Only Human Counseling Services LLC

01/13/2026

Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.-is, as my kid would say, the GOAT. 💕🙌

01/10/2026

Most people are too smart to be successful—they can think of every reason it won’t work, while the “idiots” are already halfway to done.

—

I write a weekly newsletter where I unpack these ideas.

→ newsletter.scottdclary.com

01/10/2026

01/10/2026

01/09/2026

A flash back to the time my daughter, son and I met my sister at the airport — we still laugh about it.

One of my favorite things to do with my kids is to invite them in on being silly and being ridiculous. I have a bad habit of over-teaching and over lesson’ing everything. These moments remind me to have fun, be goofy, and laugh hard with my kids.

Life is serious and hard…don’t forget to inject the absurd.

I love y’all,
Delony

01/09/2026

Heal with Brit 💕

01/07/2026

Real Talk! 💯

01/06/2026

Selah 🧘🏿‍♀️

01/06/2026

Let’s go Casey Erlich and At Peace Parents! 🙌🙌🙌🙌

Pathological demand avoidance, also known as PDA, is a behavioral profile recognized in some children with autism spectrum disorders, but it's currently not formally recognized in the U.S.

PDA is most commonly reported as obsessive, anxiety-driven resistance to ordinary demands and expectations of daily life, and extreme maladaptive emotional and physical responses when children are unable to cope with a demand or expectation.

U-M Health's Noelle Carlozzi, Ph.D., has identified a need for parents of these children to have accessible tools to help guide their child's behavior. Using the Paradigm Shift Program, Carlozzi and her team were able to assess the effectiveness of these tools.

Use the link to read more about the study. https://michmed.org/ygKq3

01/03/2026

Parents often assume that raising their voice is the most effective way to get a child’s attention or enforce rules. However, neuroscience tells a different story. Whispering can be far more effective, not because it is quiet, but because it signals safety to a developing brain.

When children perceive a safe environment, their nervous system is more receptive. Calm, gentle communication allows them to listen, process, and respond without triggering stress responses. In contrast, yelling can activate the amygdala, increasing fear and resistance rather than cooperation.

Whispering encourages attention and emotional regulation. Children are more likely to comply, share, and engage when they feel secure. The brain registers the quiet, calm tone as a signal that they are safe, which strengthens trust and connection.

Parents can practice using a lowered, gentle voice to manage conflicts or guide behavior. Combining this approach with clear instructions and consistency supports both emotional development and positive behavior.

Understanding that safety matters more than volume transforms communication. Whispering empowers parents to influence behavior effectively while nurturing a secure, attentive, and emotionally healthy child.