Social Zebra Mel McAfee

28/08/2024

Last call for enrollment! If anyone has a teen with ADHD or autism who's struggling to make or keeping friends, PEERS for Adolescents will help.

It's a 16-week intensive course on how to have interesting conversations with people, finding the right friends, dealing with bullying, entering group conversations, and basically walking into a room of people you don't know and finding someone to talk with.

It works for teens with autism, ADHD, ODD, social anxiety, and depression. My classes are tailored for individuals who are taking AP, honors, or general education classes in school.

When we meet: Thursdays 4:30 pm Central for teens, 6 pm Central for parents. Cost: 3 hours class time each week, $95 per week. Class is reimbursable with Katie Beckett and Arc of TN Family Support.

Email me to enroll, or click on the link to schedule a free call: https://calendly.com/socialzebra/social-zebra-initial-consultation

15/11/2023

16/10/2023

Healing is found when both physiological stressors (underlying gut problems, environmental toxins, biotoxins like mold, chronic bacterial, viral infections & nutrient deficiencies) and psychological stressors (chronic stress and unresolved trauma) are dealt with.
© Dr. Will Cole (Instagram)

16/10/2023

This is great!

22/09/2023

Wisdom from my man, Fred.

Forgiving those we love is a powerful testament to the depth of our connections. While hurt and misunderstandings can strain relationships, choosing forgiveness preserves the core of what makes these bonds special. By embracing forgiveness, we create space for healing, growth, and renewed trust.

22/09/2023

TN Maker Fest is coming up! I’m not exhibiting, I’ll be there as a mom with my teen, but if you see a lady in a ZEBRA stripe kimono with platinum blonde hair, that’s me! Come up and trade information with me! ❤️ Or message me and we’ll Marco Polo it out until we find each other. Ha!

Meet the Makers starts THIS Friday! Exhibit for free by applying at TNMakerFest.com

22/09/2023

I love a good collaboration!

20/09/2023

Thought of the day (Jason)

19/08/2023

ASD Level 1, ADHD, or socially anxious, amazing human who wants relationship help? It's here, it's here! This is the PEERS for Young Adults 16-week relationship skills program and it starts 10-19-2023.
It's the program I wish I'd had as a young adult, trying to find meaningful relationships, but afraid to initiate conversation with interesting people. Choosing my friends? I had no idea that was even possible.
It's the program that has helped MY kids and countless others make social connections and FIND THEIR PEOPLE.
It's the program that will teach you people skills to help you personally and professionally.
These young adult years are critical and studies show lack of social connection and loneliness contributes to depression, anxiety, and even poor physical health. The solution is to learn step by step, evidence-based relationship skills that socially successful people actually use, practice those skills, then apply them to real life through living the Social Zebra lifestyle.
We'll cover finding the right friends for you, how to NOT suck at talking with people, how to deal with relationship trouble, social media things, assertiveness skills, and dating skills. By the way, we'll be done by Valentine's day. You will already have learned evidence-based strategies for asking someone out and having a great date. 😍💕❤️
It's live, online, and taught by me. I'm a certified PEERS coach, a registered nurse, and mom of three proud autistic kiddos. You can take this program from the comfort of your own home, anywhere in the United States.
AND I am only accepting seven students, so I strongly advise that you apply now. To apply, schedule a free 15-minute intake with me. Calendly link: https://calendly.com/socialzebra/initial-consultation
The next time I offer this class will be in the spring of 2024.
This program is appropriate for ASD Level 1, ADHD, and socially anxious individuals who are willing to try a program to help them find friends, improve their relationships, connect with others, and build a herd for themselves.
For individuals with intellectual disability, I offer this program for a longer duration with more repetition, so please inquire if interested.
For individuals struggling with suicidality or severe mental health concerns, I like for them to work with their outside therapist for at least 6 months before applying for this program. Safety is the priority over social skills. This program is education, not therapy. Therapists like me because I don't overstep that very important boundary. And I like therapists because they help my clients be able to take this amazing program when they are ready.
In this program, I will put you in situations that will make you grow. And sometimes you've got to fight that anxiety to get the thing you want, right? You will be challenged. You will be pushed. We will do all of this together, step by step. I've got you on this. I've made this workable for you. You can do this FOR SURE!

15/08/2023

Visual prompts!

Visual Prompts
By Jen Choate

Sometimes we need to see things to fully understand. Even as adults, a list or a calendar helps us to get the whole picture of what we need to. Here are some ways your child might benefit from visual prompts:

Transitions – Use sticky notes to draw or write out (depending on your child’s age and abilities) the activities of the day or steps of a routine. For example, you might have a note for bath, pajamas, brush teeth, read a book, and go to bed to help with the bedtime routine. Take each one down as you complete the activity.

Countdown – Going on a trip? Getting ready for a big event? Create a paper chain to symbolize how many days are left until the big day.

Planning – Hang a calendar for your child and mark events with stickers for non-readers or words for readers. When your child asks if she will go to school tomorrow or when she gets to go to grandma’s house, you can show her with the boxes on the calendar.

Not only do these ideas help your child understand what is coming up, they give her some ownership of the situation. When she asks which day she plays soccer or how many days are left until Christmas, send her to the calendar or paper chain to find out the answer herself.

What visual prompts help your child?

15/08/2023

Great resource for families and Franklin and all over. They do telehealth!

"The Studio" is a safe place where we assume a practice of therapeutic curiosity to help promote transparency and vulnerability to begin working through our internal systems. We believe that everyone can grow and benefit from processing overwhelming emotions, setting healthy boundaries, and

14/08/2023