Amy Mansfield, LMSW, Licensed Clinical Therapist

10/28/2025

10/24/2025

Strong-willed children aren’t here to make life easy — they’re here to make it real.

They challenge, question, resist, and push — not because they’re broken, but because their spirit refuses to shrink to fit our expectations.

And while that can leave us exhausted, doubting ourselves, and questioning everything we thought we knew about parenting, it’s also a gift in disguise.

Because the same fire that tests our patience today will one day help them stand tall in a world that too often asks people to play small.

Our job isn’t to tame that fire — it’s to teach them how to carry it with wisdom. To help them learn that strength and sensitivity can coexist. To stay steady when their storms hit, so they learn that power doesn’t have to mean chaos.

Yes, parenting a strong-willed child will break you open — again and again. But every time it does, it’s teaching you how to meet strength with grace, and resistance with respect.

Hold on. Because one day, that will that fought you will be the same will that protects others, stands for truth, and leads with heart. ❤️

Quote Credit: ❣️

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10/22/2025

ADHD is deeply misunderstood.
Most people think it’s just “being easily distracted.”
But ADHD is a complex neurological condition—and it comes with strengths most people never talk about.
Here are 8 truths about ADHD everyone should know:
1. It’s not a lack of attention—it’s a dysregulation of it.
People with ADHD can hyperfocus for hours on what they love—and totally ignore everything else. It’s not about laziness, it’s about control.
2. It’s not just a childhood thing.
ADHD often continues into adulthood. The symptoms just shift:
→ Less bouncing off the walls
→ More mental chaos, disorganization, and overwhelm
Many adults live undiagnosed for years.
3. ADHD brains are wired for novelty and stimulation.
Routine can feel unbearable—but these brains thrive in:
→ High-pressure environments
→ Creative problem solving
→ Fast feedback loops
In the right setting, ADHD becomes a superpower.
4. Rejection Sensitivity is real.
ADHD often includes RSD—Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria.
Criticism or perceived failure can feel crushing.
It’s emotional pain that gets misdiagnosed as mood disorders.
5. Many ADHDers are natural entrepreneurs.
They’re:
→ Big-picture thinkers
→ Risk-takers
→ Unafraid of uncertainty
They struggle with rigid systems—but thrive when creating their own.
6. Executive function is the real challenge.
ADHD affects the brain’s ability to:
→ Plan
→ Prioritize
→ Start/finish tasks
It’s not about intelligence—it’s about activation.
7. Movement helps focus.
→ Pacing
→ Fidgeting
→ Walking while thinking
These aren’t distractions—they’re coping tools.
Even cardio can boost focus and mood.
8. Structure = freedom.
Yes, really.
→ Lists
→ Calendars
→ Visual reminders
These tools reduce overwhelm and build momentum.
Structure doesn’t box ADHDers in—it frees them.
🧠 ADHD isn’t a flaw.
It’s a different operating system.
Understand it. Support it. Harness it.

10/22/2025

🎃👻 When emotions rise like ghosts in the dark, self-regulation is the lantern that guides you back to calm. 🕯️✨ Learning to regulate your mind and body is a powerful step in recovery. 🖤

👉 Read more in How To Regulate In Recovery here: https://reachoutrecovery.com/how-to-regulate-in-recovery/

10/21/2025

Yelling doesn’t teach: it shuts down.

When a child is yelled at, their nervous system goes into defense mode. They may freeze. They may cry. But they aren’t learning. They’re just trying to feel safe.

We’ve all been there, overwhelmed, exhausted, pushed beyond our limits.
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness.
Because once we know better, we can pause, breathe, and choose a different way.

Gentle parenting doesn’t mean we never get frustrated.
It means we try to meet our children’s dysregulation with our own regulation.
Because what they need isn’t fear, it’s understanding.

10/20/2025

It's National Sensory Awareness Month 🧡💙

During a sensory meltdown ... A child does not need ....
What could you add to these?

Name calling
Punishing
Threats
Criticizing
Judging
Staring
Pointing
Raising voice
Arguing

Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support
sensoryprocessingdisorderparentsupport.com

10/16/2025

Healing begins where honesty lives.
You can’t numb your way to peace.
Feel it. Name it. Let it move through you. That’s how it loses power.

10/15/2025

Explore the ethical side of insurance credentialing for mental health providers. Learn how to navigate essential systems and requirements for commercial and Medicare plans with practical tools, videos, and templates to streamline your credentialing process responsibly.

10/14/2025

When many people hear “OCD,” they think of cleanliness or organization. But OCD is much more complex than that.

This we're highlighting the lesser known types of OCD.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/4hfPHUL.