What is Theraplay?

Theraplay is a short-term, therapist-guided dyadic psychotherapy that focuses on parent-child relationships. It:


* Enhances attachment, self-esteem and trust in others through joyful engagement
* Is based on the natural patterns of healthy interaction between parent and child
* Focuses on four essential qualities found in parent-child relationships: structure, engagement, nurture and challenge
* Creates an active and empathic connection between child and parents
* Results in changed view of the self as worthy and lovable, and of relationships as positive

I will be attending a Theraplay training next month in my quest to become certified at facilitating Theraplay. I have already attended an introductory class which allows me to apply basic Theraplay principles in my work. I am eager to pursue this credentialing and be better able to serve families requesting my services.

For more information on Theraplay please see their web site: www.theraplay.org

Life is Full of Transitions

Getting married, getting divorced. A job promotion or a job loss. The birth of your first child, the first day of kindergarten. The day your baby graduates from high school. Transitions are a normal part of family life. Some bring joy and others bring sorrow. Right now I'm in the midst of the empty nest transition. It's a mixed bag of both joy and sorrow. I take it one day at a time and it's getting easier but it will take me some time before I've completely adjusted.


What transition is your family currently facing?

Summer "To-Do" List

The Fourth of July signals for me the mid-point of the summer. Now it's time to go back to that to-do list you made at the beginning of the summer and hurriedly try to tackle the items you've not find time to accomplish. I was able to clean the basement and have a garage sale and to convert a bedroom into a "hoffice" (that's my word for a home office). The items that have not yet been scratched off of my list include painting several rooms in my house, committing more time each day to writing and getting into a habit of walking at least four times a week. There are still several weeks of summer left and I'm focused on putting forth the time and energy needed to accomplish these things.

How about you? What's left on your summer to-do list?

Still accepting registrations for June 29th parenting class

Helping Children Understand Divorce:

Divorce is a difficult adjustment for children and parents. Each family member deals with a variety of emotions. Despite their own challenges with the divorce process, parents need to understand how divorce affects their children. This class will explain children’s understanding of divorce from various developmental stages. It will also offer suggestions on how to help children work through the effects of divorce.


Here's a link to the registration form: http://www.pamdyson.com/files/Parenting_Classes.pdf

Call me for more details. 314-681-8272.

Autistic Kids & Thomas the Tank Engine

Many children with developmental disabilities are fascinated with animated TV characters. A study conducted in the UK found autistic children were far more fascinated with the characters from Thomas the Tank Engine than with other fictional characters.



Picking up on this finding, Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT) a non-profit that provides services to people with this development disorder has designed a Thomas The Tank Engine Emotions Game specifically aimed at autistic kids.



The game asks players to recognize which engine has a sad, happy or angry face. Each time the child plays they are presented with a different sequence of emotions. It can also be played to test a child's memory.



Here's the link to play the game: https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/a2i4i9l435l483/interactive-games.htm

Baby Brain Map

I'm a visual learner and the web site, Zero to Three, has an awesome feature that allows you to take a look inside your baby's brain as it develops.

Go to the Zero to Three web site: and select an age range from the pull-down menu. Depending on the age range you selected different hot spots on the brain will appear. Click on a hot spot to reveal questions to find out how a baby's brain develops during this period of brain growth. You'll also learn what you can do to enrich a very young child's development.

http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_util_babybrainflash

Growing Old With Autism

Despite the ever-increasing awareness of Autism and programs to assist children and their families, their is little assistance available for adults with autism. As the number of children with autism increases will there be services available to them when they are adults? This first-hand account in Time magazine addresses these concerns.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1898322-1,00.html