Case Study: Supporting Regulation, Behavior, and Emotional Safety

S.- 6 ½ year old boy, no other diagnosis.

Presenting Concerns: Regulation and Intense Meltdowns

S. came to therapy because he was struggling with regulation and behavior. His meltdowns were intense, and his parents would have to remove him from situations so he wouldn’t hurt others or himself.

Impact on Daily Life, School, and Social Participation

He was smart, bright, and wanted to participate with social clubs like Boy Scouts but couldn’t attend big outings with them, such as watching the Kane County Cougars, because he would start to meltdown in the first inning. He was also struggling at school with reading and becoming very frustrated.

Therapy Focus: Creating Safety in the Nervous System

Work with S. began with bringing safety to his body through bonding activities with his parents, improving his sleep cycles, reflex integration exercises, and improving his body’s ability to use proprioceptive information.

Building Body Awareness and Emotional Understanding

He learned how to identify the different sensations in his body and relate them to emotional reactions.

Parent Involvement and Collaborative Learning

His parents were present and active learners, working in sessions with me to best figure out how his body needed input.

Early Progress: Improved Sleep and Regulation

Progress in calming at night and improving sleep cycles was rapid, and when sleep improved many of his behaviors began to improve.

Establishing Structure, Boundaries, and Autonomy

His parents learned to set good structures in the daily routine that allowed S. to experience freedom and control while knowing what the boundaries were.

Nervous System Integration and Improved Decision-Making

As his body and brain began to integrate the reflexes that are associated with safety, he was less likely to become overwhelmed when things didn’t go his way and more able to think and make better decisions about his behavioral choices.

Growth in Social Confidence and Empathy

When other children had difficulty regulating during playdates and at social events, he would try to help them by providing strategies that worked for him.

Outcomes: Participation, Recognition, and Family Joy

Within the year, S. was attending Cougar games with his scout troop, being recognized as an outstanding friend at school, and family life was much easier with shared experiences of joy and peace.