Hey! Feeling a little overstimulated today?
It’s ok…
I know you’ve probably been immersing yourself in all the parenting strategies to try to gain control over the noise and chaos of your home.
You’ve tried gentle parenting, researching your child’s specific needs, and every other trick in the book. (Every trick in every book, actually.)
But even with the best strategies, you can’t seem to muster the energy to implement them.
Or if you do… it’s only for half the time. The other half of the time you’re feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, and the mood swings are REAL.
I’ve been there.
Every day you wake up full of hope that today will be the day you finally stay calm and present with your kids all day.
But… you woke up to kids yelling 5 inches from your face, and you’re already feeling groggy from another night of tossing and turning.
You’re mad at yourself for not washing the dishes last night, and the clutter feels like it’s caving in on you before you’ve even started the day.
Before breakfast is over…
There’s milk all over the floor…
The kids are arguing over who spilled it…
You step in a blueberry and have fruit squashed between your toes…
The dog is barking to go out…
Your spouse is asking about the bills…
Your youngest is having a meltdown because his sock doesn’t fit right…
The microwave is beeping…
There’s some mysterious smell happening…
The final straw?
You open the cupboard and realize you’re out of coffee.
Here comes the rage.
Your face feels hot, and the anxiety is flooding in.
You’re 100% sure your spouse was supposed to pick up the container of coffee on the way home yesterday.
You’re ready to scream, but you remember that you’re supposed to take a break when you’re feeling the rage coming on.
You make your way to the bathroom, shut off all the lights, lock the doors, and cover your ears.
“Why can’t I be like those other moms who are so patient with their kids all the time?”
Now the guilt floods in...
“How am I supposed to regulate my kids when I can’t even regulate myself?”
Between the mental load of parenthood, the never-ending to-do lists, and the chaos of daily life, you feel like you’re always climbing a mountain, but never reaching the top.
And let’s face it. 2 minutes in the bathroom taking a “break” is doing absolutely nothing.
You’re still irritable, exhausted, and overwhelmed.
And there’s still milk on the floor.
You are a good parent.
It’s time to confidently care for yourself.
(Oh, and those parenting strategies? They work much better when you’re regulated!)
Here’s why simply taking a break doesn’t work for you:
You have sensory needs that need nourishing.
Not sure if I’m right about that? If you landed here, you may already know. But here are a few common, but unexpected ways sensory dysregulation can show up for us as parents:
- Difficulty making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling disconnected from the moment, or from loved ones
Other ways it might show up for you are: feeling jumpy, feeling dizzy, struggling to finish your thoughts or think through a solution, feeling irritable, having a low frustration tolerance, or experiencing anger, mood swings, panic, and that prickly, touched-out feeling.
It’s not YOU! Your sensory system exists to makes sense of your environment and your body, and how they relate to each other.
But when your sensory system is struggling, it can’t make sense of your body or the environment, so everything feels like a threat.
When you’re feeling unsafe, you can’t do anything else. Being social, thinking clearly, creativity… it’s all lost when you’re dysregulated.
(Oh, and if you’re neurodivergent, or are recovering from concussion, TBI, long-haul COVID, or other medical or neurological conditions resulting in sensorimotor or fatigue challenges, you’re especially prone to sensory overload.)
What if I told you it’s entirely possible to bring calm and joy back to your days so you can enjoy parenthood?
There are effective, evidence-based tools you can use to move your body through sensory overwhelm, and change the way your nervous system responds to incoming information.
This is neuroplasticity in all its glory.
How do I know?
Hi! I'm Larissa. I am a mom, a wife, and an occupational therapist. I’ve spent my career working with children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. From a clinical standpoint, I knew SPD. I knew the neurology, I knew how it affected function in daily life, and I knew how to create a targeted intervention that worked.
And then one day I went hiking, and hit my head. I tried to shake it off, but something felt wrong. I was constantly on edge. It took me about two weeks to admit that this was something bigger than a minor bump on the head.
I was easily startled by touch, and a sneeze would made me cry. I’d back away if my toddler son ran towards me. I’d blankly stare at my husband talking, realizing I had absolutely no idea what he was saying.
I was in severe sensory dysregulation from a concussion. Once I connected the dots, I thought to myself, “No wonder my kids at work have such frequent meltdowns!”
As much as my family tried to help, they couldn’t understand. I couldn’t understand or articulate what was happening either. Not only that, but I had to navigate my needs, while also taking care of my children.
I felt utterly alone.
Now I’m here, on the other side of it, with a new mission: To help you, the parent, understand your own sensory needs, and use that knowledge to foster connection with your children.
Your nervous system matters, and being regulated is physiologically necessary for a purposeful relationship with your children, with other adults, and with yourself.
My mission is to help you look for clues in your body and your environment to see what might be going on, so that you can be empowered to meet your needs and love your children with every ounce of motherly or fatherly love that you have (and I know that is a lot).
Imagine this...
You wake up to your kids 5 inches from your face again (I can’t change that part!), but this time you compassionately recognize it’s one of your sensory triggers.
You set the kids up with Legos and take 10 minutes to engage in your favorite mindfulness practice (this might just be eating breakfast with intention or staring out the window for a few breaths!).
You’re already feeling a little overwhelmed, so you open up your Podcast app and hit play on your S.O.S. Track.
You start the day feeling calm and confident, fully present, and ready to tackle any parenting challenges.
And when there are bumps in the road (because there will be!) you pop your headphones in and lean into another strategy from your toolkit.
Because you don’t have to face your sensory overwhelm alone.
Introducing...Sensing Your Needs in Parenthood
A self-paced, online program, designed specifically for YOU, the parent!
A vault of audio-guides & accompanying scripts (now available on your favorite podcast app!) that you can turn to for practical, effective strategies to employ in daily life, participate in your role as a parent, and experience the joys of parenthood the way they’re meant to be experienced.
Inside the “Sensing Your Needs in Parenthood” program, you’ll learn The Steady Parents Method, a six-week whole-body approach for combatting sensory dysregulation.
What's Included:
Easy-to-access audio-guided lessons and scripts
Hit play on your private podcast feed while on a walk, pop in your headphones while you’re folding the laundry, or read through the scripts on the app if that's more your style! Go at your own pace and return to the lessons whenever you need a refresher. You’ll have lifetime access to the guides and any updates.
Reflection journal
Print out your journal to take notes and reflect on the audio lessons, so you can identify exactly what is happening with your sensory system and create your own unique list of proactive strategies.
Sensory Self-Care Library
Step into your self-care library, where you can create a custom self-care plan. This isn’t one-size-fits-all!
S.O.S. Vault
Guided support for when you need a friend in the moment! When you’re in the thick of it and you can’t figure out how to shift your energy and calm your nervous system, open up your podcast feed and tune into one of the S.O.S. tracks. I’ll be in your ear to walk you through it! (Or read through your step-by-step support if you'd prefer)
A Peek Inside...
Week 1: Sensory Processing Within Parenthood
Overview: Our sensory systems are always working “behind the scenes”. There are 8 sensory systems. These systems are always on in parenthood, which means we’re using these systems throughout the day. This can lead to overwhelm.
Outcome: This week, you’ll learn about the 8 systems and how to identify when one (or more) of your sensory systems is in overdrive.
Week 2: Self-Compassion, Regulation, and Parenthood
Overview: Self-compassion & mindfulness allow you as the parent to be aware of your own internal state, as well as to understand and trust your child’s state. We’ll learn the power of reflection and how the parent and child dynamic functions.
Outcome: You’ll learn to blend together your understanding of your internal state and your child’s, creating the magic “co-regulation”.
Weeks 3-6: Your Sensory Armor: Building a Sensory-Sustainable Lifestyle
Overview: Identify your sensory profile, create a list of tools, and identify problem patterns in your life so that you can take proactive measures to shift how you respond to sensory input and avoid the overwhelm. We’ll cover your schedule, sleep patterns, and how your child’s needs impact yours.
Outcome: During these three weeks, you’ll identify your sensory profile, build your customized sensory armor to prepare your nervous system for regulation, and pinpoint strategies to turn to in your most challenging moments.
Sensory Self-Care Library
In-the-moment strategies for each sensory system, along with a guided meditation.
S.O.S. Vault
Guided support for when you’re touched out, there’s too much noise, or you’re generally too overwhelmed to figure out what’s wrong.
Digging Deeper
Overview: Your "Sensory Sweet Spot" is that space where you're regulated, engaged, creative, and attentive. When you're outside this sweet spot, it can feel almost impossible to play with your kids, pay attention, and manage noise & touch.
Outcome: You'll further tailor your strategies to achieve your sensory sweet spot and support your ability to handle noise & touch, manage the mental load, and enjoy your children.
Bonus!
The Overstimulated Parent's Guide to Road Trips
Learn why the car can be such an overstimulating place, and what you can do about it to get you to your destination safely.
Sure, you can keep trying to push through your sensory needs. Keep trying all the blanket strategies you’ve been trying in isolation and waking up each day hoping it will be better than the last.
But if you want meaningful, sustainable change, you need a toolkit of strategies to help regulate your sensory system. And you need to physiologically shift the way you respond to sensory input, so you can confidently care for yourself and your family.
You’re ready to enjoy life, make more memories with your family, and add peace and joy back to your days.
This is the life raft you’ve been waiting for! We’re in this together.
Course curriculum
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Introduction [Audio]
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Introduction [Script]
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SOS: There's too much noise! [Audio]
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SOS: There's too much noise! [Script]
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SOS: I'm touched out! (8 minute guide) [Audio]
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SOS: I'm touched out! (8 minute guide) [Script]
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SOS: I'm touched out! (4 minute guide) [Audio]
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SOS: I'm touched out! (4 minute guide) [Script]
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SOS: I don't know what's wrong! [Audio]
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SOS: I don't know what's wrong! [Script]
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Day 1: The Backstage Crew [Audio]
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Day 1: The Backstage Crew [Script]
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Backstage Crew Graphic
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Day 2: Common Struggles Within Sensory Processing [Audio]
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Day 2: Common Struggles within Sensory Processing [Script]
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Day 1: Nurturing Self-Compassion [Audio]
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Day 1: Nurturing Self-Compassion [Script]
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Day 2: The Power of Reflection [Audio]
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Day 2: The Power of Reflection [Script]
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Day 3: Sensing Safety Within the Parent/Child Dynamic [Audio]
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Day 3: Sensing Safety Within the Parent/Child Dynamic [Script]
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Week 3: Identifying Your Sensory Profile and Triggers [Audio]
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Week 3: Identifying Your Sensory Profile and Triggers [Script]
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Week 3: Sensory Experiences Journal
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Week 4: Planning and Pacing to Avoid Burnout [Audio]
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Week 4: Planning & Pacing to Avoid Burnout [Script]
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Week 4: Planning & Pacing Journal
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Week 5: Establishing Sustainable Habits and Routines [Audio]
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Week 5: Establishing Sustainable Habits and Routines [Script]
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Week 5: Routines Journal
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Week 6 Day 1: Supporting Sleep [Audio]
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Week 6 Day 1: Supporting Sleep [Script]
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Week 6 Day 2: Preparing Your System to Regulate in the Moment [Audio]
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Week 6 Day 2: Preparing Your System to Regulate in the Moment [Script]
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Week 6 Day 3: Supporting Your Needs When Your Child Has Their Own [Audio]
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Week 6 Day 3: Supporting Your Needs When Your Child Has Their Own [Script]
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A. In the Moment Strategies [Audio]
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A. In the Moment Strategies [Script]
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B. Supports for Each Sensory System
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C. Oral Motor Tools
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D. Guided Meditation: Body Scan
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About this course
- $247.00
- 56 lessons
FAQ
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Do I need a diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder to benefit from this course?
No! In fact, most parents who need this help don’t have an official diagnosis. You may identify as highly sensitive or neurodivergent, or have another medical condition that leaves you more sensitive to sensory overload. Whatever the situation, any parent can benefit from these strategies designed to bring you back to a calm state so that you can confidently navigate parenting.
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How much time will this take? I’m so busy!
Six weeks to Steady! I created this program with the busy parent in mind, and have added NEW features that make learning even simpler! The main program is split into 6 weeks, about 20 minutes per week. But because it's self-paced and lifetime access, you can go faster or slower than that. Outside of those 6 weeks, there are also hours of bonus guides to dig even deeper into your sensory knowledge and to support you in the moment of overload. All the audio is streamed to a private podcast feed (along with being inside the course platform), so you can listen right from Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google. And, the course platform (Thinkific) now has an app, so you can access the entire course without having to remember the website or sign-in information! Simply pop in your headphones or play the audio guides while you’re doing the dishes or folding laundry, or open up the Thinkific app to read while you're laying with your child waiting for them to fall asleep. So many parents told me they listened to the audio guides multiple times as sort of a “reset” button when the overwhelm begins to creep in. Think of this program as your “secret weapon” for coming back to center. You’ll feel lighter after listening, I promise! (You have lifetime access, so hit that play button whenever you need it! You can go at your own pace.)
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I’ve tried so many strategies for managing my sensory needs. How are yours different?
Inside this program, you’re getting an Occupational Therapist’s expertise on sensory regulation. (I also have personal experience… I’ve been there!) As an OT, I specialize in helping you understand your sensory system and how it guides your parenting. In the program, we have 3 goals: •Learn about the sensory systems & how they impact parenting •Implement proactive strategies around sensory health •Change the way your nervous system is responding to sensory input If you’ve tried one-off strategies before, you’ve probably notice they work for a few minutes, or they work in some situations and not others, there’s a reason! Our job is to dig in, discover the reason, and figure out a solution that lasts!
