Happy New Year everyone! Here are a few things you might have missed this month…
-Parenting a child with autism is a unique and challenging experience. An organization in Norfolk, Canada is helping these parents to feel less alone in their situation.
-Being that all children have their own idiosyncracies and habits–some that last, some that seem to be merely a phase–it can be difficult to be sure whether or not their behavior might suggest an actual disorder like autism. This article provides a very helpful infographic of the signs of autism. The same author posted an article on play therapy tips for children with autism.
-These days, many practitioners are moving play therapy outdoors. More and more playgrounds are being designed with fun and therapeutic purposes in mind. This news story reports on such a playground at a medical center in Pennsylvania.
–This article in the Houston Chronicle outlines the importance of therapy—the gist being that the brain, our most important organ, musn’t be neglected. It also spells out the differences between counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc., which can be confusing to people seeking mental health services.
-In a blog post from the Autism Daily Newscast, a woman tells her story of being diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at the age of thirty-eight. What she had previously believed to be migraines were in fact episodes of sensory overload.
-Here’s a great intervention idea for child and family therapy called “Colored Candy Go Around”, presented by Liana Lowenstein:
-We recently shared the story of this New Mexico State University professor who is using equine therapy, storytelling, and sand play to help veterans deal with trauma. It’s a very moving story so I thought I’d share another article with an accompanying video.
-Perhaps it’s a little off-topic, but since so many of us receive those heavenly scented candles as gifts over the holidays, it might be worth reading this article about the power of aromatherapy!
–Here’s a great article for people who love their sand tray figurines. A woman in the Lansing, Michigan area who has been collecting figurines of strong female characters for several decades, will be auctioning them off as a benefit to The Women’s Center. Wish I could get my hands on some of these cool figurines!
-Two years after the massacre in Newtown, CT, the town’s constituents are still struggling to cope. On the two year anniversary, many articles were published reporting on the problems that persist and the efforts in place to help the town heal. It is a sad subject to revisit, but it’s encouraging to see people helping those in need.
-Isn’t it fun to get a peek into other practitioner’s play therapy rooms?
-It’s very encouraging to know there are organizations like this one that understand the importance of allowing children to express their feelings through play and other activities.
-It can be very difficult for a young child to communicate, or even recognize, the experience of being sexually abused. This article discusses ways to teach awareness and create a safe environment in which a child feels comfortable confiding.
Have a productive and joy-filled January!