Edge of the Nest

Does your child struggle with handwriting? What about writing composition in general? Writing is a highly integrative process with many factors to consider. Challenges with writing skills can be confusing and complicated, leaving a child and/or family with no clear direction to take other than to “try harder” or opt-out of traditional writing practices altogether. But what if we could pinpoint the...

“My child HATES school.” “It’s like pulling teeth to get my child to school.” “I literally can’t get my kid to go to school.” If you’re facing school refusal issues in your home, you’re not alone. As the educational landscape simultaneously shifts and stagnates in the United States, increasing numbers of children struggle to engage in school and learning. What do we do about it? Listen to this epi...

We’re circling back to a hot topic—Executive Function. This multi-layered set of skills is impacted by many building blocks of development, and challenges can present in a myriad of ways. As a continuation of our six-part series with Teresa Nair, in this episode you will hear about: Descriptions of Executive Function from multiple perspectives Nature and nurture contributions The integrative and d...

PDA is a concept still in its infancy in the United States. Otherwise known as Pathological Demand Avoidance, this behavior profile is often associated with autism and pervasively impacts a person’s ability to participate in meaningful everyday activities. The physiological experience becomes a powerful barrier—even in activities that a person wants to do. It’s not that a person won’t participate,...

Have you ever experienced anxiety? What about someone you know and love? Statistically speaking, very few people will live their entire life WITHOUT being touched by anxiety in some way. For such a small word, the topic is MASSIVE. And we're left with so many questions. Like...why do some people experience so much anxiety that it negatively impacts their lives? Is it something we must live wi...

To kick off Season 4 of Edge of the Nest , Erica and Cassie are bringing back a popular guest—Teresa Nair. Thanks to our listeners who loved the "Neurodivergence and Twice Exceptionality" (Season 3; #31) episode, we’ve asked Teresa to join us for several thoughtfully chosen topics that hit close to home for many families—whether they have neurotypical OR neurodivergent children.  In this...

We're about to kick off our fourth season here at Edge of the Nest, and we're doing things a little differently this time around. For Season 4, we are bringing back Teresa Nair to have mini roundtable talks around: Self-Regulation Anxiety PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) Executive Function School Refusal Writing Skills And if you have any additional topic requests, we would love for y...

Did you know that “rough and tumble play” is associated with greater motor, cognitive, and emotional development in children? But it goes way beyond play wrestling! Join Erica and Cassie to hear about all things rough and tumble. We will cover: What are the benefits of rough and tumble play? What constitutes rough and tumble play? What if I don’t want to or can’t wrestle with my kids? How do I kee...

Does your child struggle in school? Maybe academics are the challenge. Perhaps their difficulties are more related to the social or emotional aspects of school. Does your child have a diagnosis such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dysgraphia, etc? Do sensory processing challenges impact your child’s success? If any of these ring true, this episode is here to empower YOU. Join Erica and Cassie as we cha...

Picky eating is a HUGE challenge that many parents face. Whether your child eats 5 or 20 foods, if mealtime is a source of stress in your household, this episode is for you. Join Erica and Cassie as they discuss: The power in APPROACHING food and asking “How Can I” support child-food interactions. Why starting with eating is NOT usually the best choice. The nuances of the child-food relationship....

Have you ever thought, “I’m doing all of the right things, so why am I still [insert your life obstacle here]?” In the self-development world, we’ve been told we have the power to change our lives. That we just need to get out of our own way. That once we know better, we will do better. But what if you’ve committed yourself to the changes and still are experiencing: Immense stress Chronic illness...

For any parent who becomes confused or overwhelmed by your child’s behavior at times—this episode is for you. As relational developmental therapists, we do not set out to “fix” behavior but rather help parents and other caregivers to understand a child’s behavior and respond in a way that supports balance, growth, and harmony in the future. Join Erica for this solo episode as she describes the “to...

How do you respond to life’s obstacles? Do you often feel a state of FLOW or RESISTANCE in your life?    In this brief episode, Erica and Cassie begin to “plant the seed” for reflection upon the thoughts and actions you take to either facilitate or block ease in the day-to-day. It’s perfectly normal to feel things such as worry, frustration, or overwhelm as we navigate life’s twists and turns. In...

Have you ever thought about what drives INNATE development? How do we begin to learn to move? To use our eyes in a meaningful way? How does the infant begin to lay foundations for future executive function? The answer = Primitive Reflexes! Join Cassie and Erica to learn more about reflex integration as a therapeutic modality to help children and adults address challenges related to motor skills, s...

In this special episode, Erica & husband, Jeremy Scheifflee, join forces to share content from their program Feeding Conscious Relationships. Although the content is geared toward romantic partnerships, the concepts can be applied to any intimate, meaningful relationship.  “It takes a lot of personal responsibility to make a relationship work." Listen to hear about how Jeremy and Erica tr...

It’s January 2024! Perhaps you’re thinking about the months & year to come. Maybe your hopes & dreams are at the top of mind. Likely none of those aspirations include getting sick more often. In fact, getting sick might get in the way of what you want to experience and accomplish this year. For these reasons, it feels like the perfect time to bring you this “Navigating Illness Naturally” e...

In this special episode, Natalie Benoit, co-owner of Inspiration Wellness Center, joins us for a BIG talk on taking our health and power back. Join us to hear about Natalie’s own health journey. Natalie shares about having a stroke at 15 years old, experiencing constant migraines, and being diagnosed with bipolar, depression, anxiety, and a neurological disorder. And that’s just to name a few! By...

The holiday season is fast approaching.  For many, it is something to look forward to. A season filled with gatherings with those we hold dear. A time for celebration.    For others, these words are cringe-worthy.  We’ve experienced relational rupture and thus have stored memories.  We feel unfulfilled and disconnected.  And now we anxiously anticipate what’s ahead as we gather with the people we...

KID FIGHTS: Is it possible to diffuse the situation and build skills for harmony in the future and support emotional intelligence? YES, YES, and YES! Join Erica and Cassie to learn more about the rupture and repair process for the developing brain. We’ll cover topics such as: Sharing Teasing and bullying Perspective-taking Social negotiation Solid social skills aren’t only important for relationsh...

Relationship Fact #1 :  Breakdowns between people are inevitable! No one is immune to these experiences. Yes, even “relationship experts” cannot hide from this truth.   Relationship Fact #2 :  It’s what we do after the rupture that counts the most!  Join Cassie and Erica as we share about the experience we had with miscommunication, confusion, and frustration within one another. In this episode yo...

The Back-to-School season is almost here, and along with it will come…stress. Transitions tax our systems physically and emotionally—whether the change is welcomed or not. Now is the time to prepare your and your children’s bodies to hopefully smooth out the bumps as we all get back into the school routine. And preparation can be EASY! We promise! Listen to this “Quick Thoughts” episode to learn a...

Have you ever felt mystified by your child's or significant other's behavior? Do you experience communication breakdowns or misunderstandings despite countless efforts to harmonize? If so, Human Design could offer a new path! Human Design offers an "operator's manual" for your unique self to thrive and to discover who you are authentically. It helps you understand why you...

If you thought acupuncture was only about needles, then this episode is for you! We’re debunking acupuncture myths left and right.  In this episode, you’ll learn more about how: Acupuncture is not only for adults; it’s for CHILDREN too! Acupuncture is only ONE tool in the toolbox. You’ll hear more about what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has to offer. As a healthcare model more than 2,500 yea...

Are you thriving as a mom? Is your life aligned with your human rights and needs? Our mainstream culture has a pretty dismal narrative about what motherhood is: It’s hard, exhausting and you feel guilty or worried all of the time. On top of that, we are rewarded for self-sacrificing! It’s no wonder mothers are prone to mental health challenges and chronic physical ailments. And you know what? Mate...

Are you concerned about your child’s attention skills or ability to follow directions? Does your child seem to lose or forget things easily? What about emotional or social challenges that impact everyday experiences? If any of these apply, then this episode might be for you! Join Erica and Cassie as we continue this two-part series on “praxis.” This time we’re focusing on executive function—skills...