Practice Tools Before You Need Them

In this episode, I explain the three main nervous system zones—resilient, hyper, and hypo—and I invite you to listen with your child so they can understand their nervous system too. I describe each zone using “fancy words,” animals, cars, and colors so it can click in different ways: the resilient zone is when you feel safe and connected (wise owl, steady four-door car, green); the hyper zone is high alert with lots of energy and protection (rabbit, race car, red); and the hypo zone is shutdown and overwhelmed (turtle, out-of-gas car, blue). All zones are normal, and the goal is to notice where you are without judgment and build your ability to return to resilience when you can. Hyper ZoneRabbitRace Car Zooming on HighwayRed (fire)Feel agitated or irritated, excess energy and tensionResilience ZoneWise OwlCar driving safely on highwayGreen (go)Feel Safe, CEO is online, connectingHypo ZoneTortoiseRan Out of Gas -side of highwayBlue (sleepy)Feel overwhelmed or burnt out, shut down, turning off.Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I share how I processed a challenging experience in May 2026 after someone in my church raised concerns about my work communicating with nonspeakers,and how I found the courage to keep offering this service while being open to my leaders’ counsel (including changing what I call it).I focus on five tools that helped me stay in love, peace, and courage:0life coaching to sort through my thoughtsemotional clearing through allowing feelings, journaling, walking and talking, essential oils, visualizations, and the Connection Codenervous system regulation through awareness, the safety sequence, meditation, and musicprayer (personal and from a small trusted circle, including nonspeakers and their families)and being listened to, which helped me feel heard and reminded me of the power of truly listening to our kids.(I just kind of threw in the story about my son getting kidnapped in Mexico - it's ok, he escaped and is safe and healthy... here is that story)Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter to get access to the private podcast and additional episodes mentioned - by clicking here. Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

Today I share an inside look at how my faith and prayer have guided the work I choose to do.From my early years as a doula and childbirth educator to life coaching and my current focus supporting nonspeakers and their families.Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter to get access to the private podcast and additional episodes - by clicking here. Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I talk about the longing to see farther down the road as a parent—especially when you’re parenting a nonspeaking child and wondering if your child will be okay,if therapy is helping,or if you’re making the right choices.I contrast parenting as a race (with pressure, comparison, and “finish lines”)and as a maze (with anxiety about wrong turns and needing to find the perfect route)with the idea of walking a labyrinth: a path with twists and turns but no dead ends and no wrong turns.Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I’m have an end date for my summer sabbatical (May–September) I'm returning to a more consistent schedule in October.I finally figured out what I am changing the name of Spirit-to-Spirit Sessions to...I also share an important thing to consider when trying new things... tolerating discomfort.Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakersYou can sign up for sessions at awesomeautismtools.com

In this episode, I share why it’s so important to practice tools ahead of time—especially practicing feeling safe when you actually are safe—so you can access that state more automatically when you’re triggered. I briefly introduce the “safety sequence” with three questions: Am I safe? Do I feel safe? Is my body relaxed? I talk about how parents of children on the spectrum may sometimes not be safe and often do not feel safe, especially with aggresive or self-injurious situations. For you it is even more important to practice these tools! I also recommend Finding Joy in the Journey episode 231, “The Power of Love Over Fear.” Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I’m excited to share that I signed up for an advanced nervous system training this fall,and while family life is busyI’m also feeling unusually still with work.I wanted to share a tool I’ve learned from my teacher this summer - called the safety sequence:first ask, “Am I safe?” (and if the answer is no, make choices to get safe),then ask, “Do I feel safe?” even when you are physically safe you might not FEEL safe.and finally relax your body to help it feel safe.Two ways to relax are the rag doll (going limp) and the physiological sigh (in, in, out).I’ve been practicing this 1–3 times a day and have seen how it helps me stay present, regulate before hard moments, and handle conversations better.Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I share a life coaching with emotional clearing session with a mother of a nonspeaking child who uses spelling.She offered to do a session with me recording it, so you can hear what a session with me looks like and try the short visualizations along with us.She describes a heaviness whenever she passes their spelling area, plus guilt about not being consistent enough, not being patient enough, and feeling like she’s failing her son.We explore how transitions, physical prompting, and the need to be calm and present make spelling feel uniquely effortful compared to other household tasks.Then using simple visualizations we clear some of the emotions and then create some new positive thoughts and emotions.Feel free to listen and have the intention of clearing any similar feelings or thoughts you may have. And if it resonates, accept the positive replacement ones.Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I talk about rivers as unpredictable, with calm stretches, turbulent rapids, and unexpected obstacles, and how being present on a river trip helped me be present with myself.My trip began with two and a half days of peaceful, mostly still rowing, then shifted into exciting rapids on days three and four before returning to calmer water.I relate this to life and relationships, using boundaries and “life jacket” self-care tools, and I share how unexpected “rapids” recently showed up in my Awesome Autism Tools business, helping me refine how I explain my work while I take part of the summer off and plan fall studies in nervous system support.You can hear my episode about the "poop box" over on the Finding Joy in the Journey podcast. Sign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers

I am taking the summer and maybe even the fall off.If you want to keep getting tips and tools that can help - Follow me on Finding Joy in the JourneySign up for my Very Awesome Friends Newsletter to stay updated on my Fall plans - by clicking here. You will gain free access to the private podcast, get extra in-depth episodes, visualizations, etc. - as well as other awesome bonuses.Follow me on Instagram @awesomenonspeakers