Understanding the Protective Response
In Brain-Body Parenting, Dr. Mona Delahooke explains the concept of the protective response—a child’s instinctive reaction to perceived threats, which often manifests as challenging behavior. Rather than viewing these behaviors as intentional defiance or manipulation, Delahooke urges parents to understand them as nervous system-driven responses rooted in a child’s internal sense of safety. She introduces…
Read MoreSandtray has many uses
Our work with adolescents and teens often involves learning how to successfully regulate our emotions. And the first step to learning how to regulate emotions is to first increase our awareness of our particular emotional states and how we move between them. I often use sandtray with clients to help build and organize this awareness…
Read MoreThe Role of Interoception
Chapter 6 of Brain-Body Parenting by Dr. Mona Delahooke, is titled “Making Sense of the Senses: How Emotions Arise from the Body’s Experience of the World.” The chapter looks into the relationship between sensory experiences and emotional regulation in children. Delahooke emphasizes that children’s behaviors are influenced by their sensory processing systems, which shape how…
Read MoreHealing Developmental Trauma
At our agency, we specialize in the treatment of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)—a condition rooted in chronic, early-life trauma that disrupts the brain’s natural developmental trajectory. The first three years of life are critical: during this time, the brain forms up to 90% of its neural pathways, shaping how we connect, regulate, and respond to the…
Read MoreBrain Body Parenting – Interoception
Chapter 5 of Brain-Body Parenting by Dr. Mona Delahooke talks about the relationship between the brain and body, emphasizing the place of bodily sensations in emotional regulation and behavior. Delahooke gives us more information on the concept of interoception—the ability to perceive internal bodily signals such as hunger, heartbeat, or discomfort—and its significance in understanding…
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