Self-Care

This short, animated introduction for beginners outlines the first 3 basic steps to meditation. Great for kids and adults alike, the animation is fun, and the ideas behind “how” to mediate are simple and easy to follow.

More and more these days we hear people talking about “mindfulness.” But what is mindfulness? This easy-to-follow video explains and explores what everyday mindfulness is and how being aware of how you feel inside and outside of yourself can have an impact on your everyday life. The primary goal of mindfulness is to achieve a state of alertness and awareness by purposely paying attention to our thoughts and sensations with the goal of finding more inner peace, less stress, and more calm.

With animation made by Disney Studios in conjunction with MindSet, topics in this narrated video include experiencing feelings of anxiety, depression, fear, sadness, “getting stuck/caught-in-place,” social anxiety, avoiding feelings, and allowing ourselves to grieve and process feelings. Sadness is an essential part of the healing process so we can let out our feelings and begin to heal.

Self-Care is not just about our basic, essential needs of healthcare. Self-Care should go beyond the practical to self-nurturing. Lifestyle expert Susan Campbell Cross visits Let’s Talk Autism with Shannon Penrod and guest host Nancy, to share the power of guilt-free self-care skills.

Dr. Jo shares 9 basic stretches to help relax your whole body in this easy-to-follow series of stretches to relax stiff and sore muscles. She recommends that each stretch be held for about 20-30 seconds for the perfect full-body stretch but cautions that you should not hold the stretches, this is just to get the muscles moving and to relax them.

Vishen Lakhaini guides us through this 6-phase meditation which is perfect for beginners to follow along with as they search within themselves for understanding and relaxation.

Sit back and relax on the beach with this hour-long video that’s perfect for unguided meditation!

In this guided meditation, Jeffrey Allen brings us to a space of relaxation where we can enter our “field of infinite potential,” learning to accept ourselves and become all that we choose to be.

mindfulness” is explained, and its benefits are explored. Mindfulness is“ the ability to know what’s going on in your head at any given moment without getting carried away by it.”

This animated video discusses two strategies based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to overcome negative thoughts.

In this video, sleep scientist Jared Minkel gives some tips on how to quiet your mind at bedtime and fall asleep quicker. One idea Minkel suggests is to distract your mind with interesting imagery, trying to think of pleasant scenes involving as many senses as possible. Sometimes pushing negative or anxious thoughts to the side …

In this episode of Autism Live, Behavior Analyst Dr. Darren Sush joins Shannon Penrod to discuss strategies for parents of children with autism to deal with stress and anger that arises for many at the time of their child’s diagnosis, or throughout the course of raising their child. Dr. Sush points out that anger is …

In this webinar presented by Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Liz Matheis, coping strategies are discussed for parents of children with special needs who are dealing with stress and anxiety over the demands of raising their child. Many parents will put their child’s needs ahead of their own, especially with children with special needs, but Dr. …

In this video, Megan Fennelly, a member of the faculty at Children’s Specialized Hospital and mother of a child with autism, gives advice to other parents about how to find resources to help provide for their child’s needs. Parents, especially those who are new to raising a child with autism, often feel overwhelmed by the …

In this video, Sarah Nissen describes essential self-care steps which she uses to care for her own mental health while raising a son with autism. Sarah engages in Qi Gong in the mornings (a ritualistic form of breathing and movement), drinks lots of water throughout the day, and mixes in meditation or rest to remain …

In this video, Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) Dr. Mary Barbera discusses the high levels of stress experienced by mothers of autistic children, which can sometimes be comparable to the stress experienced by combat soldiers, and gives strategies to help reduce stress. Dr. Barbera discusses a study which compared accounts and hormonal levels of stress …

In this webinar presentation, Missy Longman discusses what it is like to be a caregiver of a child with a disability, the benefits of engaging in self-care as a caregiver, and some forms of self-care which caregivers can engage in to improve their wellbeing. Missy found out early in her daughter Sienna’s life that she …

In this video, Katrina Repman guides us through a 20 minute stretching routine for beginners which is perfect for relaxing, improving flexibility, and providing pain relief/prevention. Break out your yoga mat or hop on a carpet or rug and learn some techniques for building a healthier body and mind. Relaxing Full Body Stretch | 20 …