Skip to main content
A Little Cerebral

A Little Cerebral

By Claire and Natalie

A pediatric occupational therapist and a licensed psychologist discuss their experiences and approaches to working with children who are neurotypical, not neurotypical, and everything in between. We discuss current topics in the world of disabilities, special needs, emotional dysregulation, and developmental delays in an approachable, jargon-free manner.
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Overcast Logo
Pocket Casts Logo
RadioPublic Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

Trauma Informed Schools Part 2

A Little CerebralJun 12, 2021

00:00
20:46
 Trauma Informed Schools Part 2

Trauma Informed Schools Part 2

 This the second half of Claire's interview with Dr. Jerry Yager about trauma informed schools.

Jun 12, 202120:46
 Trauma Informed Schools Part One: Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences

Trauma Informed Schools Part One: Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences

Claire interviews Dr. Jerry Yager, a clinical psychologist, about trauma and adverse childhood experiences as Part One of this series.

May 21, 202114:46
 The SCERTS Model for Supporting Autism

The SCERTS Model for Supporting Autism

Claire interviews Dr. Amy Laurent about the SCERTS model of supporting autistic individuals. This is a model that can be used in schools and a number of other settings and can be combined with other treatment modalities. Enjoy the show!

Apr 30, 202142:16
How to Save Money on Medical Costs

How to Save Money on Medical Costs

 Claire and Natalie discuss how to read and understand your medical claims, find less expensive facilities for procedures, and explore options for lowering prescription drug costs.

Apr 08, 202128:11
Sensory Processing Disorder With Intellectual Disability

Sensory Processing Disorder With Intellectual Disability

 Natalie discusses SPD treatment intellectual disability. 

Mar 26, 202123:07
Intellectual Disability

Intellectual Disability

Claire and Natalie discuss intellectual disability generally as well as the road to diagnosis and identification. 

Mar 12, 202128:34
More on School Bullying

More on School Bullying

Claire and Natalie discuss the important components of an effective bully prevention program. This includes questions to ask your child's school.

Feb 12, 202132:36
What is a Neuropsych Evaluation?

What is a Neuropsych Evaluation?

 Claire interviews a neuropsychologist about the evaluation, the process, what to expect, ect.

Jan 22, 202140:19
Get Your Kids Outside!

Get Your Kids Outside!

Claire and Natalie share some tips on getting your kids outside.

Jan 08, 202126:50
 Interview with a Paralympian Part II

Interview with a Paralympian Part II

 Natalie interviews Cortney Truitt about helping kids get active. And other stuff.

Jan 01, 202127:22
Financial Planning for Special Needs Families

Financial Planning for Special Needs Families

Claire interviews Alexandria Nadworny of Affinia Financial Group. They specialize in financial planning for families of kids with special needs. They have a ton of great resources on their website at SpecialNeedsPlanning.com.



Dec 18, 202037:41
How Kids with ADHD Process and Regulate Emotions Part 2

How Kids with ADHD Process and Regulate Emotions Part 2

 We discuss part 2 of the article discussing how kids with ADHD process and regulate emotions.

Dec 12, 202026:39
Vacationing with a Disability

Vacationing with a Disability

 Natalie interviews Cassie about vacationing with a disability. 

Dec 05, 202029:38
How Emotional Regulation Impacts Kids with ADHD

How Emotional Regulation Impacts Kids with ADHD

Claire discusses an article that addresses the micro-level details of e.r. in kids with ADHD.

Nov 27, 202028:45
The Other Autism Episode

The Other Autism Episode

This is part 2 of Claire's conversation with Dr. Jenna Scott about Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Nov 20, 202044:39
The Autism Episode

The Autism Episode

Claire interviews Dr. Jenna Scott about Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Nov 14, 202046:48
Advocacy with a Paralympian-Turned-Teacher

Advocacy with a Paralympian-Turned-Teacher

Natalie Interviews a former Paralympian who became a teacher about how she applies her own experiences to her advocacy for students.

Nov 07, 202028:07
We're Sorry

We're Sorry

Claire explains why we don't have an episode

Oct 30, 202000:22
Hand in Hand Parenting/Rage Smile

Hand in Hand Parenting/Rage Smile

Natalie describes the principles behind the Hand in Hand Parenting.

Oct 16, 202034:34
How to Get Help for Your Child: Child Find and Early Intervention

How to Get Help for Your Child: Child Find and Early Intervention

Claire interviews Dr. Tony Baldo about the child find process and the importance of early intervention. 

Oct 10, 202021:20
Bullying

Bullying

We discuss bullying

Oct 02, 202027:55
Emotional Regulation Basics

Emotional Regulation Basics

We discuss emotional regulation: what it is, what it looks like (or doesn't look like), why it's different than behavioral regulation, and strategies for home and school. 

Sep 25, 202032:39
Is Natalie Mean to Claire? A Discussion of ADHD and Filtering/Impulsivity/Reading Social Cues.

Is Natalie Mean to Claire? A Discussion of ADHD and Filtering/Impulsivity/Reading Social Cues.

This is a 9 minute episode in which Natalie and Claire discuss whether or not some of Natalie's comments are mean-spirited. We also discuss some of the social impact of ADHD. 

Sep 24, 202009:04
How to Get Help For Your Child Part 3: Speech Therapy and Assistive Communication Devices

How to Get Help For Your Child Part 3: Speech Therapy and Assistive Communication Devices

We discuss speech therapy, assistive communication devices, and Wisconsin. 

Sep 21, 202048:10
Parenting with a Disability

Parenting with a Disability

We interview the amazing Cassie, a social worker and a mom who also has cerebral palsy. She discusses her experiences growing up and how that shaped who she is, how she sees disability, and how she parents. 

Sep 11, 202035:07
How To Get Help For Your Child Part 2: How Schools Identify Learning Disabilities

How To Get Help For Your Child Part 2: How Schools Identify Learning Disabilities

We talk to a classroom teacher about the process of identifying learning disabilities.  She explains interventions that happen before a child is referred for a special education evaluation and gives her advice about how to approach teachers when you are concerned about your child. 

Sep 04, 202050:25
How to Get Help For Your Child Part 1

How to Get Help For Your Child Part 1

We address a message from a listener about how to start the process of getting help for your child.

Aug 28, 202028:10
What the F is Claire Talking About?

What the F is Claire Talking About?

 We break down previous episodes into small chunks. This is a summary that hopefully conveys the information in a quick and useful way and is easier to understand. 

Aug 21, 202044:29
 Special Ed Law in the Time of Covid

Special Ed Law in the Time of Covid

A lot of people have questions about how to make sure kids with disabilities get what they need during online or hybrid learning. And we want to make sure we aren't accidentally breaking the law as we balance keeping kids safe with giving them what they need to learn.  Claire interviews a special education lawyer to find out more. 

Aug 14, 202046:44
Return to School

Return to School

Natalie and Claire discuss nuances of schools and disability services.

Aug 07, 202048:02
 Story Time

Story Time

 We share a story by a mother of a child with Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome) about the challenges and joys of parenting a child with special needs.

Jul 31, 202031:08
Working with Refugees

Working with Refugees

 Claire interviews Dr. Vanja Pejic,  a psychologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Instructor in Psychology at Harvard Medical School.  We discuss refugee experiences and how to support refugee students and families in school and clinical settings.

Jul 24, 202059:56
 ADHD vs. Sluggish Cognitive Tempo

ADHD vs. Sluggish Cognitive Tempo

Claire and Natalie discuss the difference between ADHD and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo.  What is Sluggish Cognitive Tempo? Tune in to find out.

Jul 17, 202028:51
 The School To Prison Pipeline

The School To Prison Pipeline

We discuss disproportionality in special education,  discipline practices in education,  and the criminal justice system. 

Jul 10, 202001:16:05
ADHD 101

ADHD 101

 Claire and Natalie discuss the basics of ADHD: what it looks like, how it's diagnosed, and treatments.

Jul 03, 202052:18
 Executive Functioning Basics

Executive Functioning Basics

 Claire interviews Dr. Niraj Patrawala about executive functioning.

Jun 26, 202040:59
Feeding Issues

Feeding Issues

 We discuss mechanical and sensory impact on feeding.

Jun 19, 202031:30
 Biases with Disabilities

Biases with Disabilities

Many times, our own biases creep into our referral process, our description of the intensity of behaviors, and even how we complete standardized rating scales of kids.

Jun 12, 202036:35
Books as Mirrors

Books as Mirrors

 Claire interviews a teacher librarian about how books can be mirrors to minority or disenfranchised populations and tools for building empathy and compassion.

Jun 05, 202032:38
Attachment Part 4: The Remix

Attachment Part 4: The Remix

 We discuss cross cultural perspectives on attachment as well as attachment for children with autism.

May 29, 202047:54
 Vulnerability, Risk, and Resilience

Vulnerability, Risk, and Resilience

 We revisit the case study and discuss the concepts of vulnerability, risk, and resilience. 

May 15, 202036:37
We Don't Have An Episode

We Don't Have An Episode

Things went awry....

May 15, 202000:23
 Case Study on Dysregulation

Case Study on Dysregulation

We discuss a child with significant dysregulation as well as some symptoms of anxiety and depression. We discuss treatment strategies.

May 08, 202040:44
Smell ya Later

Smell ya Later

Being social when your child has a disability. 

Apr 26, 202023:22
Attachment Part 3: Sorry-Not Sorry

Attachment Part 3: Sorry-Not Sorry

Last episode of the attachment series

Apr 17, 202049:42
Breathing and Mid-Brain Processing

Breathing and Mid-Brain Processing

Natalie and Claire discuss breathing and mid-brain processing. Natalie apologizes to her husband for "throwing him under the bus." Sorry, Todd. We didn't know you were listening. 

Apr 10, 202042:24
Sleep

Sleep

 

Apr 03, 202038:51
Attachment Part 2: I'm not crying; you're crying.

Attachment Part 2: I'm not crying; you're crying.

 Attachment Part 2. Yes, we get a little weepy. 

Mar 27, 202045:41
Coronavirus Routines

Coronavirus Routines

 We discuss how to maintain a routine when you are home with kids during this covid19 craziness. We discuss some tips for decreasing anxiety. More to follow with that in another episode.

Mar 18, 202049:25
Dual Diagnosis: ADHD and Resting Bitch Face

Dual Diagnosis: ADHD and Resting Bitch Face

 Sometimes symptoms of one disorder can mimic another. And both might be correct diagnoses for the same person. So how do we differentiate between the two when we are discussing their manifestation in behaviors? Also an appearance by Claire's resting bitch face.

Mar 13, 202037:12