Playful Therapy Connections

10/16/2025

You can't love someone but hate their autism. It's a part of who we are. Yes, you can dislike parts of our autism, like I'm sure there are parts of other people you don't like. However, the parts of us you do love? They're a part of our autism too!

If you removed our autism you would remove us. Everything you love and hate about us would be gone. We'd fundamentally be completely different people. So if you love an autistic person, their autism is part of what you love about them.

[Image description: A three panel comic of Honeydew, autism and all, being loved. The comic is titled "All Of Me" and is made by Theresa Scovil.

Panel 1:
Narration says "I'm not loved in spite of my autism."
Honeydew talks a lot, the words "Blah blah blah" repeated over and over again.
Ky looks at them all lovey-dovey, with little hearts over their head.
Panel 2:
Narration says "Autism is a part of me."
Honeydew stands alone, and smiles peacefully with a gold infinity symbol on their shirt.
Panel 3:
Narration says "And all of me is loved."
Ky leans in, looking at Honeydew all lovey-dovey, with little hearts over their head.
Honeydew looks to them and smiles.]

10/13/2025

Today we acknowledge Indigenous Peoples Day. We offer this website as a way to explore native lands and to learn which Indigenous peoples stewarded the land you live on and who are still here today.

Native Land is a resource to learn more about Indigenous territories, languages, lands, and ways of life. We welcome you to our site.

10/07/2025

Voting for Sixx Cool Moms of Montgomery County ™'s favorite local businesses is now officially open! Playful Therapy Connections would appreciate your support of votes in the category of Mental Health.

Each voter is able to cast their vote daily now until November 2nd. To cast your vote, please visit: https://www.sixxcoolmoms.com/vote

We appreciate your support!

10/02/2025

09/24/2025

The American Psychological Association is deeply concerned about the Administration’s recent announcement on autism.

Promoting unsupported scientific theories risks fueling stigma, undermines public trust and distracts from real scientific progress.

09/23/2025

✨Playful Therapy Connections is now offering a new service: Inclusion Coaching!✨

To find out more about this new service and ways we can help your team inclusively engage neurodivergent children, teens & young adults in your community please visit: https://playfultherapy.net/inclusion-coaching

ID: Flyer advertising Playful Therapy Connections' Inclusion coaching services. Flyer has a green to blue gradient background and black text. Large text reading, "Inclusion Coaching" is featured by a purple highlight and box around text. Text on flyer reads,

"Is your organization looking for guided, expert support to inclusively engage neurodivergent children in your community?
> Do you want to understand more about Autism, ADHD and sensory processing differences?
> Are you unsure how to support individual needs without burning out your staff?
> Are you tired of having to tell caregivers their child can’t continue with your program?
Through individualized coaching packages, your organization will receive 2 hours of initial training followed by 3 or more weekly coaching sessions to learn, plan, develop & practice the skills needed to inclusively and successfully engage neurodivergent children, teens & young adults."

Highlighted section of text labeled "Meet Your Inclusion Coach" with arrow pointing to text box containing a digitally drawn portrait of Janelle and text reading,
"Janelle McCarthy, LCPC, LPC, RPT™
she/her
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Registered Play Therapist
Former Elementary School Teacher
Neurodivergent Human, Spoonie & Fangirl"

Bulleted list below textbox reading,
"Janelle is equipped to support:
> Sports Coaches & Programs
> Extracurricular Instructors
> Scouting Troops
> PreSchools
> Home School Co-ops
> Camps
> Childcare Providers & Aftercare Staff
> Public & Private School Educators & Support Staff
> Pediatric Medical & Dental Care Teams
> Hospitals
> Residential Homes
> And more!"
Playful Therapy Connections' logo and website link, www.playfultherapy.net, at top center of image. Text reading "To learn more, email: inclusioncoaching@playfultherapy.net" Located at bottom, center of image.

09/17/2025

Talking to your kid about their diagnosis isn't just important, it's also a way to help them feel more in control. It gives them the language to understand themselves and tools to support themselves:

💬 Language to describe their experiences without shame or defaulting to character-based labels.
💛 A foundation to support self-compassion
📢 A framework for self-advocacy
💞 New opportunities for belonging and connection
✨ Basic respect for who they are

Talking openly about a diagnosis is about giving kids the knowledge, language, and confidence to understand themselves and navigate the world with more support and clarity.

To learn more about this you can read our full article guest written by Dr. Donna Henderson: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/do-i-tell-my-child-about-their-diagnosis/

09/10/2025

09/04/2025

We are so excited to announce that Playful Therapy Connections has officially been selected as a finalist in 4 categories for this year's Washington Parent Picks! As finalists, we will be featured in this month's digital edition of Washington Parent Magazine in the following categories:

- Parent Education & Support: Coaching & Resources
- Parent Education & Support: Parent Support Groups
- Staying Healthy: Mental Health - D.C.
- Staying Healthy: Mental Health - Md.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted! We really appreciate your support!
ID: Blue background with white sparkles across background. Image is titled "2025 Washington Parent Picks Finalist!" & has a light blue badge in center of image. Badge contains text reading, "2025 Washington Parent Picks" with a dark blue banner going across bottom of badge reading, "*Finalist*." Text below badge reads, "Thank you for your support DMV!" Washington Parent 40 years logo at bottom center of image.

09/02/2025

Internalized ableism made it a lot harder for me to accommodate, or even advocate for myself. It's what stopped me from getting a trike until I was in my 30s, but now that I have my trike it's been so useful.

Internalized ableism is a huge barrier that took many years for me to overcome, and even now it still lingers.

[Image description: A six panel comic of Honeydew explaining internalized ableism getting in the way of self-accommodating. The comic is titled "Self-Accommodation" and is made by Theresa Scovil.

Panel 1:
Honeydew says to the audience "It's understood that being disabled means requiring accommodations."
Panel 2:
Honeydew says "Many of those accommodations we have to make for ourselves, mostly because no one else will."
Panel 3:
Honeydew looks sad as they say "There have been times where I've felt embarrassed about accommodating myself, so I just didn't, and endured.
Panel 4:
Narration says "Thanks to my dyspraxia I'm not great at tying shoelaces, but instead of getting slip-cons or Velcro shoes, I just sucked it up."
A pair of shoes with untied shoelaces are seen.
Panel 5:
Narration says "Of course, when I eventually did accommodate myself, life got that much easier, but getting past that barrier of internalized ableism was tough."
A pair of Velcro shoes are seen.
Panel 6:
Honeydew gives a sympathetic smile as they say "If you've overcome this sort of internalized ableism I'm proud of you. And if you've haven't, I understand."]

08/26/2025

Check out this group offering from Phases Therapy & Mayhem and Tranquility Therapy !

For Virginia residents: announcing a new group offering!

Email us at referrals@phases-therapy.com for more information or to register.