Del Mar Center for Behavioral Health

03/02/2026

02/28/2026

02/26/2026

When it all comes out after school

You might notice your child holding it together all day… then everything unravels the moment they get home. This isn’t bad behaviour — it’s what we call after-school restraint collapse. And it makes sense when you understand what their nervous system has been carrying.

They’ve been coping all day

At school, children are managing noise, expectations, social pressure, transitions, and constant demands. Many are masking, suppressing emotions, and pushing through overwhelm just to get by. By the end of the day, their system is full.

Home feels safe enough to release

When your child walks through the door, their body recognises safety. And that’s when the lid comes off. What looks like shouting, tears, or refusal is often a nervous system releasing everything it couldn’t express earlier.

It follows a predictable pattern

This visual shows the timeline — from escalation, to crisis, to the slow return to regulation. Understanding these phases helps you respond with calm and confidence, rather than confusion or frustration.

Support looks different in each phase

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” response. Sometimes your child needs quiet presence. Sometimes space. Sometimes co-regulation. Knowing when to talk, and when not to, can make all the difference.

You don’t have to figure this out alone

We’ve been sharing more on this topic, so take a look through our recent posts for deeper support. If you want practical, step-by-step guidance, our After School Restraint Collapse Toolkit is designed to help you feel more prepared and less overwhelmed.
For the full toolkit, link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

02/26/2026

02/24/2026

This is why therapy with Littles (and sometimes Bigs!) is a rooted in play. Play is the vehicle for communication and communication is the path to understanding 💚

If a child tries to caretake you in the playroom, it’s often because they are working through one of two things:

🔹 They are parentified. They have learned to take responsibility for the emotions of others and feel it’s their job to keep people happy.

🔹 They struggle with certain emotions. When sadness (or another difficult feeling) enters the space, they try to move you—or themselves—away from it because it’s outside their window of tolerance.

Either way, this moment is happening for a reason. It’s not random.

The goal isn’t to shut the child down or reject their care, but instead to gently model a different experience.

Next time this happens, try staying present and reflecting back:

🗣️ “You don’t want me to be sad.”
🗣️ “You’re trying to take care of me.”
🗣️ “I’m OK. It’s OK to be sad.”

This might seem small, but it’s huge.

💜 If the child is parentified, this gives them a felt experience of not being responsible for someone else’s emotions. That alone can be one of the most healing moments in their entire therapy journey.

💜 If the child struggles with being with sadness, this keeps them from avoiding or shutting it down—helping them integrate the emotion rather than pushing it away.

The Bigger Takeaway - When this moment arises in the playroom:

✅ Pause—don’t discount it. It’s happening for a reason.
✅ Recognize its significance. This is likely connected to the very thing the child is working on.
✅ Model authenticity and self-regulation. Show them that emotions can be felt and held without needing to be “fixed.”

This is not a mistake in the session. It’s part of the process.

So next time a child tries to take care of you—take a breath, lean in, and trust that this moment is unfolding exactly as it needs to.

♡ Lisa

02/23/2026

02/23/2026

Big thanks to our friends at Coastal Soft Play Co who donated TWO bounce houses for our little learners to jump and play!
If you’re looking to rent bounce houses or other soft play items for an event- definitely check them out!!

02/22/2026

This is why we work on interoception so much! It’s also connected to alexithymia (not having the words for feelings!)

Your nervous system speaks through sensations, not words.

📣Learn its language:
Step 1: Notice what feels GOOD in your body (that's your regulated baseline)
Step 2: Notice what shifts when stress hits, are you activated or shut down?
Step 3: Respond with what your body actually needs

Our training takes your nervous system through all the states, helps you feel the sensations and then how to shift out of that state. There is a reason people say its the most powerful training professionally a personally they have ever attended☺️. Once you dig in...your whole life and mindset shifts!

02/20/2026

02/20/2026

Some losses are visible. Some are quiet. All of them matter 💙

If you are navigating pregnancy or infant loss, fertility challenges, TFMR, pregnancy after loss, or parenting after loss, you do not have to carry it alone.

We offer specialized Loss & Grief Online Peer Support Groups for parents at many different points in their journey. Every group is:
✨ Virtual
✨ Always free
✨ Confidential
✨ Led by trained facilitators
✨ A space where your story is honored

Whether your loss was recent or years ago, whether you feel raw or numb or somewhere in between, there is a community that understands.

You deserve support that meets you exactly where you are.

💙 Find a group and register at https://loom.ly/3NQNbvg

02/17/2026