The SOAR Program for Psychotherapy & Testing at WBMA, LLC

04/18/2024

04/07/2024

04/07/2024

04/04/2024

Just over a decade ago, autism and ADHD were thought to be mutually exclusive. But in recent years, all that has changed

04/02/2024

04/01/2024

04/01/2024

Who’s ready for some awareness? 😃

Autistic April Checklist:

✅ Listen to autistic people

✅ Support autistic-led organizations

✅ Denounce harmful cash-grab organizations and therapies (lookin at you Autism Speaks & ABA)

✅ Amplify autistic voices and expertise

✅ Include the most vulnerable of us and remember that non-speaking =/= non-communicating

✅ Respect the privacy of your loved ones. Do not overshare their personal information for the sake of ‘awareness’. It is unethical and disrespectful to them.

✅ Did I mention listening to autistic people? 😉

Some good organizations and resources to support:

Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network The Autistic Self Advocacy Network Autistics United Yellow Ladybugs, Autistic Girls & Women A4A: Public Page

Add more if you know of any, and share freely!

🧠 ♾ 🌈 ✨

03/26/2024

I see a lot of parents catastophising when it comes to their neurodivergent kid.

I get it. You look at your tiny child and worry about what the future looks like for them. Because right now they don’t have the skills to handle it.

But of course they don’t. They are children.

Your kid will grow each year.
They will learn.
Their brain will develop.
They will build on their current skills and learn new ones.

We can’t know what is going to happen.

But we can give our kids the best shot.
And that means prioritising connection, mental health, safety, and wellbeing. If we keep those things in mind, our kid will have a solid foundation from which to build.

No one learns well when they are overwhelmed, scared, distressed, or unsafe.

We need to accommodate our kids and their needs.
We need to respect their autonomy.
We need to give them space to go at their own speed.
We need to teach them about their brain- they deserve to be proud of it.

And then we get to marvel at their brilliance and beauty.

Yes?

Em 🌈

03/19/2024

New study by the Yale Child Study Center shows that parents can reduce the effects of inevitable conflict with their teens by demonstrating emotional warmth

03/05/2024

A Dozen Ways To Co-Regulate With Your Child:
- Lower your body position
- Lower your voice
- Soften your facial expression
- Model deep breathing
- Do heavy work together
- Walk outside
- Offer deep pressure
- Model a preferred sensory activity
- Move your body together
- Dim the lights
- Stop talking
- Change your proximity
Credit: Coastal Connections OT