A Sensory Emotional Lens

Anxiety is commonly treated with cognitive-based intervention.  What if we told you that body-based intervention - in particular sensory Occupational Therapy - can treat anxiety, too? Listen in to hear how sensory-motor play can help with your child’s anxiety.  In this episode you’ll discover: How we can use movement and sensation experiences to impact change on emotions and how our kids feel How...

Historically, the mind and body have been thought of as two different things that are not connected. In the recent decade, this has been challenged, and more and more professionals are recognizing that there is a clear connection between the two. Michele and Laura are ready to explore this idea further in the realm of anxiety assessment and treatment using a sensory emotional lens.  In this episod...

In our practice, it is very common to see anxiety as a presenting experience for children with sensory processing differences or sensory processing disorders.  In the first episode, we explored how the first stage of sensory processing – sensory registration and modulation can lead to anxiety – feeling sensations too much or for too long OR not registering or noticing or registering sensations les...

In our practice, it is very common to see anxiety as a presenting experience for children with sensory processing differences or sensory processing disorders.  When we say anxiety, what are we referring to? How does it show up?  Anxiety can present itself as an “official diagnosis,” such as Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, or Separation Anxiety. Anxiety can also present as a response to certai...

In today’s episode, I’m shifting to my parent lens!  In addition to being an Occupational Therapist working with children and families with sensory processing differences and social emotional differences, I am also a mom to two kids with both sensory processing differences and ADHD.  If the last few episodes helped you identify that there are sensory motor capacities impacting your child’s attenti...

ADHD, Sensory, Both? If the last few episodes helped you identify that there are sensory motor capacities impacting your child’s attention, activity level, hyperactivity, and tendency toward impulsivity - you are likely wondering, what do I do now? Viewing these differences through a Sensory Emotional Lens can help! In this episode you’ll discover: How to shift to a sensory emotional lens to under...

We’re continuing our mini-series on diagnoses and ADHD. In this episode, we focus specifically on the contribution of sensory discrimination capacities or sensory perception, postural instability or core weakness, and motor planning and coordination difficulties to hyperactivity, impulsivity, and ADHD.  By exploring how sensory processing contributes to hyperactivity and impulsivity, we can unders...

We’re continuing our mini-series on diagnoses and ADHD. In this episode, we focus specifically on the contribution of sensory over-responsivity/hyper-sensitivity and sensory under-responsivity/hypo-sensitivity on hyperactivity, impulsivity, and ADHD.  According to the CDC, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is u...

We’re back to continue our conversation on ADHD. In this episode we focus specifically on the contribution of sensory discrimination capacities or sensory perception, postural instability or core weakness, and motor planning and coordination difficulties on attention and ADHD.  According to the CDC, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental diso...

According to the CDC, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.”  Yet, underlying sensory processing differences as a potential cause or contribution are often overlooked. Sensory processing and social-emotional differences show up in many differen...

Pathological Demand Avoidance, a diagnosis commonly known as PDA, is on the rise for children in our area. Yet, underlying sensory processing differences as a potential cause are often overlooked. Sensory processing and social-emotional differences show up in many different ways and lead to many different ways of being - or behaviors. Sensory processing differences overlap with many diagnoses - AD...

We’re back to continue our conversation on what’s happening in play… hint - we’re not just playing in therapy sessions and in the play that we recommend at home. Michele and Laura continue sharing specific play scenarios and describe in detail what is happening within each sensory motor system and how social emotional development is supported as we play each play theme and play scenario within the...

We always say that we are not  “just playing” in therapy sessions and in the play that we are recommending at home. In this episode, we tell you exactly what it is that we are doing! We walk you through specific play scenarios and describe in detail what is happening within each sensory motor system and how social emotional development is supported as we play each play theme and play scenario with...

If you’ve been following along in this mini-series, you’ve listened to why we play, and how we play. Today, we discuss who we play for - diving into understanding the Sensory Motor Systems and Sensory Emotional Personality™ styles of those with whom we play and interact.  In this episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens, you’ll discover: An understanding of personality/temperament as a response to sens...

Let’s play! The Sensory Emotional Engagement Model uses play to address sensory motor and social emotional development simultaneously. On this episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens on Sensory Emotional Play , Michele outlines the specific use of play themes within this model. In this episode you’ll discover: The bidirectional relationship between sensation and emotion  How the Sensory Emotional Enga...

Now that the holidays are over, what will we do with all these new toys, activities, and games?! We PLAY, of course! But there is a much deeper meaning to play.  On today’s episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens on Play, Michele and special guest Laura Baldwin begin to unpack theories, research, science, and what’s really happening when we play with our kids and why we as adults should play more.  In...

The hustle and bustle is always the theme of the season for us as parents, caregivers, and professionals – I’m sure you can relate… we have to finish this, we have to plan that, we have to order this, we have to prepare that, we have to coordinate this for school, and this for grandmas, and our kids need… We often get caught up in the go, go, go, trying to make everything perfect. Still, we need t...

We’re back with part two of A Sensory Emotional Lens on Resurfacing Behaviors around the Holidays. The weeks leading up to the holidays and big events can be a tricky time for our sensory emotional kids and their families. Michele, and special guest Kristin Ray dive deeper to discuss the behaviors of avoidance and explosive emotions - increased meltdowns, yelling, hitting. In this episode you’ll d...

Maybe you’ve noticed some behaviors resurfacing these past few weeks? The weeks leading up to the holidays and big events can be a tricky time for our sensory emotional kids and their families. Here at Great Kids, some of our families are mentioning that their kids are experiencing increased neediness and asking for help with things they were previously doing themselves. They are having more explo...

We all love giving and receiving gifts - but what happens when a child’s reaction isn’t quite what you expected when they receive a gift?  Sometimes, our great kids can appear “ungrateful” for their gift - but that usually isn’t the case, and there’s a reason they are feeling this way.  Welcome to A Sensory Emotional Lens on tricky reactions to receiving gifts! In this episode you’ll discover: How...

Everyone’s asking - what’s on your kids’ wish list for the holidays? Not sure how to answer?  You’re not alone!  Within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model , we identify different personality styles based on the way our kids process sensations and move their body and the emotional expression of that processing.  By understanding your child’s personality style, you’ll better understand the ways...

The holidays are upon us, and as parents of children with differences in sensory motor processing, gathering with family and friends for seasonal festivities can be stressful. We often deal with “the looks” from others about our child’s “behavior,” and we are left to explain the reason why our child is hiding behind us in social situations, does not respond to social greetings, or needs more suppo...

Join Occupational Therapist and mom of two Michele Parkins on a journey into the world of sensory emotional processing on her weekly podcast,  A Sensory Emotional Lens.   In short episodes, you'll discover the emotional expression of sensory and movement experiences and how this causes children to act and interact. You'll also explore the connection between sensory, movement, and emotion a...