About the provider
Name: Joseph Falkner, MST/CC-SLP
Discipline/references: speech therapist
Modalities: rhythm of regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, integrative manual therapy, play
Customer background
Name: AB (pseudonym)
Age and gender: 12 years old, female
Diagnosis and disorders : autism, anxiety, sensory overwhelm, depression, irritability, allergies (including cats and milk that increase the intensity of mood problems), unspecified disruptive/impulse control /behavioral disorder.
Program supplied: Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
AB has lived with her parents since birth when she was adopted. AB did have birth trauma that may have initially affected attachment and bonding, and also contributed to her lifelong problems with these two. AB had been seen by other therapists, but previous therapy had not been successful.
AB was significantly reactive and spent a lot of time with sympathetic excitement. She sometimes withdrew and often seemed disconnected and hopeless. AB was prone to stealing from others, anger outbursts, resistance to connection, attachment avoidance, oppositional behavior and often sabotaged relationships by becoming overly affectionate. AB exhibited significant food allergies and often sought out foods containing these allergens, which would affect both her mood as well as her physical health.
Implementation of the SSP
Parents sought treatment for AB because of her disconnectedness and reactivity, as well as its impact on the family. Treatment goals included increasing her sense of safety, increasing flexibility of her nervous system, increasing connectedness and reducing reactivity.
The SSP was delivered to AB ( hours 1 through 5). AB and Mom listened to the Adult Playlist from the SSP twice in person. Each session lasted one hour during which they listened together.
Each session was structured so that both AB and mom could do co-regulatory activities, as well as solo activities with co-regulatory support , including:
Consequence treatment
After the second administration of the SSP, AB shows less reactivity, fewer tantrums, more attempts to connect with mom and better parental acceptance of co-regulation.
Since the submission of the case study, Mom contacted me to stop further treatment because things were going so well. The child's bond with mom and dad has increased and her responsiveness has decreased to the point where mom currently feels they do not need the support.
AB has never been a child who would express that she missed her parents or sought affection (e.g., a hug) from her parents. Now, after the SSP, she expressed that she missed her mother after a short vacation that the parents spent without their children, and sometimes she sought hugs from her mother. The intensity of searching for the allergens that affect mood and behavior has also decreased significantly at this time.
Parental observations
We did a lot of work with both AB and Mom to increase the sense of safety in their bodies until the SSP was delivered. This is part of her integrated care plan, and it worked because her body was was ready to absorb the stimuli, and the co-regulation with mom helped to establish a connection that was missing.
Mother is pleased with the results of the SSP and has stated that there is now a better connection than she has experienced her entire life with AB.
