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...
about 2 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...
2 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...
4 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...
4 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,...
5 months ago • 2 min read
Your August dose of news and resources to help you stay connected, get inspired, and have more confidence as a family. Hi families, how are you holding up? Right around this time of year is when we start to hear from parents--stress levels are rising for many of our kids if they have already been struggling with school expectations and environments. Our team recognizes that there is a huge need right now for understanding our kids' struggles, their needs both in school settings and at home,...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Your August dose of news and resources to help you stay connected, get inspired, and have more confidence as a family. Happy August, Reader! Many of us are returning from travels and starting to feel the anxiety of upcoming transition back to school. In some cases, it's us parents who are feeling it even more than our kids. How are you handling it? This month's tip: use music for transitions! 👍 This time we have a tip from our Board-Certified Music Therapist, Mikelia Wallace, on using music...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Groovin Girls Tuesdays New Series Starts July 23rd ↓ Hi Reader! We are really excited about Mikelia's after-school group for girls! The Real Work is proud to present the return of a new series of Groovin Girls, our social group for female-identified kids led on Tuesdays by Mikelia Wallace, MT-BC from Neurovibes Music Therapy. When: Series of 6 Tuesdays at 6:00pm! Next Series Begins July 23, 2024 Where: The Real Work’s Music Lab: 4775 SW Watson Ave, Beaverton OR 97005 This is a social group in...
9 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I hope you're well and enjoying this lovely weather! I wanted to check in to hear if you’d be interested in one of our July Thrive Summer Intensives! We have some amazing clinicians running them at Thrive Outside this summer! Would any of these be a fit for your child? Please let me know, since we are hoping to get a few more enrolled to round out the group! All of these run from Monday-Friday from 10:00-2:00 at a local outdoor natural area: -2 more spots open in July 8-12, Yoga...
10 months ago • 1 min read