early trauma history

Restorative Transdisciplinary Student Mental Health

Now that all else has failed and our schools have become more turbulent behaviorally it’s time to address the mental health needs of students using a transdisciplinary approach. We need to finally call a truce in the school wars between Board Certified Behavioral Analysts and Occupational, Speech/Language and Mental Health therapists. Research and clinical experience […]

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My Multimedia FAB Book Tour

I recently completed my book FAB “Functionally Alert Behavior” Strategies after ten years of work to clearly illustrate the interventions I use with children and adolescents who have complex behavioral challenges. To celebrate I’m launching a multi-media book tour that includes some free events as well as in advanced workshops.   My hope is that

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6 FAB Strategies for Improved Behavior During Pediatric Therapy

Link to my new Therapro Guest Blog Post https://blog.therapro.com/6-fab-strategies-for-improved-behavior-during-pediatric-therapy/  for information on strategies for improving child and adolescent behavior during your pediatric rehabilitation sessions. I will be offering Integrating Behavioral, Sensory, & Mindfulness Interventions in your Pediatric Therapy, a Therapro sponsored Free Webinar   on Tuesday, 10/29/19 from 7:00-8:30 P.M. EDT. Advanced Treatment Strategies for Youth with Complex BehavioralChallenges, my

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Frequently Asked Questions from Therapists: Severe Behavioral Challenges

     1. Where do I begin as a clinic therapist with a 2-year 11 month old who is frequently screaming and won’t participate at all in my treatment sessions? If I bring him to his parents in the waiting room he does it more next time, but the screaming bothers other therapist’s clients and

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Special Needs Behavior Plans

Students with complex behavioral problems including cognitive limitations need to be taught to behave appropriately so they can learn in school. An individualized understanding of the student’s developmental level, trauma history, sensory modulation, and effective coping strategies are helpful in developing a behavior plan. It is helpful to develop a trauma informed behavior plan that

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Sensory Modulation in Pre-K & Kindergarten

Many children with behavioral, developmental and sensory challenges have difficulty maintaining a quiet alert state for learning.  These children tend to be low registration (miss important sensory input) and/or sensory sensitive (overly responsive to functionally irrelevant sensory input) the majority of the time.  The Sensory Profile is a reliable, valid assessment that can be used

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Applying FAB Strategies

I developed FAB Strategies (Functionally Alert Behavior Strategies) to help children, adolescents and young adults who have complex behavioral challenges.  The FAB Strategies Form guides the use of environmental adaptation, sensory modulation, positive behavioral support, and physical self-regulation strategies.  The FAB Strategies forms enable teachers, families as well as occupational, physical, speech/language and mental health

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Body Awareness Intervention Improves Behavior

Many adolescents and young adults with behavioral disorders (e.g., Autism Spectrum, Post Traumatic Stress, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa) have body image challenges that negatively impact their behavior and social relationships. This is especially true for individuals who have developmental, mental health, and/or sensory processing challenges. Adolescents and young adults with body awareness challenges can

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Using Sensory Strategies to Improve Behavior

Sensory strategies have a significant impact on the behavior of children and adolescents with developmental, mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and sensory processing challenges. Deep pressure touch provided by pediatric occupational therapists through massage, brushing, weighted blankets, mat sandwiches and other sensory strategies are described as extremely positive experiences for children and adolescents with

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