned gains. Continuing weekly or even bi-weekly sessions helps maintain momentum and reinforce the safe, consistent space your child...]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/the-value-of-continuing-therapy-in-the-summer-months-1</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68423f4686515cbded98ab88</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Play]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_65bb6cad96ef4ab0a4a53093d3962efc~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_780,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[More Than Just a Hashtag: Mental Health Awareness Month]]></title><description><![CDATA[May is Mental Health Awareness Month. But let's be honest—mental health isn't just a monthly theme; it's the backdrop of our daily lives. It's the silent partner in our successes and the loud critic in our challenges. And while we've made strides in bringing mental health into the conversation, there's still a long road ahead.]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/more-than-just-a-hashtag-mental-health-awareness-month</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68166f79f547f5de52689fda</guid><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 03 May 2025 22:46:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_e5c13240ed96449bbcbb7f8cb69de74f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_780,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M. Hamilton of Olympia Therapy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embracing Neurodiversity]]></title><description><![CDATA[As a mental health specialist, I’ve learned that no two brains are the same – and that’s a wonderful thing. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/embracing-neurodiversity</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67da1ce36240f8c457de2dfc</guid><category><![CDATA[Neurodiversity]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Play]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 19 Mar 2025 02:01:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_f2da86ac6631410688466f670a76e77b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_851,h_315,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M. Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[This March, Our Bodies Remember: Navigating a World of Uncertainty]]></title><description><![CDATA[Five years ago, the world stopped. 
March 2020 brought a global experience of fear, disbelief, grief, and isolation. It was a collective ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/this-march-our-bodies-remember-navigating-a-world-of-uncertainty</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67c3b7aa40b0d8f2ff725437</guid><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Development]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 02 Mar 2025 02:31:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_1dceaa4ef2364e8b93afe27b63b39e22~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_780,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M. Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Therapeutic Power of Play: Why Play Therapy Works]]></title><description><![CDATA[Imagine this: your child is engaged in a make-believe battle, complete with roaring dinosaurs and epic explosions. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/the-therapeutic-power-of-play-why-play-therapy-works</link><guid isPermaLink="false">679a9543651b8b7c70d08e79</guid><category><![CDATA[Play]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Development]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Ages & Stages]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 01:32:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_c078bd438dce4d5f81947e6c2d017bb6~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M. Hamilton of Olympia Therapy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[One Word, One Focus: How an Intention Can Shape Your 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[What if the most transformative thing you could do for your mental health in 2025 wasn’t setting a resolution or achieving a goal ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/one-word-one-focus-how-an-intention-can-shape-your-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6774547013958fe2831f3852</guid><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jan 2025 19:24:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_2fb0da9366424fdc825adbab2bedc30d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[6 Tips for Managing Grief During the Holidays ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The holidays bring up a lot of different emotions for people and everyone grieves differently. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/6-tips-for-managing-grief-during-the-holidays</link><guid isPermaLink="false">676076b712de60f19a183ab1</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:24:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_ecccf1291d964694b31bf0a8814c9456~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Olympia Therapy</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Gratitude As A Lighthouse]]></title><description><![CDATA[Life is often like navigating a restless sea, full of surprise currents, sudden storms, and the constant tug of distractions. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/gratitude-as-a-lighthouse</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67466d067d2e82fb3b218a20</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><category><![CDATA[Child Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 Nov 2024 01:21:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_a4528ca5e0b64c26997b086917383457~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Finding Glimmers This Fall: Embracing Small Moments of Joy in the Messy Middle]]></title><description><![CDATA[Here’s the thing about life—it’s messy, unpredictable, and beautifully imperfect. ]]></description><link>https://www.olympiatherapy.com/post/finding-glimmers-this-fall-embracing-small-moments-of-joy-in-the-messy-middle</link><guid isPermaLink="false">672ce056ee5f3bb2b85923a7</guid><category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category><category><![CDATA[Mental Health]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:01:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a5ea97_87da5718564a4eb89ddb78d6551e4d7e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Cary M Hamilton</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>