Aspie Anxiety in the Time of COVID 19

November 10, 2020

“…nearly half of those with ASD also have some sort of anxiety by adulthood.” Louise Bedrossian, 2015 Fear and Our Brains After our brains respond to fear there is […]

Aspie Anxiety in the Time of COVID 19

“…nearly half of those with ASD also have some sort of anxiety by adulthood.” Louise Bedrossian, 2015

Fear and Our Brains

After our brains respond to fear there is a period of de-activation or calming down. In individuals on the Spectrum the initial response to fear results in less of an initial activation. Bedrossian states, “this suggests that people with ASD are slower to differentiate safety vs. danger.”

Brains, Fear and Anxiety

Put another way: Aspie’s brains develop differently. Neurotransmitters develop differently. Brains respond differently to certain cues. Because individuals on the Spectrum have some difficulty reading cues for fear and for safety this may lead to anxiety.

Aspies react differently

Aspie’s have difficulty perceiving social cues. Aspies experience sensory sensitivity. Aspies find change to be difficult. Enter the Pandemic! Picture yourself as an Aspie student: middle school,

high school, college level. Anxiety for Aspies might be triggered by: crowded places., loud sounds, smells, change in routing, changes that are part of everyday in life in school and college settings.student

And In the Time of COVID 19

Imagine that you are a student who has had a change in a learning environment due to the Pandemic. Imagine that you are a student who has had a change in living situation as well. Both of these can be anxiety producing especially for Aspies.

Consider the class format has changed, assignments are different, group learning has changed. Other anxiety producing triggers which include learning how to schedule one’s time that was previous scheduled by virtue of the learning environment: getting to a class, etc.

Additionally Aspies may or often experience anxiety around socially interacting with others: meeting with advisors, teachers/ professors, other student s and study groups.

We are Here to Help

Connect Therapies offers support in the form of individual therapy to learn coping strategies. We are here to help you lower anxiety during this time of change. We understand that changes in your daily routine, living and study situation and changes in interaction with others can cause anxiety.

I recently found a new resource that offers virtual support for Aspies and their families. Take a look : https://www.aane.org/

Contact Connect Therapies counselors at 970 286 0054

or via email: sally@connecttherapiesllc.com.

Or fill out the online contact form found under the Contact Us tab.

Filed Under: adult ADD, anxiety, ASD, Autism, COVID, natural supports, Pandemic, parent support, stess relief, Stress, therapy Tagged With: #anxiety, #Aspie, #autism, #Boulder, #college, #connecttherapies, #Highland, #learncoping, #onlineschool, #pagosa Springs, #remotelearning, #social anxiety, #telluride, ASD, coping

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October 21, 2020

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And Did You Know? / Some Thoughts on Depression

July 27, 2020

Depression or “pure depression” may be defined by markedly increased activity in the deep limbic area of the brain. The deep limbic area contains several parts one of which is the amygdala, also referred to as the “reptile brain” which is plays a major part in the Fight or Flight response that we all respond […]

And Did You Know? / Some Thoughts on Depression

When we concentrate the deep limbic area is at rest. When the amygdala comes on line in response to a threat or perceived threat, that is when we are afraid/experiencing fear the prefrontal cortex de-activates. The prefrontal cortex is is the brain’s supervisor meaning it is in charge of attention span, forethought, impulse control, organization, motivation and planning. It also modulates energy levels, goal setting ability and some personality functions. There is a lot of responsibility for your brain’s supervisor!

Have you said or perhaps heard someone say “I can’t think straight” or “I just can’t think”? If one is in Fight or Flight mode then one simply CANNOT “think straight. The part of your brain that plans, organizes and is in charge of forethought is shut down. No worries, it will come back online. Depressed persons may experience difficulty in the areas of attentiveness, being easily distracted, off task and even impulsive. (Yes these are also symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder but for the purpose of today’s writing we will focus on depression.)

If a person is diagnosed as clinically depressed a combination of psychotherapy and medication is often the best course of action, realizing that psychotropic medication is meant to be a short term endeavor to help provide relief. Also that psychotropic medication without psychotherapy will most likely not be of much benefit and ultimately will not suffice to provide relief of depressive symptoms.
Wellbutrin, generic name of Bupropion can be of help to increase energy, improve focus and help with achievement. In addition to this medication one will benefit from adding the following lifestyle improvements: exercise (especially in fresh air), eating more protein and less carbohydrates (keeping carbs as mostly if not all complex carbs), and learning techniques to quell negative thought patterns. Milder cases of depression may respond to all of the above without the prescribing of psychotropics such as Wellbutrin.

If the limbic system is frequently shutting down the prefrontal cortex it may also be due to any of the following: physical illness, drug or alcohol abuse, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) which is frequently diagnosed at Colorado’s higher elevations, infections, brain trauma (TBI) or exposure to toxic substances. Additionally if you have a low red blood cell count it may impair treatment of depression. In which case a primary care physician might prescribe Vitamin B-12.

I am not a physician and I am not trained to prescribe medication. I can however recommend what has proven to be beneficial. Some persons with pure depression have seen symptom relief by using DLPA (DL-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and SAMe ( S-Adenosyl Methionine.
DLPA increases adrenaline.
L-tyrosine boosts energy levels, mood and metabolism. May increase motivation and improve concentration. It would be taken 2-3 times per day. The recommended amount that is often suggested is100 -500 mg for children and 500 - 1500 mg for adults.
SAMe has been described as one of the best natural anti-depressants . It aids in neurotransmitters function. The recommended amount that is often suggested is 200 -400 mg@ 2-4 times per day.
If you choose to take a natural supplement always consult with your primary care physician concerning benefits, possible drug interactions and physical health conditions and your psychiatrist if you are currently prescribe psychotropic mediations.

Unfocused anxiety/ depression is not pure depression. You may be experiencing a combination of symptoms that are primarily depressive with some anxiety. If this is the case there is too little activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, the brains’s supervisor.
There is increase activity in the deep limbic system or the basal ganglia (one part of that complex deep limbic system) This would mean you are experiencing inattentiveness, distraction, boredom, off task behavior and possibly impulsive behavior. (Sounds like those ADD symptoms again, right? Sometimes adult ADD and depression with anxious features overlap. This is where consulting a trained therapist is the best route and not trying to sort it all out on your own.)

I am not a physician and I am not trained to prescribe medication. I can however recommend what has proven to be beneficial to some persons experiencing mixed anxiety/depression. Some persons have seen symptom relief by using St. Johns Wort, L-tryptophan, 5HTP or Vitamin B6.
L-tryptophan would best be taken at bedtime, 1000 - 3000 mg.
5HTp is said to be 5 - 10 times more powerful than L-tryptophan and would be taken 2- 3 times per day, 50 -100 mg]
Vitamin B-6 would be taken at 50 mg per day.
If you choose to take a natural supplement always consult with your primary care physician concerning benefits, possible drug interactions and physical health conditions and your psychiatrist if you are currently prescribe psychotropic mediations.

In addition these lifestyle changes will help bring relief to mixed anxiety/ depression: exercise (especially in fresh air), eating more protein and less carbohydrates (keeping carbs as mostly if not all complex carbs), and learning techniques to quell negative thought patterns, psycho-education, psychotherapy and support groups.

Contact Me

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

Filed Under: ADD, adult ADD, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, brain, depression, depression and medication, natural supports, therapy Tagged With: #anxiety, #Boulder, #colorado, #Highland, #pagosa Springs, #telluride, ADD, Adult ADD, amygdala, anti-depressants, attention deficit disorder, depression, limbic. TBI, psychotherapy, reptile brain, therapy, traumatic brain injury

Thoughts Lie, Thoughts Lie A Lot: Anxiety & Trauma

July 27, 2020

Anxiety and Trauma

Thoughts Lie, Thoughts Lie A Lot: Anxiety & Trauma

Anxiety is sometimes caused by our thoughts. Thoughts are not facts. It is a worthwhile exercise to STOP and ask, “Is this thought true?”

If you are feeling upset by your thoughts you might try this. Write down how you feel when you have this troubling thought. Some people have a tendency to write down more thoughts. Make sure you are using feeling words and not thinking words.

Feeling Words:

Angry, fearful, excited, disgusted, bewildered, crappy, disgusted, exhausted, emotional, guilty, hurt, lonely, confused, miserable, nervous, overpowered, pissed, etc.

Hopeful, happy, knowledgeable, loved, awesome, ambitious, brave, kind, empowered, sexy, valued, wise, wonderful, etc.

Thinking Words:

hope, prefer, wish, want, know, wonder, am worried that, I am, I can’t, I know, shouldn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t, won’t, no one, I’m not etc.

You can learn how to change your thoughts and change how you feel.

If a memory comes up in which you felt the way you are feeling today, write it down. Reflect on what helped you to calm down.
Was it a positive activity that helped to comfort you or perhaps you need to find new ways to find comfort or even to resolve feeling surrounding a traumatic memory?
Was it a negative activity that calmed you or brought you comfort and over time has become just a bad habit? There are ways to disconnect current behaviors from the trauma of the past. There are ways to disconnect that bridge. Once that bridge is broken there is a new freedom and ability to move forward into a new future.

If you would like help in lowering anxiety or even disconnecting the bridge to past trauma please contact us at Connect Therapies. 970 286 0054 call or text We are on several insurance panels and take RMHP Medicare and Medicaid. Let us help you live your best future.

Contact Me

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

Filed Under: anxiety, stess relief, trauma Tagged With: #anxiety, #Boulder, #Highland, #mental health colorado, #online therapy anxiety, #pagosa Springs, #telluride, #therapy colorado, colorado therapy, feeling words, feelings, habits, memory, therapy help, thoughts, trauma

Make a Change Book: a together activity for families with an autistic child.

June 16, 2020

A together activity for families with an autistic child. Of course we prepare for change when a child on the Spectrum is part of the equation, sort of goes without saying, right? In addition to explaining the upcoming change, then wash, rinse, repeat and explain again, always using simple and clear terms, here is an […]

Make a Change Book: a together activity for families with an autistic child.

A together activity for families with an autistic child.

Of course we prepare for change when a child on the Spectrum is part of the equation, sort of goes without saying, right?
In addition to explaining the upcoming change, then wash, rinse, repeat and explain again, always using simple and clear terms, here is an activity that may offer a fun way to prepare for change.

You will be making a visual schedule in a book format. This is a visual support/ a form of visual schedule in a storybook format.

Materials you will need:
Three ring binder
Stapler
Copy paper to fit in the binder
Hole punch
Glue sticks
Scissors
magazines, old calendars, greeting card photos/ anything you can cut up that has images of activities
a container to hold images

Prepare ahead of time:
Staple together enough pages to include most major activities of the day
Take the same amount of page and place them in the three ring binder (hole punch ahead of time or make that repetitive activity a part of the book making)

Cut or tear pictures from magazines or other sources of the activities during a daily schedule.
Glue the images onto pages in the binder. If you don’t have a binder a second set of pre-stapled pages will do. But a binder might allow some flexibility during the process: allowing for frustrations and for changes in perspective during the process. Speaking of frustration. Your child may likely find some images that do not pertain to the daily visual schedule. Those can be glued into the pre-stapled pages.

Keeping that structured daily routine is part of survival at home. Now you have a visual storybook of the daily routine. As part of getting ready for a change in routine you can add a new page with an image of the new activity.
Get ready for changes in small steps and then wash, rinse repeat by explaining. Use the visual storybook to reinforce the explanation. It can be part of the getting ready process.

I hope you enjoy making a visual schedule. Let me know how your activity went. Post an image of your visual journal or of the activity in progress. Have fun!

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CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

Filed Under: ASD, Autism, creativity, journal, parent support, parenting, Uncategorized Tagged With: #arttherapy, #autism, #autismbehavior, #autismparenting, #autismsupport, #connecttherapies, #familyrules, #schedule, #self-regulate, ASD, Aspergers, visualschedule

Sunday Support: Some Thoughts on Parenting & Aspergers: Finding Hope

June 1, 2020

Brain illustration Highly functioning autistic individuals might be described as “aware and can’t do anything about it” when it comes to certain areas of living. They are highly functioning in many areas but of highly functioning socially. The job of parents becomes not to teach social graces but to teach them responsibility so as not […]

Sunday Support: Some Thoughts on Parenting & Aspergers: Finding Hope

Brain illustration
Highly functioning autistic individuals might be described as “aware and can’t do anything about it” when it comes to certain areas of living. They are highly functioning in many areas but of highly functioning socially. The job of parents becomes not to teach social graces but to teach them responsibility so as not to put themselves in dangerous situations.

First, a little brain science.
The cerebellum has more neural connections than any other part of the brain. The cerebellum controls motor activity, sensory-motor activity, balance, memory, and facial expression to name a few. If your cerebellum is “overactive” you may experience involuntary movement. If your cerebellum is “under-active” your feet may forget to move. One can expand that idea of overactive and under-active to the various areas controlled by the cerebellum.

Second, internalized rules.
So let’s say as a family parents come with sets of rules. Parent #1 has her/ his family rules. Parent #2 has her/his family rules. I am speaking of internalized rules not formal, do this-don’t do that posted on the fridge type rules. We all com with internalized rules that are the result of our “internal mothers (primary caregiver).” These are things that we just assume to be true about how to live life in a family setting. Some have more than others. Some are well defined and “loud” while some are subtle in volume or tone and some are pretty muddy. We all have some. These are the things that we just assume to be true about how to live life in a family setting. We act out the internalized rules based on situations that come up day to day.
As a family grows the two parents have many experiences, opportunities to forge new family rules by combining , refining , getting rid of internal rules. Some times this happens formally, sometime almost by osmosis and sometimes, well “loudly.”

And third, new family member.
Along comes a new family member who is high functioning on the Spectrum. The internalized rules may no longer work. You know, those auto-pilot things we say, those auto-pilot responses that just seem to just happen. The internalized rules may not fit this new situation. “What we know is what we know.” And “what we know’ in this case probably isn’t going to work. Yet, here we are. We act out rules to solve problems. Therein lies the opportunity. This is the opportunity: to rewrite the family rules. This is the opportunity to make rules appropriate to the new situation, the new family. The family deserves and will need new rules.

Taking time to visit your internal family rules, your internal mother and to not allow her to auto-pilot how you relate to your child on the Spectrum. Take time to create new family rules together and verbalize them. Put in to action rules with flexibility that will address the social wellbeing and the safety of your child on the Spectrum.

More about rules in a future blog. For now I hope you find this to be food for thought. If you are struggling with “parenting on the Spectrum” and would like support please check out of Resource Page here at Connect Therapies LLC or give us a call. We are here to offer hope and support.

Contact Me

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Filed Under: ASD, Autism, parent support, parenting Tagged With: # parenting, #autism, #autismbehavior, #autismparenting, #autismsupport, #cerebellum, #familyrules, #parentingsupport, ASD, Aspergers

Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog Coping With Change: Children on the Spectrum

May 26, 2020

Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog Coping with Change: Children on the Spectrum #ASD, #Autism Spectrum, #parenting #self-regulate #stayathome Changes in routine, changes in environment. In the midst of the COVID Pandemic many parents are adapting to changing routines at home including added school work, more hours to “entertain” or otherwise occupy children. Add a […]

Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog Coping With Change: Children on the Spectrum

Sunday Support: A Parent Support Blog

Coping with Change: Children on the Spectrum
#ASD, #Autism Spectrum, #parenting
#self-regulate #stayathome

Changes in routine, changes in environment.
In the midst of the COVID Pandemic many parents are adapting to changing routines at home including added school work, more hours to “entertain” or otherwise occupy children. Add a child with autism to the mix and the pressure gets amped up! Autistic behaviors of acting out due to change can be increased due to the many changes in routine brought about by our current lifestyle restrictions.

I am offering some reminders of coping strategies and some art interventions to help children on the spectrum to self-regulate. We will explore timetabling and self-regulation activities. (I came upon the idea of timetabling in an article written by Rebecca Sharrock who describes a system she has worked out to help her as an adult on the autism spectrum to cope with change. I have adapted her idea to apply to children on the spectrum. You can find her article here: https://longevitymedia/enabling-autistic-people-to-cope-with-change?)
Secondly I will suggest some self-regulating activities.

Timetabling
Self Regulation Activities

Let's begin by exploring “timetabling.”

Timetable A = Your Usual Routine
Timetable B = Something has changed today and we are on Timetable B.
Timetable C = We’ve had another change and we might doing Timetable C.

Timetable A is how the day usually runs. Our new daily schedule with family members knowing what to expect

Timetable B is (our new Pandemic timetable) the routine that has been worked out for all family members. A reminder of this might be “I know you prefer Timetable A but we are on Timetable B for now.”

When another unexpected change comes up during the day, due to a sibling in crisis, an unexpected change in a delivery time, a household chore that needs immediate attention, whatever the case may be, we move to Timetable C. In this case we are allowing for the need for immediate and short term flexibility. When you say “We are on Timetable C” this will indicate to your child with autism that it is time to move to his/ her self soothing activity You have a pre-determined and agreed upon self-soothing activity that is understood to be the “go-to” and is readily available and easily accessible. Clearly this has to be made ready ahead of time for such an emergency change scenario.

Here are some self-regulating activities that you might choose from:

Self-Regulating Activities

Glitter Jar

Rain Stick

Any activity that includes cross-body/ bilateral movement in a safe quiet space.

Drawing

Reading

Sensory Collage

Listne to music

Drink of water and a snack (self serve)

Sitting with a calming family pet

Time in your “safe place” with stuffed animal, weighted blanket, music play list, lava lamp, etc.

Finally make a list with your child of self soothing activities. Choose 1-or 2 to have at the ready for Timetable C emergencies. If you would like more support please contact Sally Blevins MA LPC at Connect Therapies or see our Resource Page at www. connecttherapiesllc.com. There will be more blog posts to follow with self-regulation activities and instructions.k

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Filed Under: ASD, Autism, parent support, parenting, routine, Uncategorized Tagged With: #parenting #self-regulate, #stayathome, ASD, autism spectrum

Visual Journal 101

May 22, 2020

Create. Have fun. Lower your heart rate. Raise the happy hormone levels (dopamine). Lower cortisol levels (many benefits). Look Happier. Use line, shape, color. Write, draw, collage, paint, embellish. Find a way to get clear. Reduce Stress. Find Calm. Manage Pain. These are all genuine benefits that may be had by participating in visual journaling! […]

Visual Journal 101

Create. Have fun. Lower your heart rate. Raise the happy hormone levels (dopamine). Lower cortisol levels (many benefits). Look Happier.
Use line, shape, color. Write, draw, collage, paint, embellish.
Find a way to get clear. Reduce Stress. Find Calm. Manage Pain. These are all genuine benefits that may be had by participating in visual journaling!

Try writing, creating, drawing each day for at least 15 minutes. Try to set aside the same time every day. Spend the first 5 minutes jotting words, ideas, brief thoughts. Then add to these words in any format that begins to fill the page. There are no wrong answers. You can use your favorite pens, crayons, paint for mark making. You can cut and past from magazines, junk mail, old photos. Add embellishments that you can attach with glue or stitching. If the blank page has you stuck simply draw one line: any kind of line anywhere across the page. Add to this line. Take it from there....

Here are some suggestions for journal topics if you need a focus to guide you.

dreams
food
finances
goals
solitude

love
design
beauty
ugly
coincidence

rooms
weather
pleasure
pain
connection

color
routines
nature
sounds
change

Keeping a visual journal can become a daily practice. It might be that you just use it to help you through a particular time, as a means of centering, grounding or creating calm or to explore a theme.

If your journal brings up emotions and you feel you might gain from additional support Connect Therapies is here to support you. Give us a call. We offer sliding scale for private pay and due to this time of distancing, quarantine, unemployment and g change we are offering a substantial discount.
If you are having suicidal thoughts call or go to the nearest Crisis Center or call the National Suicide Crisis Line 800-273-8255.

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Filed Under: art therapy, creativity, grounding, journal, routine, stess relief, visual journal, writing Tagged With: #anxiety, #artjournal, #arttherapy, #connecttherapies, #pages, #stressrelief, #visualjournal

Autism, Neurons and Self Regulation, Oh My!

May 19, 2020

This is the first in a series of blogs related to the Autism Spectrum. I hope you will find it worthy of your time. Until recently Autism and Aspergers Disorder were defined separately and now are contained within the designation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This blog post addresses across the spectrum. Throughout my life […]

Autism, Neurons and Self Regulation, Oh My!

Throughout my life I have interacted with individuals on the Spectrum. My first experiences with autism were in college as a Special Olympics volunteer, a Boys Club worker, a VISTA Volunteer in a preschool for developmental delays and in a a county "Community School" in Appalachia. In my art teaching career I continue d to interact via art in the public schools. Late in graduate school practicum and internship I connected once again with autistic clients. More recently I worked at Foothills Gateway in Fort Collins engaging with adults on the Spectrum and in my private practice on the Front Range. I have been blessed with grandson who is on the Spectrum. I have a love for working with young adult "Aspies" and their families and continue to do so in the Montrose area.

Individuals diagnosed with ASD have one-sided social interactions. They can be intensely absorbed in circumscribed topics. They are often socially isolated. It si important to point out that they are not unaware of the presence of others. Individuals on the Spectrum are interested in making friends. Two limiting factors in this area are: social awkwardness and insensitivity to interpersonal communications.
Individuals on the Spectrum experience difficulty reading facial expressions, in particular recognizing fear. Research shows they tend to identify/ see separate facial features but not the face as a whole. the brain science part to this is what is called damage to mirror systems. This damage creates deficits in reading biological emotions. (refer to the writings of Louis Cozolino to further your knowledge.)

More brain science? There are speculations / theories as tot eh cause of damage to mirror systems but no definitive answer yet. ASD individuals also avoid making eye contact They are relatively 'blind" to the idea of significance of direction of eye gaze.Research shows ASD individuals have some structural irregularities in the cerebellum region of the brain. The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating motor movements, controlling muscle tone, maintaining equilibrium and balance, modulating and timing language and modulation and timing in affect regulation. Thats a lot of function! And much of this function is relevant to how ASD individuals interact and relate to others.These irregularities show up in dysregulation of how one experiences one's body in time and space. The result is avoidance of unpredictable stimuli. ASD individuals prefer sameness and predictability. Another result is rhythmic self stimulation. The internal absence of equilibrium/ balance/ modulation, or the internal regulation of sensory input is chaotic internally The ASD person's response is self stimulation via rhythmic movement to quiet the chaos. Sometimes as a family member we see an individual that is "set off", over stimulated and we are unable to understand what the source is. We look for a trigger. It may simply be internal chaos that the individual is coping with. So their "go to" is self regulation coping strategies.

The cerebellum helps us organize sensory and motor input. It has been suggested that the cerebellum plays a role in affect regulation, attachment and positive self image. The cerebellum helps us attune to others by eye contact, shared gaze, positive share interactions. These functions are disrupted and creates some deficits as the brain is developing. The deficits in affect regulation, social judgement and empathy happen as the frontal brain circuits ads develop and they are connected to the cerebellum. We also rely on close relationships for these three qualities to take shape: affect regulation, social judgement and empathy. So the input from family interactions, therapy and social skills training are of great importance to the ASD individual giving them support and growth opportunities.

Our brains are shaped by experience. Our brains reflect what we learn. As we connect an d grow and gain in socialization our brain neurons connect and grow and gain complexity. Relationships have a huge effect in regulating our growth of neurons. Relationships can increase the neural growth, increase our metabolic activity and increase our metabolic growth. Maybe that is another blog topic for another day?

To summarize, ASD individuals can gain social skills including empathy, facial recognition/ emotion reading ability and can overcome to some degree the mirror system damage to the cerebellum.

All the Best and Be Well,
Sally
Sally Blevins MA LPC

If you are interested in assessment for therapy related to Autism Spectrum Disorder please contact Sally Blevins MA LPC at Connect Therapies LLC. We can coordinate care as follows:

Sally Blevins MA LPC, www.connecttherapiesllc.com/contact Connect Therapies for psychotherapy with higher functioning individuals, family support and coaching, referral to ABA services, referral to accessible online evaluations without the typical six month waiting period and without the need to travel to the Front Range.Connect Therapies takes Rocky Mountain Health Plan Medicaid and Prime.

Over The Rainbow Consulting, https://www.otrbehavior.com for ABA therapy, testing and evaluation, services for lower functioning individuals, family support and coordinating educational support.

Clear Child Psychology, www.clearchildpsychology.com for assessment using the CADE online assessment tool, less wait time for assessment followed by referral to therapist including those who take Medicaid, family support, coaching, educational support including online learning.

Contact Me

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

Filed Under: ASD, Autism Tagged With: ABA, art therapy, ASD, Aspergers, Aspies, assessment, autism assessment, autism spectrum, autism support, brain, therapy

A Sense of Place

May 14, 2020

A Sense of Place An exercise in Connecting with Nature Part 1/ Inquiry Ask yourself: “how do you perceive yourself in the world? How has this changed during and in your current circumstances?” Assemble: 1) crayons, markers, pastels ,chalk 2) a surface on which to make marks: sketchbook, grocery bag, copy paper, back of an […]

A Sense of Place

A Sense of Place

An exercise in Connecting with Nature

Part 1/ Inquiry

Ask yourself: “how do you perceive yourself in the world? How has this changed during and in your current circumstances?”

Assemble: 1) crayons, markers, pastels ,chalk
2) a surface on which to make marks: sketchbook, grocery bag, copy paper, back of an old greeting card, sidewalk, wood fence
3) object(s) from nature/ two to three objects or just one if that is what you have:
rocks, seeds, feathers, shells, bones. Go outside if you are able to collect these.

Part 2/ Observation

Choose one object from nature to focus on. What do you find attracting you to this object? Shape, color, how it feels to the touch, perhaps a sound that it makes?
Spend a few minutes with these thoughts.

Part 3/ Processing

Draw and write based on the following suggestions:

How you are feeling about your place in the world?
Draw the object
Draw you/ draw your place in the world
Write about place and how it has changed
How do you feel about this object?
Does the object represent something for you? What were your thoughts when examining the object?

Part 4/ Going Forward

You might want to keep the object or your drawing/ writing.

Decide if you will keep the object or return it to nature. Place the object.

Will you keep your drawing/ writing, destroy it or give it away? Find a place for keeping or display, rid yourself of the drawing/ writing, give it to a person or a place.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized