Balanced Behavioral Solutions

Lowcountry Autism Foundation is hosting their annual Live, LAF, Love Golft Tournament this November 14th! Join LAF for a round of golf to support a great non-profit here in the lowcountry. LAF provides numerous free events and programs every month for families all over the Lowcountry. Tap the link below to register for the event, or click the link above to LAF’s page to learn more about the organization and the programs they offer to families that you’d be supporting!

https://lafinc.networkforgood.com/events/48449-live-laf-love-golf-tournament-second-annual

So awesome! Sensory friendly day at the fair!

The lights and sounds of the South Carolina State Fair will be a little lower from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, when the S.C. State Fair hosts it’s first-ever Sensory-Friendly Morning. During Sensory-Friendly Morning, the S.C. State Fair will create an environment designed with children and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders in mind. The goal for the morning is to enable families who have a member, whether child or adult, with special needs to visit, explore and enjoy the fair. will be welcoming families as they enter the gates to the fair.

Sensory Friendly Morning Highlights
-At 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13, children and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders are welcome to enter the fairgrounds, as our guest, up to one hour before the gates officially open to the public at 11 a.m.
-The barns will be open and the animals and their owners will be delighted to have guests see the animals and their morning routines.
-Select rides will be running with no music or lights from 10 a.m.-noon.
-Buildings will open with a more peaceful atmosphere from 11 a.m.- noon.
-Food vendors will start to serve at 11 a.m.
-Quiet and more peaceful strolling acts will perform starting at 10 a.m.
-Free admission for person with disability and one companion are included in this promotion. Ride fees are separate.

https://www.scstatefair.org/sensoryfriendly/

💙MIA Explanation💙
Hey guys!!
Sorry I have been MIA here over the past couple of months 🫠 I’ve been a little preoccupied. My husband and I are expecting our first child this month! 💙 We are very excited. Finding out about this new addition meant I needed to shift my focus far away from social media in recent months to put my all into my practice and helping my clients with the transition 💙
That being said, I will be MIA *again* here for the next couple of months during my maternity leave. I will be unavailable for calls, emails and inquiries during my maternity leave. But! I have updated my website (link in bio 🔗) for all those in the Charleston area to include a list of other counselors and resources 💙
When I return, I will be reaching out to my clients who have indicated they would like to return to therapy with me first. After that, I will reopen my scheduling and waitlist to potential new clients, space permitting! 💙
I hope you all have an amazing rest of your summer ☀️ and I will be back in the fall 🍁
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Amazing new program from Lowcountry Autism Foundation!

LAF is excited to announce it's new program, LAF AID (Autism Identification)

Lowcountry Autism Foundation Autism Identification (LAF AID) is a FREE program, in partnership with Beaufort County law enforcement agencies, where first responders are equipped with training on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and families will have access to a personalized ID to help identify their child/adult in the community if they were to get lost.

To learn more about LAF AID and upcoming registration dates please visit https://www.lafinc.org/lafaid

Love this idea year after year at MUSC :) Send someone a Valentine❣️

Valentine's Day Send a Valentine's Card to a patient in Psychiatry.

Amazing opportunity this summer here in the Lowcountry! Check it out!!

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Beyond BASIC is excited to offer Beyond BASIC Jr. Summer Camp this year! Our camp will have a strong focus on learning life skills and having summer fun!

Who: Adolescents aged 14-20 years old
When: June 23rd to August 13th Wednesday, Thursday, Friday each week
from 9:00am to 3:00pm
(These 8 weeks are broken into four, 2 week sessions.)
Where: 406 N Gum St, Summerville, SC 29483 and Doty Park Summerville
Cost: $500.00/ 2 week session

Please fill out the form below to apply for Beyond BASIC Jr. Summer Camp. Filling out this form does not guarantee you a spot in the camp. Someone will be in touch to confirm your registration.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRzlB-DLJBFwOwIA9tjy0kbuei-FoAiikFhuRPZUhUIfJ7cA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Love this story! 💕

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Gaffney High students start business making Braille cards Two Gaffney High School students have started their own business making special holiday cards–and just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Today I got my first round of the COVID19 Vaccine 💉

2020 was a difficult year for all of us — “the unprecedented year of uncertainty” (buzzwords buzzwords). But I have hope for 2021. I’m not naive to think that this vaccine is going to magically fix everything either, but I believe holding on to hope is important.

There has been a lot of pain exposed in 2020 that is still raw and lingering in 2021 – and (to state the obvious) not just pain surrounding COVID19. There is a lot of healing left to be done, but I have hope.

I got the vaccine with the hopes of hugging my friends and family without fear of passing on/picking up a potentially life threatening virus. For the hope that my small part can help alleviate at least some strain on healthcare workers and essential workers who put in endless hours to serve the greater population. For my clients to hopefully be able to come to my office without question. For my teacher friends and their students to hopefully safely return to school in person. For the hope that one day social distancing and mask wearing will be a thing of the past. For the millions who have known someone who struggled with or lost someone to COVID19. I hope that they can find peace.

I got the vaccine today because the hope I have OUTWEIGHS the nerves about a vaccine, the (slight!) pain in my arm, and the pain I’ve seen in my clients, friends, family and even strangers throughout 2020.

Here’s to hoping 💉

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2020 has us all feeling some type of way. And all of what you’re feeling is okay.

😅🤪🧐😞😣😕😢😩😭🥺🙃🥵🤬🤨🥳🤩😡😰😓🤭🤔🤗😶🙄🥴🤢😴🥱😧🤒😷

Don’t believe me? Check out this absolutely amazing poem by one of the best counselors I know Mikayla Harper 💛

Your Feelings Are Ok : a poem for kids in 2020 Written by Mikayla Harper with help from Shama Winston Ford

Shout out to LAF for sharing this awesome article and social story about wearing masks! And a great reminder leading into this holiday weekend.

Happy Friday and Happy 4th of July weekend!! Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful 4th of July!!

Now that masks are required in many places, you might need help having your loved one with ASD wear a mask. Autism NJ has some great resources to help with this!

Here is a social story about wearing a mask:
https://rwjms.rutgers.edu/boggscenter/Links/documents/ICanStayHealthybyWearingaFaceMask-F.PDF

There are also great tips related to teaching someone to wear a mask including
- stating clear expectations
- Starting with small steps (like holding the mask and letting the mask touch their face)
- Reinforcing each small step

Check out all of the information Autism NJ has to offer!

Autism NJ Website:
https://www.autismnj.org/article/helping-individuals-with-autism-wear-face-masks/

Happy Friday everyone!

I wanted to share the link to my contribution to Lowcountry Autism Foundation's Speaker Series. I talk about SEEDS and how to set a routine/schedule during quarantine. I know things have started to open up some here in South Carolina, but this information still holds true throughout summer! Now that your child is probably done with school that Education piece is still important to maintain too :) So check out this month's video below and don't forget to subscribe to LAF's Youtube Channel for more great videos from other local providers!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqm81pkqPwg&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR1UcFQG7FMgBQx3ucO0VpCvU5UrGDUI2RjDC-OzjI4TkGeGtJKRWYZIO8Y

Our Speaker Series is NOW LIVE! Check out our YouTube channel to hear Katie Dyson, MA, LPC, NCC (Balanced Behavioral Solutions) discuss the SEEDS Method and the importance of creating a routine for yourself and your family during Covid-19!

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/nqm81pkqPwg

My contribution to Lowcountry Autism Foundation's Speaker Series goes live tonight on their youtube channel (link below!). Be sure to check it out along with tons of other awesome FREE resources from other local providers put out by LAF!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqNjAwyeB4KU2sNGNmWWhQ/videos

Tune in TONIGHT for our latest Speaker Series session featuring Katie Dyson, MA, LPC, NCC with Balanced Behavioral Solutions!

Mindfulness is the act of being present. There are numerous studies linked to overall happiness and mindfulness practices. There are tons of ways to incorporate mindfulness into your day including deep breathing activities, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation; however, mindfulness can be as simple as engaging your senses.

Gardening is one of my favorite mindfulness and grounding activities because it’s a great opportunity to engage all of your senses. Also shout out to Rita's Roots Backyard Harvest here in Charleston for all of your organic gardening needs :) What’s your favorite way to be present? 🌱

Very cool!! Check out this special for kids and families tomorrow morning at 10 AM with Sesame Street and CNN!
🖤🤎💜💙💚💛🧡❤️🤍
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Sesame Street is joining CNN this Saturday for a Town Hall to help kids and families discuss racism and the protests taking place nationwide, build empathy, and embrace diversity. Watch the hour-long special this Saturday June 6 at 10 am ET.

Check out my contribution to Lowcountry Autism Foundation’s Speaker Series! I go over how to use “SEEDS” to check in with your mental health and how to supplement that with setting a routine or schedule. 🌱

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Very cool idea from Shine Text! Today is their . Today looks a lot different from last year when they first tried this out with everything we’ve experienced as a result of COVID19, but it is important all the same to do even if work or life looks different. No matter where you are today it’s important to acknowledge your mental health and the toll that the past two months have taken on a lot of us. The article below shares lots of information on “mental health breaks” and has places where you can practice this today.

I hope whether you use this information or your own practice of a calming, mindful activity that you take a break today and allow yourself to connect with your mental health 🌬

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Your Complete Guide to Mental Health Days From how to know you need one, templates to help you ask for it, and tips on what to *do* with your time off.

Hey everyone and Happy Thursday!

COVID19 has been all over the news lately, and honestly a lot of the news coverage can be negative and disheartening at times. It’s important to find a balance between being informed and giving yourself a break from the constant access to information about the virus.

I wanted to share one of my favorite news outlets that has come out of this virus, Some Good News. Of course I’m a little biased—John Krasinski is one of my favorite actors, and this week he did happen to do a feature on one of my favorite cities ( ) and favorite baseball team ( ). BUT in all seriousness, I think this reflects the importance of re-focusing on some of the positives. Our brains have a built in “negativity-bias,” which has its purpose in helping us but can sometimes make bad things take up a lot of our focus. So it takes a conscious shift sometimes to focus on the positives. This simple shift of naming 3 good things that happened in a day or 3 things you’re grateful for is extremely powerful in our minds and can boost your mood when practiced regularly.

So sit back, relax, and watch Some Good News today. It’s worth it! (I’m only a little biased..)

Or share some positivity or things that make you smile in the comments below!!👇🏼

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Baseball is Back: Some Good News with John Krasinski Ep. 3 John Krasinski highlights some good news around the world, shares some at-home sports highlights, and surprises some healthcare heroes as a thank you for the...

Our days are a lot more chaotic now. Many of us are learning how to work from home on top of having to part-time homeschool and figure out virtual school with kiddos. Not to mention feeling cooped up and socially isolated (because that's what we're supposed to be doing right now, but again it feels super unnatural because it is!).

Adding deep breathing exercises throughout your day is a really quick and easy way to get grounded and re-focus if you're feeling off.

I've been sharing a lot of Shine Text recently, but there are a lot of mindfulness apps right now running specials and deals on their subscription packages (not to mention there are numerous free versions that are awesome too). These apps are a really helpful way to practice guided meditation or breathing, which can remove some of the stress of meditation.

Meditation can be intimidating because the process of clearing our minds is really difficult. A guided meditation often times offers gentle prompts to bring your focus back to breathing and they're a great way to see if meditating would be a good coping skill for you! Some of my personal favorites in addition to the Shine app are Calm and Headspace. Let me know if you have any other favorites in the comments below! :)

Remember: you got this. There is no rule book on "How to Quarantine." We are all figuring this out as we go alone. So be kind to yourself and take a break if you need one!

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3 Ways to Make a 'Breath Break' Part of Your Daily Routine All together now: Inhale (*shooooo*) and exhale (*ahhhhh*).

Over the next week I am continuing to offer telehealth appointments for my clients in order to practice social distancing as recommended to prevent the chance of contracting/spreading COVID19.

Pay attention to your mental health. If it feels unnatural to practice social distancing, it’s because it IS unnatural for us as humans to not be around other humans. We are social beings and this IS hard. Give yourself a break. This is a huge adjustment for all of us, so practice some extra self care while you work from home and grant yourself some self compassion in this time.

Another great tip taken from my daily Shine Text meditation. Practice a reframe this week. Social Distancing is what we keep hearing as a recommendation for safety, but try to look at it as Physical* Distancing instead. This has been an extremely popular time for virtual platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, etc. and it’s important to take advantage of those platforms! Yes, it obviously feels different because your loved ones aren’t with you physically, but it is a way to maintain your very normal/human need for social contact.

If you are struggling with this pandemic—anxiety, adjusting to a new routine, feeling isolated, whatever!—don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health provider near you.

I am accepting new clients in this time on my telehealth platforms as well. If you are a friend of mine, I can’t be your counselor too; I am, however, happy to help set you up with an awesome counselor to help you work through this time! So don’t let our personal relationship stop you from reaching out to me if you’re feeling down or stressed in this time. You’re not alone and you don’t have to tackle this alone! It’s just Physical Distancing. You have options, and I’m here to help you get connected.

Stay healthy everyone! ✌🏼

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During this Pandemic, Pay Attention to your Mental Health, Too. Pay attention to your mental health during this pandemic. We are all so consumed by the thought of developing the coronavirus. Rightfully so. But I’m here to remind you to also watch your mental health during this pandemic. It’s easy to ignore the symptoms telling you that your mental health is ...

I love all of the virtual opportunities popping up for people in response to being safe/staying at home. It allows us to follow recommendations to prevent transmitting this virus, while still be aware of our stress and overall mental health.

Here's another awesome one! Think Boxing is an awesome company here in Charleston that works to improve emotional regulation skills by combining stress reduction strategies and boxing! They are offering a streaming opportunity with their Think Boxing coaches. For more information check out the flyer below & their website:
www.thinkboxing.co
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Saw this on Instagram with another counselor and had to share!

Telehealth can feel different at first and is definitely an adjustment from in-person therapy (if that’s all you’ve ever done). It’s important to provide yourself with a similar space and set up for success so that you can have that same therapeutic experience.

This includes having a private space without anyone else around so you can still have the freedom to process whatever you need to without worrying if others can hear you or not.

Surround yourself with pillows or blankets, calming sounds, or maybe just peace and quiet! Do whatever you need to do to create a calm atmosphere for your session! This picture just has a few ideas.

I’ve had several video sessions now go over very successfully (after the first few minutes of adjusting to being on a computer 😊). I look forward to navigating this world of technology with you all and helping you to maintain your mental health care in this stressful time! See you all on telehealth!

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Struggling to get through your days at home on quarantine? Set up a schedule! I have been working with parents and clients in sessions to set up schedules to help manage time throughout the day with built in (NEEDED) breaks for self care. I've been trying to practice more mindfulness in the past week and have been loving the Shine App's free version and they happened to have a great article today on how to set up a schedule 🙂

Don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health care provider in your area if you are struggling right now. Lots of people are overwhelmed, scared, anxious and frustrated with the current situation. And lots of counselors have moved to telehealth to still be able to provide mental health treatment in a safe manner.

You're not alone in this! We've all got to work together in this time.

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How to Build a New Routine During the Pandemic Your routines are constantly growing and changing—and that's OK.

I hope all is well with you and your family, and that everyone continues to be safe and healthy with the COVID-19 pandemic. My intention is still to do my part in helping maintain your mental health and overall wellness (including helping to protect your physical health) while responding proportionately to the actual risk.

That being said, I have made the decision this upcoming week (Monday March 23-Friday March 27) based on the rise in the number of cases here in South Carolina and the Lowcountry over the past week/weekend, to move to telehealth-only appointments for the next week. I will be updating this weekly on Sunday's based on the current recommendations from the government and CDC. My goal is to reduce the chances of spreading this highly contagious virus, while still providing you and your family with mental health support through this highly stressful time. I am fortunate to have the ability to offer the option of video and/or phone sessions, and will be reaching out to my current clients to notify them how to proceed with this option.

In the meantime, here are some resources I have been using with clients too!

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Center For Disease Control websites continue to update with accurate and up-to-date credible information about COVID-19

Free online Anxiety/Stress Management: https://www.virusanxiety.com/

Social Story: if your child is struggling to understand the virus in this time, the following social story is helpful in explaining it and the precautions to take right now -- https://www.flipsnack.com/KeshetChicago/coronavirus-social-story/full-view.html?fbclid=IwAR3lHXexFh2XT7E3hnNXaOMvpOqjPguUFzCihS39M5FuunNFhjtmBhLr0d8

I hope this information is helpful! Rest assured I am prepared to help you navigate the confusion, anxiety, and concerns you may have about this virus.

I encourage you to reach out to me directly with any questions or concerns you may have! I can be reached via phone at 540-523-1883, via email at [email protected], or for current clients via the secure messaging option in your client portal.

Stay healthy everyone!

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Current clients: I will be in touch with you all regarding appointments next week, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have personally been trying to practice some mindfulness with the COVID19 chaos to ground myself. The Shine App has a really great free version that has daily meditations, breathing activities, and practices in gratitude. Here's an article that may be helpful to those of us who are experiencing a little extra stress as a result of the pandemic.
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6 Ways to Break Out of Your Next Worry Spiral Try a little LLF: Look, Listen, Feel.

Office Hours Update:

I am taking this day by day and will continue to update my clients of any changes. As of now, my office continues to remain open for normal business hours.

What you should know:
-I am taking specific precautions daily to help with cleanliness and sanitation before and after each session, and I ask that you do the same (I.e. wash your hands or use hand sanitizer). I hope you don't mind the smell of lysol!
-I will refrain from any and all physical contact (including hand shaking, hugs, etc.) throughout the outbreak.
-I am offering telehealth appointments to clients in this time as well. Please contact me for more information at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment to explore this option and get it set up if you are interested!
-If you are sick, please do not come in to an in-person appointment. Contact me and we can reschedule or make alternate arrangements for your appointment until you are well!
-I’m asking that my clients who have traveled outside the United States within the last four weeks, or those who have been in contact with anyone who has, to let me know before coming to your appointment so we can discuss the best way to proceed with healthy care.

Lastly, if you are experiencing fear or anxiety related to COVID19, know that you are not alone. Practice good self-care and reach out to your counselor! If you are well, attend your regularly scheduled appointment or consider exploring the telehealth option to help reduce any anxiety.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this comic (please note: it is a comic geared towards children, so it is intended to have a light-hearted undertone! BUT it does have good information for people of all ages on preventative measures to take to remain healthy).

Stay healthy everyone, and when in doubt, don't hesitate to reach out!
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Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus You may have heard the word "coronavirus" online or on TV. You probably have a lot of questions. Check out our comic to get some answers — and print out a zine version at home.