Episode 59: Regulation Strategies for Stressed-Out Parents
👀 In this episode, Sharon Collon interviews Sam Taylor, founder of Go Beyond Therapy, about:
✅ Why parents are more burnt out than ever (and what to do about it)
✅ The “bucket” analogy that makes sense of your overwhelm
✅ Tiny, doable self-care moments that actually work
✅ How to spot the warning signs before you hit meltdown mode
⏰ Timestamps ⏰
00:00 Parental Emotional Regulation Challenges
04:49 Practical Self-Care for Parents
07:49 Managing Emotional Overflow in Parents
11:55 Parental Burnout Strains Relationships
15:52 Mindful Parenting for Emotional Regulation
20:07 Balancing Family Sensory Needs
22:22 "Strategies for Reducing Daily Stress"
26:56 Understanding Occupational Therapy's Role
31:23 Progressing Towards Big Goals Incrementally
32:29 Individualised Goal Strategies in OT
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Sam is an occupational therapist with experience supporting children with a wide range of additional needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Intellectual Disabilities, Down Syndrome, and many more. She has been working and volunteering in the pediatric disability space for over 10 years. Her journey in this field is not just professional, but also personal. Having navigated challenges similar to dyslexia and auditory processing difficulties herself, she understands the hurdles that families face within the education system, therapeutic environments, and everyday life.
Her approach to therapy is holistic and family-centered. She recognises that enhancing a child’s well-being goes beyond traditional milestones like handwriting. She believes in nurturing self-confidence and resilience—qualities that form the cornerstone of building a fulfilling life. She sees each child’s belief in themselves as a crucial building block upon which all progress is built.
Connect with Sam:
Website: https://www.gobeyondtherapy.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/go.beyond.therapy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gobeyondtherapy/
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KEY POINTS
Every parent has a “coping bucket” with different capacities.
Self-care is small and practical, not grand gestures.
Deep breathing, whispering instead of raising your voice, stepping away briefly if safe, or using sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones helps parents co-regulate.
Meeting sensory needs through alternatives like weighted items, heavy work activities, or trampolines to reduce physical demands on the parent while supporting the child’s regulation.
NEXT STEPS
Subscribe to Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefunctionalfamily
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WORK WITH Sharon Collon
Sharon Collon helps parents of children with ADHD through her:
ADHD Family Foundations program: Hi there! The ADHD Family Foundations Program is a comprehensive, tailored approach designed to systematically review and improve processes around your home to work effectively with the ADHD brain. This program, perfect for families with primary school-age children, offers practical strategies, support, and tools to make life easier for the whole family living with ADHD. By focusing on creating ADHD-friendly environments and routines, the program aims to reduce chaos, increase functionality, and create more space for positive family interactions. As an award-winning, credentialed ADHD Coach and Parenting Expert, I've developed this program based on years of personal experience and professional expertise to help families like yours transform daily challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.
Enrol Now: https://thefunctionalfamily.com
CONNECT
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefunctionalfamily/🔗 Website: https://thefunctionalfamily.com🔗 Free Tools: https://thefunctionalfamily.com/blog
New Zealand