Connections, LLC ABA Therapy Center

12/10/2025

05/01/2025

Ever tried reasoning with your child mid-meltdown—and got nowhere?

Here’s why:
When a child is dysregulated, it’s like there’s a traffic jam in their brain. Emotions have blocked the road, and nothing—not rewards, not consequences, not even your calmest logic—can get through.

What they need first isn’t correction.
It’s connection.

Help them clear the jam by offering co-regulation: a steady presence, deep breaths, or even just sitting quietly together. Once their “road” is clear again, then you can talk, teach, and guide.

Save this as a reminder: Calm first, teach later.

Want more?
You’ll find deeper insights and practical tools in my book Guidance from The Therapist Parent, available on my website www.thetherapistparent.com and Amazon.

03/03/2025

When they go high - in the form of a stress response - we go LOW. We tend to our own nervous system first. We calm ourselves. We get quiet. We kneel down to their level...we make ourselves the safe zone.

We need take care of ourselves so we can co-regulate rather than escalate.

A few ideas:

-Say a mantra, such as "my child is having a hard time, not giving me a hard time"
-Try a breathing technique (longer exhales). Then zoom out and try to observe the situation from afar so you can consider your most skillful response.
-Ground yourself by clenching and releasing your fists, pressing your feet into the floor.
-Give yourself a timeout - outside or in another room, if it's safe to walk away.
-Get curious. Ask yourself what might be the reason behind this behavior? And why is it upsetting me?

via Wild Peace for Parents

03/03/2025

Be curious, not judgmental…

Tiny Buddha

11/12/2024

09/16/2024

05/22/2024

04/27/2024

Come see me and Sadie at the Autism Walk in Oakdale! 🩷

03/01/2024

Connections would like to wish our Oakdale Lady Warriors good luck in their state championship game! 🏀 We hope you all are already proud of how much you’ve accomplished and how much you’ve inspired those around you. We are cheering you on!

02/28/2024

Be the change! ♥️

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