Next Step Counseling. LLC

Laid Back Summer Actitivites that You and Your Kids Will Enjoy Summer activities for kids don't have to involve a lot of camps or scheduled outings. Simple, classic ideas for summer fun.

We're thrilled to announce the launch of the Rhode Island liaison peer consultation group. This is a a monthly virtual gathering space for RI APT members/ RPTs who use or are trained in play therapy.

Clinical work can be isolating, and we believe that community makes us better practitioners. This group is a space to consult on cases, share resources, connect with colleagues, and grow together all from the comfort of wherever you are.

📅 Kicks off June 2nd at 12:00 PM
📆 Then every first Tuesday of the month
💻 Virtual via Zoom

Sign up using the link below and you'll receive the Zoom link directly to your inbox. All are welcome!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZF1hr4aLxOsI7tojR2Z8n2ds8ZMEuW-Csdu5unvKSeR3YQA/viewform

🛑 Most parenting struggles don’t actually start with behavior 🛑

When a child feels disconnected, overwhelmed, or unseen, everything feels harder for them. The meltdowns, the defiance, the “not listening”… it’s often not about the behavior at all.

But when a child feels safe, seen, and connected, something begins to shift. They calm faster, they cooperate more, and they start to understand and manage their emotions in a completely different way.

This is what filling your child’s emotional cup really does. It gives them the sense of safety and connection they need to handle frustration, navigate challenges, and respond with more flexibility. It supports their ability to regulate, to trust, and to feel secure within themselves and in their relationship with you.

It’s not about being perfect, it’s about the small, everyday moments that build connection over time. And those moments shape how your child sees themselves, how they handle challenges, and how they move through the world.

If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your parenting, this might be the shift you’ve been needing. 💕

👉 Read the full guide on How to Fill Your Child’s Emotional Cup!�
✨Link in comments✨

Neuroception in a PDA Brain

Neuroception is the brain’s unconscious threat detector.

It decides safety before we consciously evaluate anything.

In a PDA brain, neuroception is often finely tuned to power dynamics.

Tone shifts.
Body language.
Subtle urgency.
Expectation.

A raised eyebrow can feel like a demand.
A sigh can feel like pressure.
A timetable can feel like a trap.

This doesn’t mean the child is fragile.

It means their nervous system is highly sensitive to autonomy shifts.

When we understand neuroception, we stop asking:
“Why are they overreacting?”

And start asking:
“What did their body just detect?”

That shift alone changes things.

🌻

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day—let’s continue to listen, learn, and advocate—for a more inclusive and supportive world for all.