A one-stop-shop for private therapy services, available for people of all ages, in Regina.
12/19/2025
Ours kids will rarely be THIS obvious if they don’t want to give someone a hug/kiss when asked.
Usually, our kids will mask their feelings, put on a smile, and give physical affection when prompted…. Even if their inside voice is screaming “NO I DON’T WANT TO!!”
Holiday gatherings can bring love, laughter… and a lot of pressure for kids to give hugs, kisses, or physical affection they aren’t actually comfortable with.
Let’s teach our kids that their bodies belong to them — not to holiday expectations.
🌲 Instead of forcing affection, try:
• Offering scripts: “You can wave, high-five, or say hello, whatever feels okay to you.”
• Backing them up: “We’re practicing body autonomy, so Sam gets to choose!”
• Checking in after events: “Were there any moments that felt uncomfortable?”
• Modelling consent: Ask your child before you swoop in for hugs, too.
• Letting relatives know ahead of time that your family supports consent-based greetings.
Respecting boundaries doesn’t make kids “rude”… it makes them safe, confident, and connected on their terms.
✨ Protect their comfort. Honour their voice. Trust their instincts.
12/16/2025
When they love the therapy toy so much they’re halfway to the door with it 👀💛
Proof that play is powerful!! ✨
12/09/2025
✨ Holiday Survival 101: Prioritize Your (and Your Child’s!) Sensory Regulation!!
The holidays can be magical… and also a lot. 😬
New environments, loud gatherings, unpredictable schedules, and endless social expectations can push nervous systems into overload — for kids and adults.
Here’s your gentle reminder:
🎄 Sensory regulation isn’t optional during the holidays. It’s essential.
Whether you’re heading to family dinner, a school concert, or a whirlwind of holiday errands, planning for sensory needs can make the entire season feel calmer, safer, and more enjoyable.
💼 Pack the sensory comforts & tools:
Think of them as your holiday survival kit.
✔ Noise-cancelling headphones
✔ Fidgets
✔ Chewy jewelry or gum
✔ Weighted lap pad
✔ Sunglasses or hat
✔ Preferred snacks
✔ Cozy textures or comfort items
✔ A familiar scent or grounding object
Sometimes the difference between “This is fun!” and “I need to leave RIGHT NOW” is having the right tool at the right moment.
⏱ Build in regulation time — before, after, and during events:
> Pre-regulation helps the nervous system start grounded.
> Mid-event regulation prevents overwhelm from building.
> Post-event decompression helps everyone reset.
That might look like:
🌟 10 minutes of movement before leaving
🌟 A quiet break in a bedroom or car during the event
🌟 Stepping outside for fresh air
🌟 Listening to a calming playlist
🌟 A no-demand, cozy wind-down routine afterward
This is not “extra.” This IS the plan.
Sensory needs don’t disappear because it’s a holiday — and meeting them proactively can make the season feel more connected, joyful, and manageable for everyone.
✨ Here’s to a holiday season filled with regulation, comfort, and compassion. You deserve it. Your child deserves it. And your nervous systems will thank you. ✨
12/02/2025
Parenting a neurodivergent or disabled child can feel lonely sometimes — but you don’t have to go it alone. 🤝
That’s why we created Parent Connections: a monthly gathering where you AND your experience matter. A welcoming, non-judgmental group of parents who ‘get it,’ guided by neurodiversity-affirming parenting principles and real strategies for your home.
Join us in 2026: registration is OPEN. ❤️
11/27/2025
After-school meltdowns aren’t “just” about schoolwork.
They’re about tired kids…
- tired from holding it in all day,
- tired from masking how they feel,
- tired from having to ignore their need for sensory or movement breaks,
- tired from trying their very best to learn in a world that can be loud, fast, and unpredictable.
And when they get home?
That’s when the mask comes off.
Home is safe.
Home is where they can finally exhale, express how they feel, and let everything they’ve been carrying spill out.
After-school meltdowns aren’t a sign of disrespect or “bad behaviour.” They’re a sign that your child trusts you enough to fall apart in the place where they feel safest.
You’re not doing anything wrong.
Your child isn’t doing anything wrong.
This is what regulation and safety look like.
You’ve got this — and your child has you. ❤️
11/25/2025
At Pathways, we believe every client deserves to be understood, celebrated, and supported in ways that feel authentic and empowering. 💛✨
We are a neurodiversity-affirming, play-based, and client-centred therapy clinic — which means we don’t “fix” people; we honour who they already are.
Through connection, curiosity, and joy, we build therapy experiences that meet each client exactly where they’re at.
Our holistic, unified approach brings together the whole team: the client, their family, their community, and their natural strengths. We focus on supporting real-life skills, nurturing confidence, strengthening communication, and creating environments where people can truly thrive.
Why do we do what we do?
👉🏻 Because when people feel safe, seen, and supported, they flourish.
👉🏻 Because families deserve guidance grounded in compassion, not judgment.
👉🏻 Because communities grow stronger when human differences are embraced and included.
Pathways is more than a clinic — it’s a place where understanding grows, strengths shine, and everyone belongs. 🌿💛
11/14/2025
So many parents tell us, ‘I’m worried they’re not talking because they’re just lazy.’
But here’s the truth: children are never late or limited with talking because they’re lazy, defiant, or stubborn. Ever.
Speech and language develop at different rates for lots of valid reasons — motor planning, processing differences, hearing history, neurodivergence, language exposure, confidence, connection… and sometimes kids just need more time.
Your child isn’t being lazy.
They’re communicating in the way their brain can right now — and with support, connection, and a language-rich environment, their skills can grow beautifully.
If your child is late or limited with expressing themselves, or communicating in ways you don’t understand, TALK TO A SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST. We can help! 🤍✨
11/11/2025
❤️ Today, we pause to remember.
On this Remembrance Day, we honour the courage, sacrifice, and service of those who have fought and continue to serve for peace and freedom.
May we carry their legacy forward through kindness, compassion, and commitment to building a more understanding world.
🌺 *Lest we forget.*
10/08/2025
“When we see defiance as distress, not disobedience, everything changes. Our child doesn’t need to be fixed — they need to feel safe, understood, and supported.” 💛
Many parents struggle with what looks like defiance — but what if it’s really anxiety?
PDA, or Pathological Demand Avoidance (sometimes called Pervasive Drive for Autonomy), is a profile within the neurodivergent spectrum where everyday demands can trigger intense stress.
These kids aren’t being “difficult” — they’re doing their best to cope with feeling out of control.
Understanding PDA helps ALL PARENTS, because learning to recognize demand avoidance teaches us how to approach any child’s resistance with curiosity instead of conflict. It’s not just for parents of PDAers, it’s a mindset that transforms relationships and helps all kids feel safe.
🌟 Join our LIVE webinar NEXT WEEK (on October 14th) for PARENTS to learn what PDA really is, how to spot it, and how to respond in ways that build connection and confidence.
🗣️ Did you know that helping your child build narrative language can boost their confidence, friendships, and school success?
When children learn to tell stories — about their day, their ideas, their feelings — they’re learning how to organize thoughts, connect emotions, and share who they are with the world.
👉 SWIPE to learn WHY narrative language matters and how it supports communication, learning, and emotional growth.
✨ Our Pathways Storytellers Group starts THIS Wednesday! There are still a few open spots left — join us to help your child strengthen their storytelling skills in a fun, supportive way.
Ok, ok, we know... MANY children avoid demands... and many children avoid MANY demands. This is a normal (albeit frustrating) part of childhood.
.. BUT when is demand avoidance too much? 🤔
Does your child also...
❓Seem to resist even the simplest, everyday requests - even ones they usually enjoy?
❓Get anxious or upset when they feel pressured, even by something fun?
❓Use humour, distraction, or negotiation to avoid doing what’s asked?
❓Melt down or shut down when they feel like they’ve lost a sense of control?
❓Appear highly social but struggle with hidden anxieties underneath?
❓Seem to be seeking control in situations, especially if they feel they have lost control or autonomy?
If you’re nodding your head, you’re not alone. Many parents see these patterns and wonder why traditional parenting or even common neurodiversity supports don’t seem to work.
This could be a sign of PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance / Pervasive Drive for Autonomy) — a profile within the neurodivergent world where everyday demands trigger intense anxiety and dysregulation.
🌟 Want to learn more about PDA? Join our LIVE webinar happening on October 14th designed especially for parents. We’ll dive deep into understanding PDA and share practical, compassionate strategies you can use right away.
Can't make it live? No problem - all those who register gain access to the recorded webinar for 30 days!
👉 Save your spot today and give yourself the tools to better understand and support your child. Click the link in our bio for all the details!
09/09/2025
✨ Do your child’s emotions sometimes feel bigger than what you feel equipped to navigate? ✨
👉 Do meltdowns leave you unsure of how to help?
👉 Do you find yourself losing your cool when your child needs it most?
👉 Are you looking for gentle, practical ways to support your neurodivergent child through emotional storms?
If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. 💛 Back-to-school season can bring a lot of overwhelm — for kids and parents.
That’s why we’re hosting a low-cost parent webinar THIS MONTH to help you feel more confident, supported, and connected.
🌟 Helping Kids Feel Safe and Seen: Strategies for Connection and Growth 🌟 offered by our Neurodiversity-affirming Counsellor, Erin.
In this 60-minute session, you’ll walk away with:
✔️ 5 simple co-regulation strategies to help your child during moments of overwhelm/dysregulation — while staying calm yourself
✔️ Gentle, neuro-affirming tools to help your child feel safe, seen, and supported
✔️ Insight into the power of play and creativity in building resilience and emotional awareness
✔️ A behind-the-scenes look at what counselling for neurodivergent kids can look like — and how it builds growth and connection
This isn’t about “fixing” or "correcting" behaviour — it’s about building connection, safety, and strategies that work in real life.
📅 Thursday, September 25th
🕐 6:30–7:30 pm Regina Time
💻 Zoom
💲 $10
💌 Can’t attend live? No worries — a replay will be available for one week!
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Pathways Learning Centre first opened its doors in October 2018 to offer the people of Regina a place to access a variety of high-quality private therapy services. We offer an inclusive private preschool program, speech therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, and counselling, with more services coming soon! Having these services all conveniently offered in one place allows you easy access to a variety of services, with the opportunity for collaboration and coordination between your service-providers. We are thrilled to partner with talented and experienced professionals to offer you exceptional service.
Pathways is home to Regina’s first inclusive private preschool program for children aged two-to-five years old. We offer enrollment to children with or without communication delays, who can benefit from a group environment and a staff-to-student ratio of 1:4. Designed and implemented by Speech-Language Pathologists, our preschool classes focus on developing strong communication by targeting language and literacy skills. As strong communication and literacy skills are key indicators for kindergarten success, we know all children will benefit from our program.
Meet the Founders...
We are Cari Thiele and Maegan Mason, founders of Pathways Learning Centre. We are both registered Speech-Language Pathologists, who each have a diverse clinical background from the various positions we have held in our careers thus far (e.g., health, education, private practice). Through our work, we have had the privilege to know many families, and help them with a wide variety of needs. We know that strong speech, language, and literacy skills are fundamental to everyday life. We also know early intervention and prevention are profoundly important for all children, especially those with cognitive and/or communication delays. This knowledge combined with our passion for helping families has been the driving force for founding Pathways. We want to increase the availability of speech-language pathology services to the people of Regina. As such, we are thrilled to offer a centre that provides families with a communication-focused preschool program, along with a variety of other individual and group services. We want Pathways to be a place for professional collaboration and best-practice services, so that you can access the best services all under one roof.
Find Pathways on Facebook and Instagram; we will be posting updates about our preschool programs and about the amazing services we will offer. We look forward to serving your family!
