The CI Therapies Podcast

On this month's episode of The CI Therapies Podcast we're diving in to discuss all things risky play with Ashley Verbick, COTA/L. This episode will cover the benefits of risky play and share  ideas for how to successfully support and facilitate it as kids explore their world.    Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode!   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy    

On today’s episode, Stacy Haunfelder, COTA, joins us to explore some of our favorite strategies and tools for preparing not just your child, but your entire family for the transition back to school. Stacy shares practical recommendations to implement in the weeks leading up to the first day, along with strategies that will support your family throughout the entire school year. We hope you’ll discover helpful insights that fit your family’s needs and wish everyone returning to school a happy and successful year!   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

We've invited Samantha (Sam) Haas with Playful Acorns to join us for this month's episode of the podcast to discuss getting kids and families outdoors all year long! As part of our discussion, Sam will share some ideas for outdoor play that are easy to implement with little to no extra equipment or toys as well as some of the benefits of being outside. We'll also learn more about Sam's story and why she started playful acorns, a local organization where kids and caregivers gather and grow. Here at CI we know that children learn best through play, and we hope this episode inspires families to explore play outdoors all year long! Additional Resources Playful Acorns Website Lussier Family Heritage Center Hike and Heal Wellness Monona Public Library Nature Playgroup University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum  National Institute for Play   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

On this episode of The CI Therapies Podcast, Becca Handler MSW, LCSW joins us to share insights on understanding and responding to a mental health crisis. This episode is intended to provide potential signs to help recognize when a child or loved one may be struggling. We hope it will help listeners better understand these situations, encourage proactive steps and empower seeking qualified support when needed.  This episode is descriptive and discusses self harm and suicide; listener discretion is advised. Please remember, this podcast provides general information and is not intended to diagnose or treat nor does it establish a client-counselor relationship. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice as individuals have unique circumstances and need personalized guidance from qualified professionals. Always consult with a qualified mental health professional before making any decisions based on this informationIf you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please seek immediate help from a qualified professional or call your local emergency number. We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by listeners based on the information provided on this podcast.  Additional Resources Dane County 24-Hour Mental Health Crisis Line: 608-280-2600 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988  NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) The Trevor Project   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Physical Therapist, Nikki Hofslien joins us this month to share more about CI’s pediatric aquatic therapy program. Aquatic therapy uses the special properties of water – like buoyancy and resistance – to help children improve their strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility. It’s a gentle and effective way to target therapeutic goals without putting stress on their joints. Tune in to learn more and see if this speciality therapy may be right for your child. Learn more about aquatic therapy at CI here. Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Do you consider your child a picky eater, are meal times stressful in your home? If so, today’s episode is for you! Aly Rogers, feeding trained, speech-language pathologist stops by to talk about the Division of Responsibility or DOR method. This is an approach that can be implemented and utilized by parents and caregivers right away. Listen in for strategies and tools to help make mealtimes fun and enjoyable for all! Learn more about feeding therapy at CI here. Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

The Month of march is recognized as Child Life Specialist Month. Child Life Specialists are healthcare professionals that are trained to help children with preparation and navigation of a medical experience.  On today’s episode, Child Life Specialist, Jess Ehret will share some of the knowledge, tips and tricks she’s learned throughout her career. We know that doctor's appointments and medical procedures can be scary and anxiety provoking for many kids. Parents and Caregivers will leave this episode armed with a toolbox full of ideas to help their children navigate medical experiences. Download your Mindfulness On-The-Go Cards here! Check out Child Life On Call for additional resources.  Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Speech-language pathologist, Ann Jonker is back on this week's episode of The CI Therapies Podcast to discuss literacy and how it goes beyond just reading and writing. Ann discusses the 5 components of literacy and the role SLPs can play in supporting readers. This episode is full of great information that's applicable to parents, caregivers and teachers.   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

We're starting off the new year with Season 2 of The CI Therapies Podcast. Sam Oehler, helps us kick things off this episode by sharing more about Advance; CI's one-of-a-kind intensive PT/OT program! This program is in it's second decade at CI and is something we are especially proud of. Listen in to find out more about this program and if your child may be a potential candidate!  Click here to learn more about our Advance program and get started today!   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy    

Have you ever wondered what the terms deductible, coinsurance or max out of pocket mean? This episode is for you! We are joined by two members of CI's billing team to help make sense of the many nuances and frequently asked questions regarding billing and insurance at CI.  Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

The holidays are quickly approaching! Schedules and routines change, there’s lots of people to see and places to be this time of year which can be disregulating and overwhelming for kids (and adults!) On this episode of The CI Therapies Podcast, we welcome back Ashley Verbick, one of our fabulous OT to share some strategies for making the holidays more relaxing and inclusive for all. On-the-Go Mindfulness Cards Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

On this week's episode of The CI Therapies Podcast, we are joined by Stacy Haunfelder, COTA/L who talks about the concept of masking and ways to support neurodiverse loved ones in your life.    Episode Resources: Blog: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/what-causes-autistic-burnout Instagram accounts we love:  @neurodiversitymb @mentalhealthchats @the_therapist_parent   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

On this episode of The CI Therapies Podcast, Abby Engel OTR/L joins us to delve into the often-challenging world of daily transitions for children and their parents. From the morning rush to bedtime routines, these shifts can be tough on everyone involved. We explore the reasons why transitions can be particularly difficult for. Join us as we share practical strategies and tips to ease these moments of change, helping both parents and children navigate transitions with greater ease and confidence. 

This is a fascinating episode with guest Autumn Wischnefski, a speech and language pathologist at CI.  She tells us all about Gestalt Language Processing, how it's more common than we think, and strategies for enhancing language development in your child. Episode Resources: Let's Give Them Something to Gestalt About: https://www.theinformedslp.com/review/let-s-give-them-something-to-gestalt-about   Natural language acquisition can be broken down into the following six stages:  Gestalts  Mitigated Gestalts  Isolation and Combination of Single Words  *Self-Generated Phrases and Simple Sentences  *Self-Generated Sentences Used in Everyday Situations  *Self-Generated Sentences Used in Complex Situations  *These stages begin to incorporate grammatical components of language (i.e., verb structures)   Gestalts can often be derived from media, which is challenging for therapists/caregivers to complete “detective work” in order to gather contextual meaning. Here are some resources for websites which find audio/video source for gestalts:  Play Phrase  Yarn  Subzin  QuoDB  Pop Mystic Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

This episode features Kayla Darkow, our Family Engagement Coordinator here at CI, who is incredibly knowledgeable in and a big proponent of bibliotherapy.  Learn what it is and how to incorporate it into your child's life.   Episode Resources: Reading with Older Kids Blog Book List Slumberkins Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Dr. Margaret Fitts, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents, joins us today to talk about what mental health looks like in pediatrics and why it is so important.  Learn more about mental health services at CI here.   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Ashley Verbick is back again today to talk to us about the 4 different stages of play, the importance of play and how to incorporate more of it at home.  Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Today's guest is Kathryn Ziegler, an Occupational Therapist who is going to give us all the details on the 8 senses.  Yes, you heard that right.  We are all so familiar with the 5 senses, but we truly have 8 of them!    Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Today's guest is Ashley Verbick who has been doing occupational therapy with kids for 9 years. Ashley gives us a detailed explanation on specific developmental milestones for kids throughout the early years and ways to facilitate growth at home.    Recommended Fine Motor Items: Utensils Scissors Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game   Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy

Today's guest is Deidre Oie who has been doing physical therapy with kids for 7 years. Deidre gives us a detailed explanation on specific developmental milestones for kids throughout the early years and ways to facilitate growth at home.  Recommended Gross Motor Toys: Squigz Trampoline Follow us on social!  Instagram: www.instagram.com/citherapy/ Facebook:www.facebook.com/CItherapy/ TikTok:@citherapy