therealworkpdx

07/08/2025

Thanks to some help from .ot we are developing our side yard into a nature-based play space both for kids and social groups at The Real Work and for use by our team, by Thrive Outside, and hopefully many other gatherings of parents and kids alike in the community! What type of gathering would you want to see here?

07/01/2025

07/01/2025

The Real Work's second bi-annual networking mixer was a SUCCESS! We met new trusted providers, got to talk brain science, neurodiversity, inclusivity, and family systems with some really great people in the Portland and Beaverton area! Stay tuned for more information on the stellar providers we met! So fun to hang out with real, talented, authentic providers who are committed to caring for this community here in Portland and Beaverton.

06/19/2025

🌿 What Respectful Support Looks Like
…when your child is Autistic, and you're looking for care that honors who they are.

We meet your child where they are.
💛 We attune to your child’s sensory world, communication style, and natural rhythms—because connection comes before compliance
We understand behavior as communication.
🧠 Meltdowns, shutdowns, refusals, stimming, it all means something.
Our goal is to listen, understand the needs and functions of behaviors, and not correct.
We honor Autistic ways of being.
👏 We don’t discourage stimming, eye gaze differences, or special interests.
We celebrate what lights your child up—and build from there.
We support you, too.
👪 You don’t have to do this alone.
We offer parent coaching grounded in co-regulation, sensory strategies, and real-life tools—without shame or judgment.

06/18/2025

Because fine motor skills aren’t just about handwriting.
✍️ If your child avoids drawing, struggles with scissors, or gets frustrated during buttoning or zipping—it’s not laziness.
👉 It might be an opportunity to strengthen fine motor control.

Because big emotions are often sensory issues in disguise.
😣 Frequent meltdowns, picky eating, or clothing sensitivity?
OT helps decode sensory needs so kids can regulate, not just react.

Because kids want to succeed—but don’t always know how.
🏃 Trouble with coordination? Clumsiness? Skipping steps in routines?
OT helps kids plan, sequence, and succeed through motor learning and brain-body integration.

Because independence builds confidence.
🧦 Struggling with dressing, eating, or bathroom routines can chip away at a child’s self-esteem.
OT builds skills so daily life feels easier—for them and for you.

What changes after OT?
✨ Parents often say:
✔️ “He’s calmer and more confident.”
✔️ “She can finally put her shoes on without melting down.”
✔️ “We understand what he needs now, and how to help.”

Ready to take the next step?
📍 Our OT gym in Beaverton is open for evaluations.

06/17/2025

🌟 Welcome to The Real Work OT Gym! 🌟

Imagine a bright, engaging space where your child can build fine + gross motor skills, develop sensory regulation, and grow confidence in everyday routines—all through playful movement and exploration.

🎯 Why our OT Gym?
Our pediatric occupational therapy gym is a movement-centered environment designed to help kids master skills like handwriting control, motor planning, balance, self-regulation, and daily living tasks, all under the guide of a skilled OTR/L. With post-master’s trained clinicians and brain-attuned strategies, we turn therapy into a joyful journey that feels like play.

🧩 What we support:
• Fine motor tasks (zipping, scissor skills, pencil grip)
• Gross motor coordination & balance
• Sensory processing + self-regulation in busy environments
• Daily routines & independence (dressing, feeding, transitions)
• Parent education & real-world carryover strategies

💡 How it works:
Through purposeful games, obstacle courses, swings, and sensory tools, we build neural integration, engage regulation pathways, and lay the groundwork for emotional and developmental growth—all while having fun.

✨ Real-life results:
Kids leave therapy feeling capable and confident and parents leave feeling equipped and optimistic.

📍 Located in Beaverton, OR, with child-friendly space, sensory supports, and a parking lot for easy access.

👉 Ready to see what our OT Gym can do for your child?
Schedule your occupational therapy evaluation and start building skills today: www.realworkwellness.com

06/16/2025

Sand delivery just in time for summer weather in our Nature-Based Play Therapy space! Thanks to for your amazing beach sand! It’s our favorite for outdoors and indoors in our Sandtray Therapy spaces!

03/22/2025

When your child is melting down, yelling, or refusing to listen, it’s easy to think they’re just being difficult. But according to Dr. Ross Greene, behavior is the signal, not the problem.

💡 Instead of asking: “How do I make my child stop this behavior?”
Try asking: “What’s getting in the way of my child handling this better?”

✨ When we focus on skill-building, not just compliance, kids thrive. ✨

In our 6-week Parent Book Club, we’ll break down Dr. Greene’s Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model so you can:
✔️ Understand your child’s lagging skills
✔️ Reduce stress & emotional outbursts
✔️ Improve your relationship & communication

📆 Tuesdays at 12 PM | April 8 - May 13
📍 Online via Zoom
💰 $195 total

✨ Led by Amber Kanallakan, MA, Marriage & Family Therapist, a parenting expert who gets it!

🔗 Save your spot today! www.realworkwellness.com/groups

03/18/2025

Ever wonder why your child melts down over socks feeling “weird” or their sandwich being cut the “wrong” way? It’s not defiance—it’s a lagging skill in flexibility & frustration tolerance.

According to Dr. Ross Greene, kids don’t act out because they want to push your buttons. They do it when:
🚨 Their expectations exceed their skills
🚨 They feel unheard or powerless
🚨 They lack problem-solving strategies

The good news? You can help your child build these skills—and make your home calmer in the process!

Join our 6-week Parent Book Club on The Explosive Child to learn:
✅ How to reduce meltdowns & power struggles
✅ Simple strategies for helping kids develop frustration tolerance
✅ A compassionate, neuroaffirming way to parent

✨ Led by Amber Kanallakan, MA, Marriage & Family Therapist, this group will give you the tools & confidence you need!

📆 Tuesdays at 12 PM | April 8 - May 13
📍 Online via Zoom
💰 $195 total

🔗 Join us today! www.realworkwellness.com/groups

03/15/2025

Power Struggles at Home? Try This Instead!

If you’ve ever found yourself in a never-ending battle with your child—whether it’s about getting out the door, homework, or bedtime—you’re not alone. The good news? There’s a better way than rewards, punishments, or “because I said so.” When a child isn’t cooperating, it’s usually because they lack the skills to problem-solve, regulate emotions, or adapt to changes—not because they’re trying to be difficult.

That’s why we’re hosting a 6-week Parent Book Club on The Explosive Child. This group will help you:
✔️ Understand why your child struggles with frustration & flexibility
✔️ Learn a collaborative problem-solving approach (instead of repeating the same battles)
✔️ Feel more confident & less exhausted in parenting

📆 Tuesdays at 12 PM | April 8 - May 13
📍 Online via Zoom
💰 $195 total

✨ Led by Amber Kanallakan, MA, Marriage & Family Therapist—a parenting expert who gets it!

🔗 Spots are limited—save yours today! www.realworkwellness.com/groups

03/15/2025

If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to help your child through their toughest moments—you're not alone.

This Spring, join our 6-week Parent Book Club and dive into The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene, a groundbreaking approach to navigating challenging behaviors with collaborative and proactive solutions. Instead of power struggles, we'll focus on problem-solving, connection, and understanding—all from a neuroaffirming lens.

✨ Why join?
✔️ Gain sustainable, real-world strategies for handling hard behaviors
✔️ Connect with other parents who truly understand
✔️ Become more confident in supporting both your child & yourself

💡 “Kids do well if they can.” – Dr. Ross Greene
When children struggle, it’s not because they won’t behave—it’s because they can’t yet. This book club, led by Amber Kanallakan, MA, Marriage and Family Therapist, will help you reframe behavior and build skills to reduce stress and increase harmony at home.

📆 6 Weeks | Tuesdays at 12 PM (PT) | April 8 - May 13
📍 Online via Zoom
💰 $195 total

🔗 Sign up today: www.realworkwellness.com/groups