Playful Therapy Connections

02/05/2026

01/30/2026

What are some of your interests?? We want to hear them!

Flashback Friday: Originally posted March 24th, 2021

Having someone you can enjoy your hyperfixations with is so incredible! While others may tell me to stop, to be quiet, or to give it a rest, my friend and I will fuel each other, and happily go on, and on, and on, and...

[Image description: A six panel comic of Honeydew trying to find someone to share their hyperfixation with. The comic is titled "Share Interests" and is made by Theresa Scovil.

Panel 1:
Honeydew comes up to a person and excitedly yells "Star Wars! Star Wars! Star Wars!"
The person angrily yells "No Star Wars!"
Panel 2:
Honeydew comes up to another person and excitedly yells "Star Wars! Star Wars! Star Wars!"
The person look shocked and says "Too much Star Wars!"
Panel 3:
Honeydew is sad and alone.
Panel 4:
Honeydew looks up an new person and asks "Star Wars?"
The person also asks "Star Wars?"
Panel 5:
Honeydew looks hopeful and asks "Star Wars?"
The person smiles and says "Star Wars!"
Panel 6:
Both start cheerfully yelling "Star Wars! Star Wars! Star Wars!"]

01/29/2026

You can't always see the effort that we're putting in. Much of it is invisible.

Huge effort doesn't always equal huge output, productivity, or success.

Doesn't mean the effort wasn't there.

If we can't be *sure* how much invisible effort someone put in, would we not just. Assume the best? Take a kind stance? Give that person grace? Be empathetic? Be curious?

Fluctuating capacity is a very significant thing for neurodivergent people.

It doesn't make sense to assume the worst.
It's actually harmful.

Yes?

Em 🌈

01/23/2026

Meet Kate! Kate Meadows, LGPC is one of our newest associate counselors serving clients virtually in Maryland and in person at our North Bethesda location.

Kate joins the Playful Therapy team with experience working with kids as a camp counselor and a PreK teacher. She also has experience working with neurodivergent children and adults as an intern right here at Playful Therapy Connections! Her experience gives her the flexibility, patience and respect of each child's unique way of being themselves.

Kate centers connection in her work and emphasizes the importance of supporting her clients' autonomy and natural way of expressing themselves. She understands the role of play in a child's growth and healing and knows that there is no one size fits all approach. Her goal is to create a space where kids feel safe to explore and be themselves, whether that’s through play, movement, or just quiet moments.

Outside the therapy room, you can find Kate reading fantasy books or doing whatever hobby has caught her attention lately (right now it's gardening!). She also loves spending time with her family, including her cat, as well as creating art in its many forms.

To read more about Kate's experience & expertise, you can check out her bio here: https://playfultherapy.net/meet-kate

To inquire about one of Kate's openings you can schedule a free consultation or contact us here: https://playfultherapy.net/contact
ID: Yellow background with light yellow spotlight streaks coming from top corners. Light blue text box in top center of image with dark blue text reading "Meet our Team!" Light yellow rounded text box on left side of image with black text reading "Kate Meadows, LGPC (she/her). ASSOCIATE COUNSELOR, LEVEL 2. " Underneath is a light blue text box with dark blue text reading "Serving Maryland Clients." Playful therapy connections logo in bottom left corner of image. Digitally drawn portrait of Kate on right side of image with light purple background & white frame. Under portrait is black text reading "Portrait by Nathan McConnell."

01/22/2026

You don’t have to know why a child is expressing something to validate it.

Validation doesn’t require certainty. It requires humble curiosity.

Curiosity says out loud:
“I see you are crying, and I’m not sure what you need, but I’m here, and I want to understand.”

Automatic → Reflective communication grows not from perfect interpretation, but from consistent belief:

“I see you. What you’re expressing is important. I’ll try to figure it out with you.”

It’s the adult’s repeated willingness to stay curious about the expression, rather than correct it or shut it down, that makes deeper communication possible in the future.



Image Description: Pink and aqua tile with graphics of adult kneeling down to listen to child covering their ears, a father comforting a daughter covering her eyes, a mother holding her crying son, that says “ Curiosity says out loud: ‘I see you are crying and I’m not sure what you need, but I’m here, and I want to understand”

01/14/2026

01/09/2026

You don’t teach someone to *refine* a skill by first teaching them to stop the skill in its tracks.

You don’t teach a child to speak by first squashing and ignoring the communication they have.

You don’t teach a child to regulate their emotions by first making it clear to them that their emotions are unacceptable.

You don’t teach a child to advocate for themselves by first ignoring them expressing their needs.

You don’t teach a child to respect you by first making them feel isolated and defensive and like they are the only one protecting themselves.

[Image description:
A lovely, close-up photo of a snowflake next to a quote that reads, “You don’t teach someone to refine a skill by first teaching them to stop the skill in its tracks.” The quote is by me, The Occuplaytional Therapist; the image was made by Neurodiversity Manitoba. End description.]

01/06/2026

12/19/2025

The wonderful Janelle McCarthy!

12/15/2025

Check this out!!

Our very own Janelle McCarthy, LCPC, LPC, RPT will be joining Shefter Law P.A. on their podcast livestreamed tomorrow, Dec. 16th, at 12pm!

You can view the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTq3iaNrN4Q

Join licensed counselor and play therapist Janelle McCarthy as she unpacks what it truly means to be neurodiversity-affirming in therapy, schools, and families. Discover how inclusion coaching helps children, parents, and communities thrive together through understanding, co-regulation, and connection. Learn why supporting the whole system—not just the child—creates lasting change.

Join us tomorrow! Here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTq3iaNrN4Q

Or register to get a reminder! Here:

https://app.lawmatics.com/forms/share/0b7aab34-29bc-44fe-9839-a3a0a30994f4

12/12/2025

In case you missed the event last night, here are some tips to help in Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child this Holiday Season!

Twenty tips from Dr. Jaclyn Halpern on ways to support neurodivergent children during the holiday season.

12/11/2025

Don't forget! Happening tomorrow night, Dec. 11th @ 7pm!

Join us for an evening with Dr. Jaclyn Halpern of Playful Therapy Connections as we talk about supporting our neurodivergent children during the holiday season.