The Sensory Code Podcast

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Are you a late diagnosed adult with childhood trauma relating to their missed/ignored neurodivergent needs who is NOW trying to provide better support for their own neurodivergent child? *Sigh* us too. Join Marcela Collier, certified parenting coach and neurodivergent mom to discuss our journey to accepting our neurodivergent brains and advocating for our own needs so we can better show up for our kids. 

Marcela Collier is a certified Parenting coach and former Therapeutic Care Provider-TFC, who specializes in helping parents break free from angry reactions, become secure parents, and raise emotionally healthy children. She is the founder of HIC Parenting Education Agency who has supported 14,151 parents to date in becoming secure parents through courses and coaching programs. She is a neurodivergent mom of twins with sensory processing needs.

Instagram @highimpactclub 

Marcela interviews me on her podcast: Spotify link apple link

Website: HICparenting.com

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

It’s 2024, self-pleasure, masturbation, orgasms…. It’s one of the most natural, fun, immediate ways to regulate our bodies, why should we be ashamed of it? Listen in to this unfiltered discussion about changes to intimacy after becoming parents and how burnt out, touched out moms can start getting bringing sexy back!

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish helps empower women and couples to improve their communication and build strong and healthy connections with themselves and their partner through therapy, wellness seminars, and her work outside of the therapy room. She contributes to popular media sites, including Motherly, Huffington Post, and Bustle. In addition to hosting the podcast, “I’m not your shrink” where she dives deeper into clinical knowledge and research in a relatable and informal way, her book “I Didn’t Sign Up For This: Stories of Unlocking Old Patterns and Finding Joy in Your Relationship” is a fantastic resource, which I highly recommend. Dr. Tracy is a mom of two young children and owner of Ottawa’s mental health clinic, Integrated Wellness, she knows what it means to balance the full load.

Learn more from Dr. Tracy: 

Dr. Tracy website

Dr. Tracy’s free guide to nurturing intimacy 

Dr. Tracy instagram

Dr. Tracy book

Come as you are book

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Dr. Miyabe Shields, is a Ph.D. pharmaceutical scientist who specialized in the structural biochemistry of the endocannabinoid system for drug discovery. They have received national and international recognition for their pre-doctoral research in the endocannabinoid system and industrial accomplishments in the cannabis and emerging psychedelics industries.

After co-founding a cannabis research startup post-PhD, they delved into rare extract and formulation research, exploring heat-transformed cannabinoids and developed a novel form of cannabis extraction. Miyabe transitioned to community education and science advocacy through social media and podcasts, reaching over 6 million people.

Shifting away from production-focused roles, they now advocate for the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and psychedelics for neurodivergent brains. They co-founded the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP), a new research non-profit, to disseminate real-world applications of the synergies of nature by analyzing data and communicating research and educational information to the public.

In this episode, we’ll talk all about the difference between ways to take in cannabis, the different ingredients, and how this can be helpful (or harmful) to various neurotypes. Again, please keep in mind- this is not medical advice. This is just a discussion between 2 neurodivergent adults who happen to use cannabis as a tool in our regulation toolbox, sharing our lived experience and clinical research. 

Miyabe's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miyabeshields 

Miyabe's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miyabephd/

Miyaboe's Research: https://www.appliedpharmacognosy.org/ 

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Restaurants are a multi-sensory experience, and if you've got a neurodivergent child, you know that multi-sensory doesn't always necessarily mean a good thing. Between the sensory overload, confined space and social expectations of "behaving" in a restaurant, it makes sense why eating out as a family feels stressful for some families. Today I'll peel back the layers and talk about the specific triggers that are contributing to dysregulation, and give strategies to best support your children.  Plus hacks for keeping busy at the table.

Related episodes:
Social stories
Postural Endurance and wiggly kids
Interoception episode with Kelly Mahler
Interoception episode (Laura only) 

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Whether attending other celebrations or hosting your own, birthday parties can often be overwhelming due to sensory and emotional regulation challenges. However, with proper preparation and accommodations, we can minimize distress and help our neurodivergent kids fully participate and enjoy the experience. In this episode, I'll share my go-to strategies for birthday party guest OR host preparation. 

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Tune in to hear us discuss the benefits of nature-based occupational therapy with Dr. Laura Park Figueroa. We explore how incorporating natural elements into therapy can help children build skills while regulating their nervous systems. I share some of my own experiences as an "indoor cat" to highlight how nature-based approaches aren’t always inherently sought out, but still incredibly important. 

Dr. Laura Park Figueroa, PhD, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience. She is the founder of Outdoor Kids OT, Inc., a nature-based pediatric practice, and Therapy in the Great Outdoors, LLC, an online hub for nature-based pediatric therapists of all kinds. Her PhD research examined the mechanisms of change at work in nature-based pediatric occupational therapy. 

You can connect with her on Instagram @lauraparkfig and follow Outdoor Kids OT @outdoorkidsot

Resource she mentioned: 

“Last child in the woods” book 

“Balanced and Barefoot” by Angela Hanscom 

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live as an undiagnosed Autistic person living in a neurotypical world? Maybe you’re a parent to a nonspeaking child or a child who’s too young to be able to properly express their experience. Learning from actually Autistic adults is one of the most valuable things you can do for your Autistic child and other Autistic individuals in the world, and today, we’re lucky enough to be hearing from one of my favorite Autistic adult creators, Paige Layle. 

She just released her memoir, “But Everyone Feels this Way: How an Autism Diagnosis Saved My Life” and we’re diving into it today. 

You can buy her book at Target, amazon, or Hachette’s website and I highly recommend it!

Trigger warning: Paige discusses her experience with thoughts of suicide. Please listen at your own discretion, and do not listen with your children around. 

Listen to this story to learn more about: 

• Paige’s internal experience with sensory overload in the classroom
• Her experience of an adult autistic meltdown vs. child autistic meltdown
• How she made the difficult decision to leave university
• How she would have benefitted from school accommodations if she were offered them

Link to Paige's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/paige-layle/but-everyone-feels-this-way/9780306831256/
Link to Paige's social: @paigelayle

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

This week I'm diving into some sneaky reasons why some sensory kids might be wigglers that have nothing to do with needing more movement. Prepare to get your mind blown as I break down the connection between core strength, posture, and focus. I'll also give you tons of do's and don'ts for supporting these kiddos in the classroom. By the end you'll be armed with all the deets to help your little learner shine without extra distractions. 

You’ll learn:

- The hidden connection between core strength, posture, and attention abilities 

- Common signs that weak core muscles may be to blame for fidgety behavior

- Why approaches like weighted vests or inflated seating options can backfire

- Practical seating solutions and positioning tips to support learning

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

As an OT, I often get asked how parents should explain why their child has to go to Occupational Therapy visits.

In this episode,  parents will have some guidance on preparing children for evaluations, answering their questions about therapy, and explaining OT to siblings.

You'll learn simple scripts tailored to different child ages that will help demystify the process and make OT a more positive experience.

Whether you're new to OT or a seasoned pro, I'll share my tips for communicating effectively with kids about sensory processing and how an occupational therapist can help them feel more comfortable at home and school.

In this episode, you'll learn:

- What questions to ask of the OT clinic to prepare your child best 

- Age-appropriate ways to explain the evaluation process to kids

- Sample scripts for talking to children about why they attend OT sessions

- Sample scripts for helping neurotypical siblings understand why their sibling attends OT

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Get ready for an info-packed episode on Occupational Therapy to celebrate this wonderful field in OT month (for U.S.).

 I shared how OT can help with all different kinds of challenges like motor skills, focusing, anxiety and sensory issues. Whether assessing needs, modifying environments or teaching regulating strategies, OTs have creative solutions to support kids' skills and behaviors. From building body awareness to providing customized interventions, we get to play all day while helping kids learn. I hope this gave you a taste of what OT is all about - it was so fun sharing all the insights!

- Episode 30: How to Get Started with OT and how it can change your life

- Episode 93: How to identify neurodiverse affirming therapists and some green flags to look for

- Episode 70: An interview with Dr. Krupa Playforth on advocating for OT with your pediatrician 

- Episode 24: Making the most out of OT services

- Episode 69: Understanding IEPs and 504 plans in a school-based OT setting

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity