When Rewards Stop Working: Rethinking Motivation in Kids
Sticker charts, treasure boxes, screen time tokens—many parents have tried them all. And sometimes, those rewards work for a while… until they don’t. One day your child is racing to earn that extra bedtime book, and the next, they couldn’t care less. If you’ve found yourself wondering why rewards seem to lose their power—or never […]
What to Do Between Play Therapy Sessions: Tips for Supporting Your Child at Home
Once your child begins play therapy, you might find yourself wondering, “What should I bedoing between sessions?” While the therapy room is where much of the emotional workhappens, the time in between sessions is also important—especially when it comes to howsupported your child feels at home. Here are a few simple, meaningful ways to support […]
How to Talk to Your Child About Starting Play Therapy
When your child is beginning play therapy, one of the most helpful things you can do is introduce it in a way that feels safe and positive. Many parents worry about saying the wrong thing or making their child feel like something is “wrong” with them. The good news? You don’t need a perfect script—just […]
How Play Therapy Helps Children Heal and Grow
If you’ve ever watched your child build an elaborate story with toys, draw a picture out of nowhere, or act out a dramatic scene with dolls or action figures, you’ve witnessed something powerful: a child making sense of their world through play. In play therapy, this natural way of expressing emotions becomes a path toward […]
How Parents Can Support the Play Therapy Process at Home
Once your child begins play therapy, you may wonder what your role should be. Should you askthem what they talked about? Should you be doing something different at home? The good newsis that you are already doing something powerful by bringing your child to a space where theycan grow through play. Still, there are a […]
What to Expect: Understanding the Stages of Play Therapy
When parents bring their child to play therapy, one of the most common questions is, “What willthis process look like?” Because play therapy is based on the idea that children expressthemselves through play rather than words, the process can seem subtle from the outside—butmeaningful changes are often happening beneath the surface. Play therapy begins with […]
The Importance of Early Autism Testing in Children
The Importance of Early Autism Testing in Children Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial for children suspected of having ASD. Here’s why: Early Intervention and Support Early diagnosis of autism can lead to early intervention, which is vital for improving outcomes […]
Tips for Communicating with Family During the Holiday Season
The holiday season can be a stressful time for many reasons, including increased obligations to spend time with family members. You may not get along with family members or the political climate may be increasing family tension. Communicating with family members during the holiday season can be challenging. In this article, we aim to highlight […]
Parenting Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
The transition from teenager to young adulthood can be stressful for parents, as there are many unknowns and shifts in roles. The transition can be even more challenging when the young adult has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Young adults with ASD are more likely to experience “failure to launch” and struggle with the transition from […]
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Discussion of pathological demand avoidance (PDA) and requests for this diagnostic label have increased in the past few years. PDA was initially used to describe children who use “social manipulation” to avoid demands of parents or caregivers. Additional features include a “challenging behavioral profile,” such as resisting everyday demands and requests, a desire to be […]