The Happy Sensory Corner

Mendability
  • 5.0 (5)
  • EDUCATION

Welcome to 'The Happy Sensory Corner' – the podcast where we explore the world of sensory enrichment and environmental enrichment to treat neurological conditions. Through insightful discussions, interviews with experienced experts in a variety of fields, from nutrition to psychology, and inspiring stories of resilience, we uncover the secrets to success in raising a child with complex needs. Discover practical strategies, sensory enrichment protocols, and evidence-based practices that can transform lives one episode at a time.

  1. 5D AGO

    Meet Harold: The Brain Running Your Child's Behavior - Dr Lisa Riegel

    Your child has a data manager in their brain named Harold. He can't tell time, can't reason, and has been making decisions about their behavior before you even walk into the room. When Harold decides there's a threat, he calls in Bob, the security manager, and Bob hits the panic button. At that point, the CEO of your brain gets sent out for coffee. Everything you say after that, every calm voice, every consequence, every "look at me," you're not talking to your child. You're talking to Harold and Bob. Dr. Lisa Riegel explains what to do instead.About Dr. Lisa RiegelDr. Lisa Riegel holds a PhD from Ohio State University, where her research focused on leadership and the human system. She spent nine years as a classroom teacher, went on to become a school administrator, and has spent the last 15 years working with families of children with special needs on stress, executive function, and home environment design. She's the author of NeuroWell and Aspirations to Operations, and sits on the board of Human Program, an adaptive learning platform where she leads parent education.What you'll learn- Why meltdowns are a biological response, not a character flaw, and what Harold is doing before your child can weigh in- How to find the underlying fear behind a meltdown instead of reacting to the behavior itself- A 30-second technique you can do every half hour that trains your body to automatically relax over time- What "fizzy or flat" is and how to give a dysregulated child language before the explosion happens- Why self-care isn't about escape, and what builds your actual capacity to co-regulate with your childChapters0:00 Introduction: why parent regulation comes first1:45 Meet Dr. Lisa Riegel4:30 Behavior Is Biology Times Context9:00 Meet Harold and Bob: your brain's data manager and security center15:00 How the brain filters reality (the banana analogy)20:30 Reading the fear behind a meltdown25:00 What PTSD and a toddler tantrum have in common29:00 Fizzy or flat: vocabulary for dysregulation33:00 Name it, own it, control it37:00 The half-hour timer and vagus nerve reset41:30 Using smell to interrupt a stress response44:00 Pity and praise: a two-minute reset ritual47:00 Training Harold to notice the gorillas50:00 The dinner jar: tell me two good things53:00 Why self-care is self-control, not escape57:00 5 minutes of quiet and the WonderwallResourcesMendability: https://mendability.comDr. Lisa Riegel: https://lisariegel.comDinner jar prompts PDF: [link when available]#AutismParenting #ParentSelfRegulation #NeuroscienceForParents

    50 min

  2. MAR 18

    Autism Parent: What if your child's biggest obstacle right now if your own nervous system? - Jacintha Field

    Your child can't regulate if you can't. Here's what changes when parents do the work first.Jacintha Field (Jay) is a family child counselor, art therapist, and founder of Happy Souls Kids, a global platform helping children ages 5 to 12 manage big emotions through gamified storytelling and real-world role models. She co-founded it with her 11-year-old son. Her approach didn't come from a textbook. It came from surviving 15 years of domestic violence, becoming a solo mom overnight, and learning how to help her own child when the system couldn't.What you'll learn:- Why your nervous system state is the single biggest factor in your child's behavior and progress- What "teach yourself first before you teach your child" looks like in real daily parenting- How to respond when your child triggers you instead of reacting from your own unresolved stress- Art therapy and gamified storytelling tools that help kids ages 5 to 12 handle big emotions- Why the repair after losing your cool matters more than getting it right the first time- What Jay experienced with Mendability's Sensory Enrichment protocols, including what happened when she paused themChapters:01:30 Why your nervous system is the missing piece in your child's progress04:00 Meet Jacintha Field and Happy Souls Kids08:00 Surviving domestic violence and turning pain into purpose16:00 Teach yourself first: Jay's core parenting philosophy24:00 What to do when your child triggers you33:00 Simple morning and evening routines that regulate your nervous system42:00 Jay tries Kim's Sensory Enrichment protocols: the honest result50:00 A message of hope for parents who are still figuring it outResources:Sensory Enrichment for families: mendability.comHappy Souls Kids: happysoulskids.com

    54 min
  3. Attachment and Autism: The different-frequency problem - Jack Hinman

    FEB 16

    Attachment and Autism: The different-frequency problem - Jack Hinman

    If your child doesn’t show connection in the ways you expected, it can mess with your confidence in a really deep way. You can be doing everything, therapies, routines, all the effort, and still feel like you’re guessing whether your child feels close to you. That’s what we’re talking about today.Dr. Jack Hinman, Psy.D. (licensed clinical psychologist, Founder and Executive Director of Engage Young Adult Transitions) joins Kim and Claudie from Mendability to talk about neurodiversity + attachment, and why the “signals” of connection can be on a different frequency for our kids.What you’ll learn- Recognize attachment cues you might be missing in a non-speaking or sensory-sensitive child- Understand the 4 attachment styles and how your style shapes what you notice (and personalize)- Use “attunement” as a practical skill, not a vague idea- Support regulation without forcing your child into your preferred version of closeness- Try simple sensory-based connection routines (including touch that doesn’t backfire)- Separate healthy discomfort from true anxiety, so growth doesn’t get shut downChapters00:00 Parenting an autistic child when attachment looks “different”05:10 Neurotype, sensory thresholds, and reading your child’s signals10:20 Attachment basics for parents (secure vs insecure styles)17:30 Attunement for neurodivergent kids: the “different frequency” problem23:40 Sensory enrichment for bonding: oxytocin, serotonin, and gentle touch routines31:30 Anxiety vs discomfort: what’s normal, what’s clinical, and what to reinforce38:30 Finding an “anchor” activity that builds trust and connection43:30 One practical thing to start this week as a parent

    47 min

  4. FEB 5

    What fibromyalgia teaches us about autism - Bruce Gillis

    Many autistic children struggle with sleeplessness, exhaustion, anxiety, and sensory overload, and parents are often told it’s “just autism.” But what if some of these struggles are actually signs of pain or immune stress that kids can’t explain? In this episode, we explore what autism parents can learn from fibromyalgia research—and why those discoveries matter for children who can’t tell us when something hurts. Our guest is Dr. Bruce S. Gillis, a Harvard-trained physician and medical researcher with more than 40 years of experience studying immune dysfunction, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia. His work challenges the idea that these symptoms are purely behavioral and offers a biological framework that may help autism families better understand what their children are experiencing. What you’ll learn • Why pain in autistic children is often missed or misunderstood • How fatigue, anxiety, and sensory overload can be signs of physical distress • What fibromyalgia research reveals about whole-body conditions that affect the brain • How immune system dysfunction can change sleep, energy, and regulation • What parents can observe at home when a child can’t say “this hurts” • Why understanding biology can reduce blame, guilt, and confusion Chapters 00:00 – When behavior may actually be pain 04:30 – Sleeplessness, fatigue, and overload in autism 11:10 – What fibromyalgia research uncovered 19:40 – The immune system’s role in brain symptoms 28:20 – How parents can spot pain without words 36:10 – What this means for autism families Resources • Mendability: https://www.mendability.com • Dr. Gillis’s work and the FM/a Test: https://www.fmtest.com

    44 min

  5. JAN 20

    Superhero Capes as Communication Tools - Constance Lewis

    If your child struggles to communicate feelings, this episode will show you how colorful capes can become a powerful tool for emotional connection, even in the hardest moments. Meet Constance Lewis—nurse practitioner, mom of three, and co-author of Miles and the Colorful Capes of Feelings. Inspired by her son’s journey through seizures and brain surgery, she created a color-based system that helps kids show how they feel when words aren’t enough. What you’ll learn: • How color-coded capes help children communicate feelings nonverbally • What to do when your child’s emotions overwhelm you • Why pushing speech too hard can create emotional distance • How to reconnect with your child using what they already love • What to try when your child’s favorite activity is misunderstood or judged • Where to begin when you feel too burned out to connect Chapters: 02:06 – Why speech isn’t the only way to connect 05:52 – From NICU nursing to neurodiversity parenting 08:29 – The story behind Miles and the Colorful Capes 16:40 – Color as a nonverbal emotional language 23:19 – How to use what your child loves as a tool 28:41 – Helping nonverbal kids use emotional color cues 32:15 – When parents start to tune out their child’s feelings 36:25 – “Playful, Present, Peaceful”: a parenting approach 40:19 – Where to begin when you’ve lost the connection 44:18 – Embracing behaviors others call ‘weird’ 49:35 – Letting go of judgment and showing up anyway Resources: • 🧠 Free Guide: The Biggest Mistake to Avoid After an Autism Diagnosis • 🎨 Guest website: https://www.colorfulcapesoffeelings.com • 🎁 Explore Sensory Enrichment Therapy: https://www.mendability.com #autismparenting #colorfulcapes #emotionalregulation

    51 min

  6. JAN 7

    Autism Clinic Fit: When to Stay, When to Walk Away - Stephanie Fluger

    Many parents choose autism clinics carefully, follow the recommendations, and still watch their child fall apart at home. In this episode, we talk about autism clinic fit. How to recognize when a clinic is supporting real regulation and recovery, and how to tell when it’s quietly overloading your child, even if sessions look “successful.” Joined by parent advocate and clinic founder Stephanie Fluger, we explore the signs that it’s time to stay, adjust, or walk away. You’ll hear how cumulative demand leads to burnout, why post-session behavior matters more than in-session performance, and how to choose an autism clinic that leaves your child with more capacity for everyday life, not less. This conversation is for parents who feel something isn’t right and want a clear, guilt-free way forward.

    51 min

  7. 12/09/2025

    What happens with parenting when you stop trying so hard - Susie Pettit

    This conversation is for the tired parents who are trying everything, and still feeling stuck. Our guest is Susie Pettit, certified life and parenting coach and host of The Love Your Life Show. Susie helps moms break generational cycles of codependency and perfectionism so they can raise emotionally healthy kids without losing themselves. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome and episode preview 01:32 – Susie’s story: breaking free from generational patterns 08:10 – Why trying harder wasn’t working15:45 – Popcorn Parenting explained 24:20 – The trap of overfunctioning and fixing 32:50 – How parents can start simplifying today 41:05 – Final thoughts and where to learn more Resources 👉 Learn more about Mendability: https://www.mendability.com 👉 Learn more about Susie Pettit: https://smbwell.com 🎁 Get our free guide: How to De-escalate a Meltdown in Seconds without Saying a Word: https://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide

    48 min

  8. 11/25/2025

    You would never do this to an adult, so why do it to your autistic child? - Hollis Peirce

    If someone talked over you, ignored you while you were in the room, or touched you without asking, how would you feel? Many autistic and non-speaking children experience this every day, even from loving parents who don’t realize the impact. In this episode, I talk with Hollis Peirce, historian, disability advocate, and creator of 21st Century Disability, about what dignity feels like when you grow up in a body others control. His experiences offer a direct window into what many of our children go through and how small shifts can change everything. • Why talking about your child instead of to them erodes trust• How asking permission before touch increases cooperation and regulation• What “feeling invisible” looks like from the inside• How to use eye-level communication to build safety• Why touch, tone, and presence change a child’s brain chemistry• How to preserve your child’s dignity even in stressful moments Chapters: 02:10 – Meet Hollis Peirce07:00 – The childhood experiences that shaped his advocacy14:00 – When adults talk over a child in the same room16:55 – Coaching a parent on how to protect their child’s agency23:30 – The emotional impact of being handled without permission27:30 – Why asking before touching your child matters32:33 – Seeing your child’s world from eye level41:51 – Loneliness from lack of human touch45:59 – How touch affects brain chemistry49:00 – Sensory processing differences in autistic children52:00 – Helping your child feel seen and safe53:58 – Final takeaway for parents Mendability (Sensory Enrichment Therapy): https://www.mendability.com #autismparenting #sensoryenrichment #respectfulparenting

    52 min
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About

Welcome to 'The Happy Sensory Corner' – the podcast where we explore the world of sensory enrichment and environmental enrichment to treat neurological conditions. Through insightful discussions, interviews with experienced experts in a variety of fields, from nutrition to psychology, and inspiring stories of resilience, we uncover the secrets to success in raising a child with complex needs. Discover practical strategies, sensory enrichment protocols, and evidence-based practices that can transform lives one episode at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Mendability
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mendability
  • Show Website
    The Happy Sensory Corner