How learning about sensory processing changed... everything. My brilliant little 4-year-old son was asked to draw a house at preschool and burst into tears. Bursting into tears was a common occurrence for him, as was picky eating, banging into things, difficulty transitioning from one task to the next, slouching posture, and what I came to realize were a whole host of sensory red flags. Sensory processing difficulties occur when the brain has trouble receiving, interpreting,...
Hello, Anger
Anger is everywhere. From a brain perspective, it makes sense. Stress has been high these past couple of years. Our brains and bodies don’t automatically recognize the difference between physical danger and feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or anxious. Maybe that’s why signs like this have been popping up, a gentle reminder not to let our stress and anger bubble over onto others! Unfortunately, being kind doesn’t solve everything. Don’t get me wrong…kindness matters! But there’s still...
Name It to Tame It
I know we therapists talk about feelings a lot, but there's a reason! Did you know that just putting a name or label to what you are feeling reduces the activity in the emotion center of your brain? Sounds like magic! But it’s just user-friendly brain science. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase "What's mentionable is manageable." Drs. Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson boiled down this complicated neurobiological process to a strategy they called Name...