Amy Galpin, LPC-S

12/14/2025

When a child’s emotional brain takes over, logic and reason switch off — and connection becomes the bridge back to calm.

These phrases don’t fix the feeling; they regulate the brain behind it.
Save this as part of your calm-down toolkit and share with anyone who supports children through big emotions.

You can find more brain-based strategies like this in The Child Brain Toolkit — download from The Contented Child via link in comments or Linktree Store in Bio.

12/13/2025

When you step back from your child’s compulsions, you’re not abandoning them, you’re abandoning OCD.

Your child learns strength, flexibility, and courage when you’re no longer part of the ritual.

This is where real progress begins.

🤎 To learn more about pulling back accommodations, check out my SPACE Program Study Guide: https://natashadaniels.com/space

12/09/2025

Free HOW TO CO-REGULATE WITH A CHILD INFORMATION POSTER
Children cannot calm on their own when they feel overwhelmed. They rely on the adult to guide them back to safety. This image shows simple steps that help you co regulate with a child in moments of distress. Slow your breathing, soften your body, reduce demands, and keep your voice steady. These actions help the child feel grounded and understood. When the adult is the anchor, the child can settle and recover.

If you would like this as a free PDF, comment ANCHOR and we will send you a link to it.

12/07/2025

The "Unholy Trinity": ADHD, Fibro, & MCAS
It’s not a coincidence. It’s a biological pathway. They are all linked. Full article in comments.

12/06/2025

PDA “Porcupine Mode"

When They Want You Close… and Also Need You Far Away!

Have you ever had one of those moments where your PDAer is:
✨ glued to your side
✨ asking for you
✨ melting if you leave the room

… but the second you try to help, comfort, or suggest anything they:

✨ seem to snap
✨ pull away
✨ tell you to stop talking
✨ shut down completely?

It’s that wild mix of:
“Come here.”
“Go away.”
“Don’t leave.”
“Stop helping me.”
“I need you.”
“Don’t look at me.”

It’s sooooo confusing, right?

That’s what I call PDA Porcupine Mode.

And it’s not attitude.
It’s not rudeness.
It’s not mixed messages.

It’s a nervous system having two needs at the exact same time.

So… what’s actually going on?

For PDA’ers, both of these things = safety:
💛 connection
💛 autonomy

They need you nearby to feel safe…
but your presence can also feel like pressure.
They want comfort…
but help can feel like control.
They want to be with you…
but being alone feels scary.

So their system is basically shouting:
“I need you.... but I also need space.....and I don’t know how to have both.”

Which turns into:
cling → snap → seek → retreat → melt → push → pull

They’re not doing this at you.
They’re doing it because of what their nervous system is trying to sort out.

Imagine being a porcupine who genuinely wants a hug…
but your spikes pop out without your permission.

That’s the vibe.

How to support them in Porcupine Mode

Here’s what actually helps:
✨ Be nearby, but softly.
Sit close without asking questions or offering solutions.
✨ Offer connection without pressure.
“I’m here. Take your time.”
✨ Let them set the pace.
“Tell me when you’re ready.”
✨ Use gentle, declarative language.
“I’m thinking the couch might feel calmer.”
(No instructions. Just thoughts.)
✨ Don’t take the push personally.
It’s not rejection, it’s fear.
✨ Give them options that don’t trap them.
“You can stay, go, come back, whatever you need.”
✨ Keep your energy calm.
Your nervous system is the anchor.

Once pressure drops and autonomy rises, the “spikes” settle.
Then connection returns.

A little reframe to hold onto
Porcupine Mode isn’t bad behaviour.
It’s not disrespect.
It’s not a child being “spoilt” or “stroppy.”
It’s a scared nervous system trying to feel safe in a moment that feels too big.
And when we understand that…
we stop responding to the behaviour,
and start responding to the fear underneath.
That’s where the real connection happens.

12/05/2025

These are some of the foundational supplements that help calm inflammation, regulate the immune system, support detox pathways, and reduce the flare cycles that bring on OCD, tics, regression, rage episodes, sleep changes, and anxiety.
When you focus on:
✨ lowering inflammation
✨ supporting mitochondria
✨ repairing the gut
✨ and removing hidden triggers…
you start seeing the child underneath the flare come back.
PANS/PANDAS recovery isn’t overnight but it is possible with the right approach, labs, and targeted support. You’re not crazy, and you’re not alone.

12/02/2025

ADHD is rarely mentioned as a coexisting condition with dysautonomia—but if you're living with both, this probably won't surprise you.

New research is exploring the connections between ADHD and conditions like POTS, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, and other forms of dysautonomia. The common thread? Chronic inflammation and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.

About half of people with ADHD have joint hypermobility, which is linked to conditions affecting multiple body systems. Understanding these brain-body connections could reshape how we think about ADHD and open new doors for treatment.

If you've been managing ADHD alongside unexplained fatigue, dizziness when standing, brain fog, or digestive issues, this research might help explain why.

Via ADDitude: https://additudemag.pulse.ly/znolw6snge

12/02/2025

12/02/2025

Starting therapy doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. 💛
Whether your teen is stressed, anxious, or just needs extra support, the first step can open the door to real growth.

Here’s how we make the process simple:

✨ Reach Out — Book a quick phone consult or schedule your teen’s first session. We’ll guide you through every step.

✨ Build Connection — We match your teen with a therapist who truly listens and creates a safe, supportive space.

✨ Grow Over Time — With regular sessions, teens learn coping tools, communicate better, and strengthen their confidence.

At the Neurodiversity Center of Katy, we believe every teen deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered. 💫

Ready to take the next step?
Visit neurodiversitycenterofkaty.com or send us a message to get started.

12/02/2025

What happens when the professionals you trust to help your child’s OCD, actually make things worse?

Too many parents of kids with OCD are told to “reassure them,” “avoid the triggers,” or “help them relax.” Even well-meaning therapists often miss the mark — treating OCD like general anxiety or skipping ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) altogether.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why OCD is so often misunderstood in therapy, how to tell if your child’s therapist truly understands OCD, and the red flags that signal it’s time to look elsewhere. You’ll learn what evidence-based treatment should look like — and how to advocate for the help your child really needs.

Click here to listen: https://natashadaniels.com/psp447