AMC Counseling Services, LLC

11/14/2025

The next Girl Talk is on Monday, November 17! This workshop is designed to provide girls in Grades 5 through 8 with a better understanding of the physical changes their bodies will undergo during puberty. Dinner will be served. Register at cromwellrec.com or by calling 860-632-3448.

11/14/2025

11/11/2025

When a meltdown seems to come 'out of nowhere' it can feel confusing and overwhelming for the adult supporting the child.
We look for what just happened — a moment, an event, a trigger we can point to.

But for many neurodivergent young people, the overload didn’t start in that moment.
It started hours earlier.

From the outside, everything may have looked calm.
But inside, the nervous system was working hard — managing sensory input, masking, holding in feelings, navigating expectations, and sometimes carrying a deep sense of “that didn’t feel fair or right.”

Internal overload builds quietly.
And the meltdown happens when the nervous system can’t hold it any longer — not necessarily when the stress began.

This is why it’s so important to understand meltdowns as a sensory + emotional cycle, rather than a behaviour to react to.

When we shift from trying to identify the 'cause' → to supporting the nervous system, we meet the child where they actually are.

If you’d like a clear visual guide to the whole cycle — including what helps at each stage — you’ll find the Timeline of a Meltdown via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

Save this to return to when the moment feels confusing

11/10/2025

When a young person is in meltdown, their nervous system has moved into survival mode.
This means the thinking, reasoning, language-based parts of the brain are offline.

So phrases like:
“Calm down.”
“You don’t need to be upset.”
“Use your words.”
or “Stop it.”
aren’t just unhelpful — they can intensify the overwhelm.

Not because the child is choosing not to listen —
but because they are not able to in that moment.

This post breaks down what not to say at each stage of the meltdown cycle:

• Escalation
• Crisis (the peak)
• Recovery (the Blue Phase)

Because the timing of our response matters just as much as the words we use.

If you want a deeper understanding of what’s happening in the brain during these stages — and how to support each phase with calm, connection and safety — you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

FOLLOW for our next post - What to Say During a Meltdown

11/08/2025

The next Girl Talk is on Monday, November 17! This workshop is designed to provide girls in Grades 5 through 8 with a better understanding of the physical changes their bodies will undergo during puberty. Discussions include the importance of positive self-worth, healthy communication, and how to deal with difficult situations that may arise during these dynamic times of their lives. Register at cromwellrec.com or by calling 860-632-3448
Stretch, Pediatric Therapy & Creative Movement Studio, LLC

11/07/2025

Join us in shaping the future of community health in Connecticut!
Be part of the conversation and RSVP today!
Email aelise@cliffordbeerschp.org to save your spot!

11/07/2025

We are overjoyed to be hosting our first ever Community Baby Shower tomorrow! We hope new and expecting moms and their friends and family will join us.

11/06/2025

Register here https://tinyurl.com/7w4tuxf6

11/06/2025

Our communities are in greater need than ever and we need your help! Hartford Stage is collecting food for Hands on Hartford's MANNA Food Pantry now through the end of A Christmas Carol on December 28.

There will be donation boxes in front of the box office during regular hours for all who are able to donate canned goods and non-perishables. 🥫 🥫 🥫

Get in the holiday spirit of giving and help us support the Hartford community!

11/06/2025

The adolescent brain is still under construction.
The emotional centres of the brain mature earlier, while the parts responsible for reasoning, planning, and self-regulation continue developing into the mid-20s.

This is why young people may feel things more intensely, respond quickly, or struggle to pause in the moment — especially when overwhelmed.
This is development, not defiance.

For neurodivergent young people, these differences can be even more pronounced.
Sensory processing, emotional intensity, and social fatigue can all shape how feelings show up and how support is needed.
Their brains are not behind — they are building pathways differently.

When we understand the brain, we can meet young people with connection, patience, and co-regulation, rather than correction or criticism.
This is how emotional regulation skills grow over time.

Explore The Child Brain Explained Toolkit for practical guidance to help parents and educators support emotional regulation in real-world moments. Link in comments ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in bio.

07/28/2025

URGENT!

We need your help TODAY to get 80 formerly homeless youth ready for school next month! Please help us by purchasing the items on our wish list before Wednesday, July 30. Scan the QR code or click the link in the comments, and share with your community!