Podcast: Akhil Autism Foundation with Manisha Lad: Keys to Learning How to Connect With Your Child

The Akhil Autism Foundation podcast provides practical and science-based solutions for families dealing with autism. Featuring guest interviews with experts in the field of autism, including physicians, health coaches, researchers, nutrionalists, herbalists, movement and speech therapists, as well as authors, educators and parents of children on the spectrum. Foundation founder and executive director, Manisha Lad is a Nutrition Consultant, and mother of an only son recovering from autism. He inspired her to not only start the Akhil Autism foundation, but he transformed her to become a Holistic Health Coach and Autism Advocate. Akhil’s Foundation was formed to Educate, Treat, Research and Support Autism.

From the podcast episode page:

Kim Barthel is a world-renowned therapist and teacher on the topics of developing self-awareness, compassion and healthy relationships. As an occupational therapist, she blends intuitive inquiry with neuroscience to solve unique mental health mysteries. 

She is a gifted and compassionate soul, with a passion for studying and supporting the conscious evolution of the human spirit.  Her empathy and deep awareness are palpable and inspiring as she shares her deep appreciation for, and understanding of the humanity of mental health issues.

 We are so blessed today to have Kim Barthel here with us today on the Akhil Autism Foundation Podcast.  You are in for a real treat.  

·      How did you become a world-renowned therapist and teacher? (2:50) 

·      It has been said that you “are a genuine bridge between disciplines, across cultures, and most importantly, in the interior landscape.”  What is meant by the interior landscape?

·      Neurodevelopmental Treatment (9:45)

·      Connection to one’s body is where self-regulation happens. (11:43)

·      Having the ability to feel others, comes from the ability to feel oneself. (13:07)

·      How do you become mindful and aware? (16:28)

·      Memories of movements are connected to context. (18:09)

·      How does storytelling help in therapy? (34:12)

 Emotion lives in story.  Neurobiologically, it taps into a different part of memory. (Hippocampus). Story also lives in the non-verbal.  There’s story in how we communicate through touch. 

·      The disconnect between desire and the ability to physically do it for people on the spectrum. (40:25)

·      What can parents and caregivers do to help? (41:00)

“Spokes on the Wheel” (Wholistic Clinical Reasoning) The function is in the center.  The spokes are the things that are in the way.

 4 Spokes

1.   Validation.  Understanding.
 2. Sensory  (Touch -Sensory processing) Proprioception.  Deep pressure touch.  Movement experienced.
3. Anxiety.   Anxiety is a barrier to function (of any kind).
4. Co-regulation through relationship (Sound therapy is a tool that can support anxiety)  There are multiple paths to one function.  It’s not just one thing.

·      Sound Therapy – Different frequencies are processed by different parts of the brain. (45:28) 

·      Monotropism (48:48)

 ·      The Polyvagal Theory (49:46)

·      The Social Engagement Pathway (50:40)

 Social engagement - Dr. Stephen Porjes 

The Connection between Listening Therapy the Safe and Sound Protocol and the Polyvagal Therapy

·      Learning how to connect with your child (54:37)

“Coming alongside” – Moving from Connectedness to Collaboration.

·      What can parents do to better understand their child? (56:00)

 When a parent becomes their best self, the child can become their best self.

·      “Coming alongside” in order to come beside your child (59:00)

·      Conscious Evolution of the Human Consciousness (1:05)