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    Connect Therapies Social Media

    October 21, 2020

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    Connect Therapies Social Media

    October 21, 2020

    Connect Therapies Facebook

    Sally Blevins Instagram

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    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 […]

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

    June 16, 2020

    Child's painting | Montrose, CO 81401

    animal crossing art character | Montrose, CO 81401

    cartoon of a person folding laundry | Montrose, CO 81401

    creating a change book | Montrose, CO 81401A 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!

    Contact Me

    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: 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 […]

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    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 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
    glitter in a bottle | Montrose, CO 81401

    art project for coping with change | Montrose, CO 81401healthy snack for children on the autism spectrum | Montrose, CO 81401

    bowl of snacks | Montrose, CO 81401children's chair and play tent | Montrose, CO 81401rainbow heart with infinity sign looped around heart | Montrose, CO 81401

    Contact Me

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

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

    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 […]

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    A Sense of Place

    May 14, 2020

    holding a rock | A Sense of Place | Connecting with Nature Exercise | Montrose, CO

    bridge going over river | A Sense of Place | Connecting with Nature Exercise | Montrose, CO

    piece of burnt wood | A Sense of Place | Connecting with Nature Exercise | Montrose, CO

    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.

    Contact Me

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

    Filed Under: Uncategorized

    Aspergers Spectrum (ASD)

    December 30, 2016

    Psychological care, family counseling, HIMAT (Health Insurance Mandated Autism Treatment), ABA provider, DSM 5,therapeutic care,social skills,….it’s a maze of words isn’t it? Thank you to Autism Society of Colorado for succinctly outlining what is and isn’t and how things work.  http://autismcolorado.org Although I am not an ABA provider I do offer psychotherapy. I do not […]

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    Aspergers Spectrum (ASD)

    December 30, 2016

    Psychological care, family counseling, HIMAT (Health Insurance Mandated Autism Treatment), ABA provider, DSM 5,therapeutic care,social skills,....it's a maze of words isn't it?

    Thank you to Autism Society of Colorado for succinctly outlining what is and isn't and how things work.  http://autismcolorado.org

    Although I am not an ABA provider I do offer psychotherapy. I do not offer ABA therapy. I am well versed in working with pre-adolescent, adolescent and the young adult population. As a former middle school art teacher, a parent of a child who was a square peg trying to fit into public school's round hole and exhibited ADD/ADHD behavior and as a former middle school psychotherapist with at risk students in Greeley Evans District 6  I am well versed in working with these age groups and within the school system. (complete resume can be found at www.connecttherapies.com)

    It has occurred to me and keeps recurring that family members are lacking the emotional support/ safety net that the some individuals with ASD has available to them. I offer experiential group therapy and individual support to family members of individuals on the Spectrum.

    This is not to say that psychological support is easily found for those with ASD. In fact the number of private practice individuals in Northern Colorado that offer support (outside of agencies) I can count on one hand, perhaps on three fingers. I offer experiential therapy and traditional psychotherapy for individuals on the spectrum.

    If you are interested in the above services please contact me @ 970-633-1065. If you are high on the ASD spectrum and wish to  participate in a therapeutic art group to develop social skills contact me @ 970-633-1065. New groups are forming for January 2017. I am conveniently located near the CSU test gardens in Fort Collins.

    Contact Me

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

    Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ASD autism spectrum

    Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers

    May 12, 2016

    We are meant to be connected. We are meant to live in community and not to live in isolation. We are not meant to be alone. There are those of us that spend our day in the sometimes solitary pursuit of helping others: soul workers…. Source: Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers Contact Me CLICK […]

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    Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers

    May 12, 2016

    We are meant to be connected. We are meant to live in community and not to live in isolation. We are not meant to be alone. There are those of us that spend our day in the sometimes solitary pursuit of helping others: soul workers....

    Source: Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers

    Contact Me

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

    Filed Under: Uncategorized

    on Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit... | Montrose, CO 81401

    on Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit…

    February 28, 2016

    Twila Tharp’s exercise titled “Your Creative Autobiography” in her book The Creative Habit is NOT FOR SISSIES!  It could very well be a life changing event. It was for me. Contact Me CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

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    on Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit…

    February 28, 2016

    Twila Tharp's exercise titled "Your Creative Autobiography" in her book The Creative Habit is NOT FOR SISSIES!  It could very well be a life changing event. It was for me.

    Contact Me

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

    Filed Under: Uncategorized

    Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers

    February 28, 2016

    We are meant to be connected. We are meant to live in community and not to live in isolation. We are not meant to be alone. There are those of us that spend our day in the sometimes solitary pursuit of helping others: soul workers.  We give attention as we instruct, we train, we guide, […]

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    Living the Connected Life: Soul Workers

    February 28, 2016

    We are meant to be connected. We are meant to live in community and not to live in isolation. We are not meant to be alone.

    There are those of us that spend our day in the sometimes solitary pursuit of helping others: soul workers.  We give attention as we instruct, we train, we guide, we counsel, we coach, set soul free and freer as we work with individuals all day. It is the solitary life of working in a dyad. The life of a personal trainer, a psychotherapist, a personal coach, a counselor....

    We then go home to where we live alone, to our solitary space. If we do desperately we require we must have  we need attention: the voice of another or the touch of another.  We need connection.  We must commune in some fashion, via social media if not in person. Though I must say I question the depth of connection that is possible in this conduit. We require ,if not desire affirmation: to know that another being recognizes and tells us that we are good (inherently) or good at something. And the knowledge that we are cared for. We need to know that we are loved.... possibly to hear the words, "You are loved."

    For some there is a requirement , a need or a desire for balance. Some desire to be told what to do after a day of instructing others all day. They may desire another to do the talking or to take the lead. Some need another to listen after being the listener or sounding board all day, needing to know that they are being heard.

    If the listener and listenee find each other perhaps there is bliss to be found.

    Those who give all day, in particular those who give dyadically must connect our souls.... We must then pursue a passion when we return to our solitary space.  What is required I believe is a passion that drives us and renews our spirit. It may be creating a piece of art, playing  a musical instrument, dancing in pure abandon, running for the sake of the run. Whatever the passion is it is vital to solitary dweller.

    We are meant to commune: to bee seen, to see, to be heard, to hear, to be felt, to touch and to be touched , to love and to be loved. We must find ways to connect with others. We must restore our very souls by participating in our passion. In order to live fully we must be more than existent in our home. To be fully alive we must pursue connection.

    Contact Me

    CLICK HERE FOR MORE HELP from Connect Therapies

    Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: soul worker therapy therapist connect

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