Tracey DeMaria, Occupational Therapist

12/28/2025

Grateful for spreading the message of compassion, connection, and regulation ♥️

11/26/2025

Why not try it? Love sour candy!!

Sour candy can literally help stop a panic attack.

According to mental health experts, the intense flavor acts as a grounding technique—its sharp, jarring taste pulls attention away from overwhelming thoughts and into the immediate physical sensation.

This redirection can help interrupt the cycle of spiraling anxiety, bringing individuals back to the present moment. Additionally, the act of chewing and the surge in saliva production may support the body's calming response, offering a sense of control during distress.

While not a cure or replacement for therapy, this sensory-based strategy can serve as a quick, practical tool in moments of high anxiety. As noted by experts cited by Utah State University, sour candy can be particularly helpful in grounding exercises used during panic attacks. However, they caution that frequent or intense anxiety should always be assessed by a healthcare professional to ensure appropriate long-term care.

Source: Utah State University Extension. (2023). Managing Anxiety with Grounding Techniques.

Al-Ghaili O

UPDATE-
We are so grateful to everyone's reaction to this post. Please give us feedback if you have tried it and how it worked for you! And if you are able please follow us! Please donate and help us in our mission to continue to raise awareness and support parents and caregivers raising children with Complex Trauma! 💚
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EIN-83-2090828

11/23/2025

This is a summit of professionals you do NOT want to miss if you have a child in your life, especially those that maybe need extra support.
All for free, unless you want it sooner.🤩
I am humbled to be inlcuded with this list of incredible child-first professionals. 💙
Sign-up now in case you are like me and forget things easily 😜

10/25/2025

So excited to be a part of this amazing Sensory Journey Summit team of professionals ❤️

Today, we're officially announcing our first annual Sensory Journey Summit! A FREE neurodiversity-affirming virtual summit for parents, educators, therapists, and anyone else supporting neurodivergent kids.

We've put together an AMAZING speaker lineup featuring some of the top global experts in their fields—people who are truly pushing the needle forward in neuroaffirming practice:

✨ Dr. Ross Greene
✨ Robyn Gobbel
✨ Dr. Mona Delahooke
✨ Kelly Mahler
✨ Mr. Chazz
✨ Speech Dude
✨ Kelsie Olds (The Occuplaytional Therapist)
✨ and MORE!

Registration is open now (link the comments) and it's free to attend, with the option of upgrading to an all-access pass to get early access to select sessions, bonus content, and session replays.

The proceeds from our summit are funding the development of our app as we continue to work tirelessly towards increasing affordable access to care and information for neurodivergent families.

So save your seat today! This is one summit you do NOT want to miss!!

09/16/2025

Beyond excited to announce that our submission for the 2026 AOTA conference has been accepted. Cannot wait to be a part of this OT powerhouse group of minds! Seriously, if you don’t know Greg Santucci, Occupational Therapist, Kelly Mahler and Bryden Carlson-Giving you should fix that immediately.

I'm going to Disneyland!

I actually got emotional when we got the acceptance letter. I am both honored and THRILLED to be presenting with Kelly Mahler (Interoception Curriculum), Bryden Carlson-Giving (Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy) and Tracey DeMaria, Occupational Therapist (How To Surf the Waves) at the AOTA National Conference in Anaheim, California, April 23-25, 2026.

Workshop Title: Belonging Over Compliance: Reimagining Occupational Therapy’s Role for Neurodiversity-Affirming, Inclusive Schools

In addition to spreading the word about neurodiversity-affirming care, my goal is to 1) pack our workshop room and 2) fill an entire boat at It's A Small World with OTs.

Hit the ♥️ button if you want to be in that boat! 🤣🤣🤣

09/14/2025

09/14/2025

Parents- especially of autistic and neurodivergent kids-with this crazy weekend after the very public assassination TALK TO YOUR KIDS.

Not about politics ..Ask them if they saw “the video”.

Many did and many are very troubled and traumatized by what they saw. They are likely not to share that they saw it, ESPECIALLY if it really impacted them.

They are afraid to say they saw it because:

1. They feel somehow guilty and responsible like they did something wrong or bad- even if they were shown it or accidentally saw it.
2. They are so troubled by what they saw and they want to just forget it.
Remind them this is NOT THEIR FAULT
and they are safe.

08/28/2025

Speak the truth even if your voice quavers- our kids need us to be strong for them!

A lawsuit claims the school district and a staffing agency retaliated against an aide for trying to protect special education students.

08/28/2025

Let’s normalize those big feelings!

08/25/2025

❤️ neuroscience for the win

Old-school parenting strategies like ‘go to your room!’ can often amplify the very behavior that parents want to correct.

08/24/2025

Back to school can bring a lot of big waves 🌊 and Big feelings. be kind to yourself and the kiddos as you surf those big waves!

08/18/2025

What an honor to be a guest on the Neurodiversity Podcast! We chat about topics from school induced trauma to normalizing big feelings (body and brain feelings).

👂 link in comments

🌊 Episode 282 is here!

Emily Kircher-Morris talks with occupational therapist and author Tracey DeMaria, Occupational Therapist about emotional regulation and how a simple surfing metaphor can make it easier to understand and practice.

They explore:
🌊 Why “surfing the waves” helps kids and adults visualize their emotions
🧠 How language shapes the way we see behavior
🏫 The role of school environments in supporting (or hindering) regulation
🛠 Practical sensory + cognitive tools for emotional well-being

🎧 Listen to Episode 282: Surfing the Waves of Emotional Regulation wherever you get your podcasts! (and as always, at the link in our comments!)