Positive Interactions Therapy

04/22/2026

Please see this entire post in my stories. Compliance based therapy are not child-led or about regulation because this type of therapy is about managing or extinguishing behaviors, which is a completely different manner of looking at and working with a child. This is a hill I will die on.

04/22/2026

I don’t know this company/therapist but I do agree that this type of goal is compliance based and does not support a child.

Unpreferred tasks do not belong on IEPs.

Completing unpreferred tasks is not a learning goal, it’s a compliance expectation. Many IEP goals unintentionally focus on endurance, obedience, or suppression instead of learning.

Rewrite IEP goals so they support learning - not compliance. Tune into a new episode of The Inclusion Podcast (and don’t forget to download the freebie!) https://www.inclusiveschooling.com/completing-unpreferred-tasks-should-not-be-an-iep-goal/

04/07/2026

Parents! Here’s a date night opportunity!

Cue the guilt-free break 💛🙌

We love your kids—we really do—but you deserve a few hours that are just yours.

✨ Date night
✨ Errands without tiny helpers
✨ Or doing absolutely nothing in peace

Drop the kids off with us for Parent’s Night Out at We Rock the Spectrum – Carmel! We’ll keep them busy with play, laughter, and all their favorite things while you take a well-earned breather.

📅 Friday, April 24
⏰ 6:00–8:30 PM

Happy kids. Relaxed parents. Everybody wins 🫶

Spots are limited—grab yours while you can!



Sign up HERE: https://ecom.roller.app/werockthespectrumcarmel/booknow/en-us/product/1552700?date=2026-04-24&fbclid=IwY2xjawQ-BahleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFIcFpiQWhXS0ZGbnVqRXdCc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqX7hjNVpKKPbmgMEu0STfvraSHjph4pe4t3VpHwdbKDRAMsoQJpXRizH6wv_aem_6Hl74HIQL68Weetax85DFw

03/25/2026

Neurodiverse affirming means not trying to make a kid look “typical”. This is inspired by Meaningful Speech but it exactly the perfect definition!!!!

03/17/2026

This is why I focus on relationship building and connection - intrinsic motivation develops as a result! That means buy-in during therapy from the child making therapy fun and meaningful!!!! Thank you to .and.grow for this important post!

03/11/2026

I’m excited to offer three new speech and language therapy opportunities at my beautiful location! Please share this with anyone who is interested in finding a fun-loving, energetic, GLP trained and highly experienced speech therapist in central Indiana!

03/10/2026

Understand Sensory Status

Calm does not always mean regulated.

A child who is under aroused can struggle to focus and engage just as much as a child who is over aroused. Understanding sensory status changes everything.

I adjust sessions based on what a child’s body needs in the moment. Rhythmic swinging, gentle back and forth movement, or play dough might help settle an over aroused nervous system. Jumping, crashing, dancing, or singing might help increase alertness for a child who is under aroused.

When sensory needs are supported, communication becomes more accessible. Regulation first. Language follows.

03/08/2026

🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP! 🚨

Sign up below to become a Parent Partner 🤝 — lending a hand, refreshing the gym, and helping keep our space safe and welcoming for all families. As a thank you, you’re welcome to bring one child with you FREE during your volunteer time 💛

⭐ THURSDAYS NEED THE MOST HELP ⭐
especially during Play It Forward Thursday (PIFT) when the gym can get extra busy!

📲 Scan the QR code to sign up!
Don’t see a time that works? We can accommodate almost any schedule, so just let us know.

🔗 Click here for more info:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054AABAF2CA2F5C43-62282889-parent #/

03/05/2026

Be Quiet

Silence is powerful.

I do not narrate every second or fill the air with words. I “pepper” in models thoughtfully instead of talking nonstop. This can feel counterintuitive, especially when many of us were trained to increase language by increasing our own output.

But quiet creates space.

It allows a child to process their environment, the activity, and auditory information. It gives time for motor planning. It reduces pressure. Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is slow down and say less.

Language grows in space, not in noise.
If you know or support a GLP, would you please like and share this post?!

03/04/2026

Create Trust, Build Relationships
Connection first. Always.

When I meet a child, my goal is not to push tasks. It is to build trust. That means child-led play, following their interests, using the toys and fidgets and trampoline, swings, etc. that they naturally gravitate toward, and honoring movement like crashing, swinging, jumping, or snuggling into a crash pad. Nothing happens at a table unless they choose it. There is no right way to play.

I do not rush in to fix things. I give space for problem solving and independence, their way. As Barry Prizant says, “autism is a disability of trust”. When we understand that many behaviors are rooted in anxiety, our role becomes creating safety.

Play is intrinsically motivated. It is joy. It is the journey. I want children to want to come back. When they feel regulated and in control, I can build a relationship and offer language in ways that truly connect.

12/09/2025

At Positive Interactions Therapy, we lean into special interests and familiar play on purpose. What a child already loves often brings regulation and comfort. When bodies feel safe, language has a better chance to land.

That regulation makes a difference. Language models are more likely to be noticed, processed, and even tried when play feels predictable and joyful. And using the same toys over and over doesn’t mean we’re stuck doing the same thing. It means we get to be flexible and creative.

The same few toys can become a car ramp, a story, a conversation, or a whole new game. Letters can ride. Brown Bear can crash. Movement can take the lead — and language follows.

Familiar play isn’t limiting. It’s a powerful starting point for connection, communication, and a whole lot of fun.