I decided to write this post because there is so little out there for hypermobile teens who find being sexually active either painful or frightening. Volume III of the “JointSmart Child” series hasn’t been written yet; I have been too busy with other projects, personal and professional. Volumes I and II are available on Amazon…… Continue reading Teens, Hypermobility, and Intimacy
Author: Cathy Collyer
I am a licensed occupational therapist, licensed massage therapist, and certified CBT-i sleep coach in private practice in the NYC area.
I have over 25 years of professional experience in adult and pediatric treatment. It has been a joy to help people of all ages improve their ability to grow and thrive! Occupational therapists are focused on enhancing a client's functioning in everyday life. We are practical healthcare providers, interested in teaching, adapting actions and environments, and building a client's useful skills for living their best life, regardless of their challenges.
I am the author of five books, including "Staying In The Room: Managing Medical And Dental Care When You Have DID" and "The Practical Guide To Toilet Training the Autistic Child". I lecture on many subjects, including sleep, trauma, and development. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you achieve YOUR goals!
Angelman Syndrome and Toilet Training: Start Early with Targeted Pre-Training!!
Children with Angelman Syndrome routinely have daunting challenges around toilet training, with very good reason. Significant delays in mobility, language, and fine motor control are common. Hardly anyone is thinking about toilet training when a child can’t stand independently and uses PECS for two desired objects. There are a lot of issues between their current…… Continue reading Angelman Syndrome and Toilet Training: Start Early with Targeted Pre-Training!!
Handwriting Tricks for Kids with Low Muscle Tone
Kids with low muscle tone are often holding their pencil in a fist, making so many control errors that their letters and numbers are illegible, or unconsciously using vertical and horizontal lines to write because they struggle with circular and diagonal strokes. They aren’t being supported well by their teachers because…teachers aren’t therapists. They should…… Continue reading Handwriting Tricks for Kids with Low Muscle Tone
Finally…A Handout Pack on Treating Trauma!
Pediatric therapists treat children with trauma histories and trauma disorders…all the time! Our NICU grads, kids with chronic medical conditions, and abuse survivors. They all can have trauma histories that make their treatment in OT, PT, and in speech therapy more challenging. I finally decided that I needed to share what I know about treating…… Continue reading Finally…A Handout Pack on Treating Trauma!
My New Handout Pack on Handwriting is ON SALE!!
I just finished “Handwriting Success”, the newest handout pack sold by Your Therapy Source . And it is on sale for the next week, until 3/13/23! After years of working with struggling writers, frustrated parents, and overwhelmed teachers, it was time to make something they can use. It pulls together all of the practical strategies I…… Continue reading My New Handout Pack on Handwriting is ON SALE!!
Two Causes of Bedwetting Your Pediatrician Might NOT be Mentioning
ADHD and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can increase a child’s bedwetting at any age. When you think about it, this make a lot of sense. So…let’s think about it. ADHD: Kids with ADHD often struggle to settle down for the night. They still have to get up for school at the same time in the…… Continue reading Two Causes of Bedwetting Your Pediatrician Might NOT be Mentioning
Are You Potty Training TOO LATE?
There is a simple answer: you train when you train, and not a minute before that. But you can train too late, and there are hidden consequences that should no longer remain hidden. In the current tide of emotions on social media, there is plenty of mom-shaming and blaming going around. Just stop all of…… Continue reading Are You Potty Training TOO LATE?
Can Adaptive Equipment Be Dangerous to a Child?
That was a trick question: of course it can. The wrong adaptive equipment can create hazards as well as bad habits that are hard to break. And it happens all the time now, as parents and patients decide that they know exactly what is needed. It also happens when they aren’t provided with access to…… Continue reading Can Adaptive Equipment Be Dangerous to a Child?
Is Independent Walking in the Classroom Overrated?
The “Holy Grail” for most parents of physically disabled kids is their child being able to walk around independently. This includes walking while in school. Most schools are not fully ADA accessible, making walking an easier choice many times. The oldest schools and the poorest districts frequently have the biggest problems and the least access…… Continue reading Is Independent Walking in the Classroom Overrated?
Sugar Might Not be the Only Villain Stealing Your Kid’s Sleep !
Halloween is my favorite holiday. I love the costumes, the focus on fun and terror in equal measure, and particularly the candy. It could be hard to get a child to settle down after a night of going door to door, collecting treats. Some parents think that their child’s difficulty falling asleep after eating some…… Continue reading Sugar Might Not be the Only Villain Stealing Your Kid’s Sleep !
Screens, Sleep, and the Special Needs Child
Since becoming a certified sleep therapist I am now helping an OT client with their struggle to fall asleep. The child is taking stimulant medication as well as an anti-anxiety medication. Both drugs contributing to his difficultly falling asleep in the evening. The side effect profiles of these drugs are not surprising. The ASD…… Continue reading Screens, Sleep, and the Special Needs Child
Attention and ADHD: Tell them to Fix Their Feet!
There are a lot of antsy kids out there. Some of them have ADHD. Not all of them get occupational therapy. Most of my work with these kids centers on sensory processing treatments that improve attention and emotional regulation. But some of my treatment strategies concern positioning. That is a therapy word for how…… Continue reading Attention and ADHD: Tell them to Fix Their Feet!
Can Your Autistic Child use the Potty in a Public Place Yet?
What does it take to get a child with autism to completely independently, and calmly, use the toilet in a public place? Solid skills at home, comfort with being in an unfamiliar bathroom, and no option of using a Pull-Up. Get your child so good at using the bathroom at home that they could…… Continue reading Can Your Autistic Child use the Potty in a Public Place Yet?
Sleepless ADHD/ASD Kid Taking Stimulants? A Drug-Free Solution
This happens all the time; the drug that is supposed to be metabolized doing the day can still disrupt sleep at night. One of my clients is begging his father to make his brain “turn off” so he can sleep at 11:30PM! It only has a half-life of 12 hours folks. It is still…… Continue reading Sleepless ADHD/ASD Kid Taking Stimulants? A Drug-Free Solution
Why That Sippy Cup Could Damage Your Child’s Teeth (Hint: its not what you think!)
No, the cup isn’t deforming the positioning of their teeth. But that is a good guess. Most therapists know that the prolonged use of these covered cups slow down learning the mouth and jaw control needed to drink from an open cup. So that is a terrific reason to ditch the Sippy cup as soon…… Continue reading Why That Sippy Cup Could Damage Your Child’s Teeth (Hint: its not what you think!)
Reduce Your Autistic Child’s Chances of Being Sexually Abused by Toilet Training Them
No parent wants to think about this subject. Not one. But it is essential to realize that abuse happens. The statistics are concerning. The majority of abuse continues to happen in the same locations as for neurotypical kids: the child’s home, relative’s homes, and the homes of family friends. But because autistic children also…… Continue reading Reduce Your Autistic Child’s Chances of Being Sexually Abused by Toilet Training Them
Need to Pick a High Chair or do Tummy Time with Special Needs Infants? I Got You!
I just wrote a new set of handouts for Your Therapy Source. This time they are about going BEYOND Tummy Time, picking high chairs, booster seats, and getting baby wearing right when your child has special needs. These are great for therapists in Early Intervention, but parents can also buy them on the…… Continue reading Need to Pick a High Chair or do Tummy Time with Special Needs Infants? I Got You!
Make Life with Your Special Needs Child Easier: The Special Needs Toileting Handout Pack is Finally Here!
After writing The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child I got a lot of feedback on how great the book was. And how long. It seems that some professionals and a lot of parents are so crushed for time that they wanted a “Cliff Notes” version (showing my age, I guess…!) So I decided…… Continue reading Make Life with Your Special Needs Child Easier: The Special Needs Toileting Handout Pack is Finally Here!
How Early is TOO EARLY to Potty Train?
I have been asked this question twice by friends in the month since my new book, The Practical Guide to Toilet Training the Autistic Child: Sensory-Motor Secrets to Success, came out. My answer hasn’t changed, but my awareness of how other people view readiness has. The short answer: You can train successfully much earlier than…… Continue reading How Early is TOO EARLY to Potty Train?
Can You Prevent Pelvic Floor Issues in A Hypermobile Child?
So many hypermobile kids and adults develop pelvic floor problems. They surface as issues with bowel and bladder control, mobility problems, and when kids become sexually active, a host of sexual dysfunctions. Wouldn’t it be better to prevent problems than solve them? Of course it would. That was a rhetorical question, posed out of frustration…… Continue reading Can You Prevent Pelvic Floor Issues in A Hypermobile Child?