Counseltations

03/22/2026

A Very Special Needs Easter Gift Idea List

Easter baskets don’t have to be filled with just candy! For many of our kids, the best gifts are the ones that support comfort, sensory needs, communication, and joy. 💛

Here are some Easter basket ideas that can be meaningful and helpful for children and adults with special needs — from sensory toys and adaptive books to weighted stuffed animals and communication devices.

Sometimes the most thoughtful gifts are the ones that truly support our kids’ unique needs. 🐣✨

Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments! What are your favorite special needs Easter basket items? 🌸

List link below:

https://amzn.to/3PCuIla

03/22/2026

Here are some executive function hacks to help improve planning skills for completing a task:
🧠https://www.theottoolbox.com/executive-functioning-skills-planning-prioritization
📌https://www.theottoolbox.com/executive-functioning-skills/
🗺Mindmaps: https://www.theottoolbox.com/drawing-mind-maps/
⏳Timers: https://www.theottoolbox.com/how-to-use-timer-to-help-with-letter/

1.Break Down the Task
🌟Break the task into smaller, manageable steps. This makes it less overwhelming and easier to track progress.

2.Set Clear Goals
🌈 Make SMART Goals- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Clear goals provide direction and a sense of accomplishment as you complete each one.

3. Prioritize Tasks
✨ Determine which tasks are most important and need to be completed first. Focus on high-priority tasks to ensure critical aspects are addressed promptly.

4. Make a Timeline
📅 Create deadlines for each step of the task. Use a calendar or planner to visualize your timeline and stay on track.

5. Use Technology
📱 Try planning tools such as to-do lists, project management apps, or digital calendars to organize and monitor your progress.

6. Stay Flexible
🌿 Be prepared to adjust your plan as needed. Flexibility allows you to handle unexpected changes without losing sight of your end goal.

7. Reduce Distractions
🧘 Create a workspace that minimizes distractions. Set specific times for focused work and take regular breaks to maintain productivity.

8. Review and Reflect
🔍Regularly review your progress and reflect on what’s working and what’s not. Adjust your plan based on these insights to improve efficiency.

9. Reward Yourself
🎉 Celebrate Successes! Reward yourself for completing tasks and milestones. This can boost motivation and make the planning process more enjoyable.

WHAT WOULD YOU ADD?

03/19/2026

Join us live in just 7 days as we explore the updated knowledge on the connection between interoception and toileting. If you took our original toileting course from 2021, this course is an evolution of what we know about potty learning, not a repeat. It continues to ground toileting in interoception while deeply expanding into nervous system and pelvic health perspectives, co-taught with Sahana, a sensory-trained pediatric pelvic rehabilitation occupational therapist. Will include super practical tips!

March 25th, 12-2 pm EST (Recording provided)

Includes: handouts, personalized certificate, 6 months recording access, and live Q&A.
$79 | Group discounts available (2–5: 15% off, 6+: 25% off)

Register Here: https://www.kelly-mahler.com/product/live-online-course-toileting-2-0/



Image Description: a purple and turquoise tile with a turquoise banner at the top with the words, “LIVE! March 25th, 12-2 pm EST. A while rectangle is below this heading with the course title: Toileting 2.0: A Neuroaffirming, Interoception-Informed Approach to Building Readiness from the Inside Out. 2 pictures side-by-side underneath are labeled with the speakers, Kelly Mahler OTD, OTR/L on the left and Sahana Baker-Malone OTD, OTR/L, PRPC with a yellow shape reading “One Week!” in white writing in between them. Words underneath say, “Registration includes: exclusive handouts, personalized certificate, 8 months access to recording, 2 hours of content!.” Turquoise banner at the bottom of the page reads: register today at www.kelly-mahler.com .

03/15/2026

Clinicians who are unfamiliar with or in denial about Complex PTSD will diagnose a lot more bipolar disorder than actually exists out there— & "treating" bipolar in someone who doesn't have it can be life ruining.

03/04/2026

02/26/2026

Trauma responses, like fight, flight, freeze, flop, & fawn, tend to mirror the stages of grief— denial (flight), anger (fight), bargaining (fawn), and depression (freeze).

That's not a coincidence.

02/26/2026

02/23/2026

Pack your bags-we are going on a 5️⃣ Elements Retreat! 🙌🏻

Hosted by Heidi Richel Haines, Nanette Blank, and Amanda Cole

🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚🙏🏻💚

➡️ YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! ⬅️

Who: Anyone that wants to relax, slow down, and enjoy a wellness weekend in a nature-filled beautiful environment! 🌲☀️⛰️

What: A 4️⃣-day/ 3️⃣-night retreat filled with yoga, sound immersion, wellness practices, hiking, delicious food spreads, free time on the beautiful grounds of the resort, and more! ❤️

When: June 4️⃣-7️⃣th

Where: River Mountain Resort: 3600 Black Valley Rd. Everett, PA 15537 (about 2 hours from ☝🏻💚)

Why: WHY NOT TREAT YOURSELF TO THE GIFT OF SELF CARE AND WELLNESS? 🫶🏻

Early Bird Pricing until April 1st, 2026. 25% deposit due upfront, the remainder of the money due 30 days before the actual start date of the retreat-June 4th, 2026.

Prices listed on retreat page pf the website. 2️⃣ different sleeping accommodations to choose from!

Grab a friend and treat yourself to some relaxation and midfulness! 🧘🏿🙏🏻🧘🏽‍♀️

Spaces will sell out-reseve now! ✔️

👁️ 👁️ See you there! 👁️ 👁️

To reserve your spot for this amazing weekend and to check out all the details click here: ⤵️

https://rivermountain.org/events/five-element-retreat/?occurrence=2026-06-0

02/23/2026

02/22/2026

Most coping patterns don’t start as problems. They start as relief.

Something felt overwhelming, unpredictable, or emotionally costly. And a behavior reduced it.

Maybe it dulled anxiety. Maybe it ended a conflict. Maybe it created distance. Maybe it created a brief sense of control.

Even small reductions in distress get encoded. The brain prioritizes what lowers pressure.

With repetition, that response becomes efficient. Fast. Automatic. Not because it’s ideal, but because it worked.

Then comes the second layer.
“I can’t believe I still do this.”
“This is unhealthy.”
“Why am I like this?”

That self-criticism feels responsible. But it increases stress. And when stress rises, the system reaches for what it has already learned reduces it.

So the cycle strengthens:
distress → behavior → relief → shame → more distress → stronger pull toward the behavior.

This is why shame rarely interrupts a coping pattern. It reinforces the learning by increasing the very pressure the behavior was built to manage.

Lasting change usually begins earlier in the sequence. Not by escalating pressure, but by understanding what the behavior has been protecting you from.

02/21/2026

02/18/2026

👶✨ Do you have concerns about your child’s speech or fine motor development? ✨👧

We’re offering the perfect opportunity to get answers to your questions with our FREE screenings on Thursday, February 19!

📍 Location: 1077 Dairy Ln., Elizabethtown

🧠 Screenings will focus on speech and fine motor skills

💬 Ask questions, get guidance, and learn what support may help your child thrive

👉 Spaces are limited! Register ahead of time to reserve your spot by visiting our website. Link posted below

We’d love to support your family—share this with a friend who might benefit! 💙

http://www.cpatherapyconnections.com/events