May 2025 Monthly Magic from The Real Work Real stories. New tools. Gentle support. 🧠 A Story from a Therapist May Might Mean Meltdowns... and Some Creative Coping If things feel a little extra right now—your kiddo’s having trouble getting to school, struggling with sleep, bouncing off the walls one minute and clinging to you the next—you’re not imagining it. May is a big month for little (and not-so-little) nervous systems. Here’s what might be stirring the pot: 🌸 Allergies – Their body’s...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
A Better Newsletter—Real Tools, Real Stories, Real Support Hi Reader, You’re receiving this because you connected with us at The Real Work: maybe through therapy, a training, or a moment when parenting felt like a lot (because it is a lot) I know your inbox is full, so I'm switching to a new format and getting our whole team involved in creating simple things for you. Every email will now ONLY include: 🌱 One new thing to try with your child Simple, doable, and rooted in regulation &...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader! We’re counting down to the Portland Autism Walk on April 27th, and we’re bringing our favorite things: bubbles, music, movement—and a few of our amazing team of neuro-affirming therapists. If you're planning to be there, we’d love to meet you! Meet the Team Behind the BubblesCome find us at our play + connection station, where you’ll see: 🎶 Music Therapists Mikelia and Allison, ready to engage kids through rhythm, song and music exploration. 🌀 Occupational Therapist Emilee,...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi all! Rebekah here! Amber just sent me her flyer for her new book club and it looks amazing, so I decided to pass it along to all of you! It would be awesome if a group of us could come together to join her for this! Here are the details: Many kids struggle with frustration, inflexibility, and emotional outbursts—not because they want to be difficult, but because they don’t yet have the skills to handle frustration, communicate needs, or problem-solve effectively. We are hosting a 6-week...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader! I know—it feels early to talk about summer, but if you have a highly sensitive or neurodivergent kid, you probably know that summer doesn't just "fall into place." The shift in routine, new environments, and unstructured time can be tough. Plus, traditional summer camps can be really really hard for some of our kids, and to be honest, it's just not fair! All kids should be able to have a summer-camp type experience that is fun, social, and even therapeutic. That’s why I’m so...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi all! I hope the recent Portland sunshine has been helping you feel a bit better in this past month. At The Real Work, we know a lot of support is needed for families right now, even if it just comes from knowing we are here for you and we want to continue to be a safe and welcoming space for you especially when times are tough! Let's get to it: Congratulations to Bonnie on a well-deserved certification! Bonnie Davey, LPC just received her certification in Child-Centered Play Therapy! In...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hi all! We've gotten quite a few inquiries recently that mentioned needing a social skills or social group for kiddos, so I wanted to share our sister company, Thrive Outside's Outdoor Winter Occupational Therapy Social groups that start in January. Each group caps at 4-5 kids, and we have 1-2 spots left in each of them! Read on for the details from the Thrive team... Here are some details about our groups! Spots are filling, but we have some still! Please register by December 28th so our...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Your monthly news and resources to help you stay connected, get inspired, and have more confidence as a family. Hi families, how are you holding up? We are wrapping up an amazing year here and feeling all the different emotions that come with holiday expectations, routine changes, and different schedules. Scroll for news, meet a new therapist, register for Groovin Girls, and get Amber's Holiday Transition Survival Guide to help you get ideas for the transition back to school after winter...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Your monthly news and resources to help you stay connected, get inspired, and have more confidence as a family. Hi families, how are you holding up? It's November, it's getting colder, election is in full swing, and many families are experiencing both celebrations and also a buildup of fall stressors and holiday anxiety. Navigating the these months comes with anxiety, expectations, guilt, or even grief, especially if you're part of a neurodivergent family, dealing with mental health concerns,...
7 months ago • 2 min read