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This week, we’re honored to welcome Samantha, a neurodivergent, board-certified music therapist, Child Behavior Strategist, and mother to three autistic children. Samantha brings a deeply personal and professional lens to her work, empowering parents of neurodivergent children with the tools, confidence, and compassion they need to thrive.



In this conversation, we explore:✨ What led her to this work and how her journey as a parent shaped her path🎵 The powerful role of music therapy in family support🤝 Why therapists should consider including parents more intentionally in the process🧠 Structured strategies that therapists and parents can implement together🧭 How Samantha supports parents beyond traditional therapy sessions



Whether you're a therapist looking to expand your impact or a parent seeking connection and clarity, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration.



🔗 Learn More + Connect with Samantha:🌐 Website: www.everybrainisdifferent.com📸 Instagram: @everybrainisdifferent📺 YouTube: @everybrainisdifferent📘 Download: Ultimate Guide to Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child



🎧 Tune in now and discover how every brain really is different — and worthy of understanding and support.







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Use the code Podcast10 to get 10% off any of our courses or resources in our shop!

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In the second part of our series, we break down actionable strategies to integrate parents and caregivers into your sessions as co-therapists. From esteem-building and attunement to co-regulation and repair work, you’ll get concrete interventions, scripts, and playful activities designed to strengthen the caregiver-child connection—both in and outside of session.



💡 You’ll Learn:




How to coach parents using “Special Play Time”



Ways to teach tracking, reflection, and emotional labeling



The “Art of Apologies” as a therapeutic intervention



Tips for co-regulation and building safety through attunement




→ This episode is packed with tools you can start using immediately—whether caregivers are joining in person or supporting from home. the how in Part Two.







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Part One: Why It Works (Backed by Research)In this episode, we dive into the science behind caregiver involvement in child and teen therapy. From improving emotional regulation to supporting long-term clinical outcomes, the research is clear: when parents are meaningfully involved, therapy becomes more effective. Learn why family dynamics, consistency across settings, and caregiver insight can make all the difference—and walk away with foundational tips to begin building collaborative relationships with the adults in your clients' lives.



🔍 Topics Covered:




Evidence-based outcomes from family-integrated models



How caregiver insight supports treatment planning



The impact of home reinforcement and generalization



Therapist-tested tips for building trust and setting expectations




→ Listen now and explore the why before diving into the how in Part Two.







As always, thanks for being here and listening!!



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Use the code: Celebrate20 for 20% off everything on our site! Take a look at our courses or if you like our resources, check out our Resource Library!

Use the code: Celebrate20 for 20% off everything on our site! Take a look at our courses or if you like our resources like this free download, check out our Resource Library!



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🖨️ Download the Free Printable: H.E.A.R. Apology Handout







In this episode, we’re digging into a topic every therapist (and parent) bumps into sooner or later: apologies — and how to teach kids and teens to do them well.



We’ll explore why the word “sorry” often falls flat, what gets in the way of real repair, and how you can introduce a simple, therapist-friendly tool: the H.E.A.R. method.



Whether you’re working with young kids, tweens, teens, or even parent-child dyads, this tool can help make apology a skill — not just a reflex.



✨Why Apology Is a Skill — Not a Script



As child and teen therapists, we know the truth: most kids don’t apologize because they feel deep remorse — they apologize because they’re told to.



And often, those apologies come out like this:



“I’m sorry… BUT he started it.”



“I said I was sorry already!”



Cue dramatic side eye!



That’s why we need to slow the process down and teach kids (and caregivers!!) that a real apology is more than a word — it’s a repair tool. When done right, apologies build trust, foster emotional awareness, and create space for reconnection.



My favorite part about this is teaching PARENTS/CAREGIVERS how to apologize in a healthy way. This gives kids the other end of receiving healthy apologies — and how good does that feel?!



✨ Introducing the H.E.A.R. Apology Method



The H.E.A.R. method is a four-step tool you can introduce in therapy sessions to help clients of all ages give more meaningful, connected apologies.



Here’s what it stands for:




H – Hurt: Acknowledge the other person’s feelings (garner empathy)



E – Express: Share a genuine, honest apology



A – Accept: Take responsibility without excuses (NO BUTS - I always emphasize this part for the humor)



R – Repair: Offer what you can do to make things better




This acronym is easy for kids to remember and invites them to slow down, reflect, and make repair in a developmentally appropriate way.



✨How to Use the H.E.A.R. Method in Therapy



You can introduce the H.E.A.R. method in:




Individual sessions (especially around conflict at school, with friends or siblings)



Parent-child sessions where both sides may need support in repairing trust



Parent-only consultation sessions to support parent education



Group therapy or social-emotional learning (SEL) groups



As a take-home tool for parents to reinforce healthy communication




🖨️ Download the Free Printable: H.E.A.R. Apology Handout



To make this even easier, I’ve created a FREE printable H.E.A.R. apology visual that you can:




Print and hang in your therapy space



Use during sessions to talk through apologies step-by-step



Send home with families to encourage consistency outside of therapy




✨ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

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➡️Get your free download of container coping here!⬅️



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Music Credits:



Creative Therapy Umbrella Intro/Outro - Yang L @brrrrravo



Simple Practice backing track: Snailbit by AmitDagin_1



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This episode is all about failing forward! Check out our course cultivating creative resiliency. If you are loving this episode, it’s full of tips and tricks like this to boost your creativity and support your clients!



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We’re (kind of) back!



Check out this episode that is a little update on the past few years and where things have been at.



We hope to bring back some more consistent podcast episodes - although they may look a little different!



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In this episode, I update you on my plans for the CTU podcast and share some thanks for how amazing this experience has been. Thank you for being a supporter and a part of this journey with me!



Stay creative!

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In this episode, Jael and Kate discuss the coolest of the cool - the history of creativity, art-making, music and more in history. This episode covers so many topics and it's truly a gem. Tune in to learn about the earliest evidence of creativity in anthropological records, discussions about the desire to create, and theories on how creativity is what kept us alive!



Jael Weinberg is a Registered Art Therapist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate. She operates a therapy private practice - Art Therapy PNW - in Seattle, WA and is Co-Founder of the Creative Dementia Collective. In her private practice, Jael specializes in working with men seeking to decrease shame and increase capacity for vulnerability. In her role with the Creative Dementia Collective, she specializes in legacy work for people living with dementia and their care partners. Jael is passionate about storytelling and utilizes creative expression to support others in telling their story.



Learn more about Jael and her practice at her website!

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In this episode, Nicole of Aspire Music Therapy, shares with us the many hats that she wears as a music therapist, a business owner, a supervisor, and more. Tune in to get some ideas about songwriting as well as some insight on business adventures during the pandemic. Enjoy!



Nicole Keller, MT-BC has been a board-certified music therapist since 2016 in Fort Wayne, IN. In 2019, Nicole began her own private practice called Aspire Music Therapy, LLC. She's worked with a variety of populations, including developmental disabilities, geriatrics, physical disabilities, and mental health. Nicole strives to provide a creative, compassionate environment during sessions for music to impact her clients physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Aside from work, Nicole spends time with her husband, church community, and enjoys the local coffee shops.



Follow Nicole and Aspire Music Therapy on Instagram or check out the website here!







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In todays episode, Ariel talks with us about geek therapy, how to use media in sessions, combining art with gaming, and a bit about narrative therapy. Check out the episode to learn more!



Ariel Landrum is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Art Therapist. She is a proud Filipino American currently practicing teletherapy out of Reseda, California. She is a self-identified "geek therapist" who uses her client's passions and fandoms to create connection, strength identification, and support of their individuality. She provides the service of assessing and certifying emotional support animals and letters for gender-affirming treatments. She has worked with children ages 3-17 years old, adults 18-61 years old, and senior citizens 62-83 years old. Populations she specializes in working with are: military members and their families, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and survivors of sexual assault and childhood sexual abuse. When she is not performing her clinical duties, she can be found playing Animal Crossingor petting her pup while watching Disney+.



Check out Ariel's private practice website, Guidance Therapy.



Take a listen to her podcast called "The Happiest Pod on Earth" on the Geek Therapy Network!







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In this episode, Monica of Hold Space Creative, shares with us how important it is that we regularly schedule maintenance for our business websites, how we can better promote ourselves via our websites, and why a healthy website promotes mental health accessibility. Take a listen and enjoy!



Monica is a former art therapist and counselor turned web designer for therapists. She's passionate about making therapy more accessible by helping therapists present themselves in a more accessible way. She lives in Michigan with her two kitties, Bubbles and Pearl, and when she's not designing websites, she can usually be found somewhere in nature.



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Follow Monica on Instagram and check out her site here.



Take Monica's blog post "Keeping your website healthy: Monthly to-dos for therapists and coaches"







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This episode features three wonderful women who have created a wonderful service and experience for people living with dementia. As truly holistic approach, you'll hear about their experience in guiding people living with dementia as well as their families, staff, and care teams. Take a listen to hear more about healthy selfishness, important for all care team members and helping professionals in general!



About The Creative Dementia Collective:We are three passionate millennial women who have extensive experience in the senior care industry.  Our experience has shown us where the gaps and needs are for people living with dementia and their loved ones.  We saw the need for real and tangible support which, oftentimes, is not available to them through larger, more institutional organizations. 



The need for additional, deeper support and resources remains a real and ongoing concern, and we created The Collective to address and support these needs as well as to work toward normalizing, not stigmatizing people living with dementia.  Our people-first approach to creatively caring for our clients and their loved ones allows us to build relationships, create much needed educational opportunities and bring awareness to the people behind the disease.



Links:Website: CreativeDementiaCollective.comInstagram: instagram.com/cCeativeDementiaCollectiveFacebook: facebook.com/CreativeDementiaCollective



Learn more about Kaylee's Story, Jael's Story, and Erin's Story



Find a music therapist at cbmt.org



Check out more info about art therapy at Arttherapy.org







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Our podcast goes on mute once every three months to de-center our voice and instead raise importance Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, People of Color, Disabled, Neurodivergent, and LGBTQA+ voices in our community.



Please follow, donate, celebrate, and/or support who you learn from below !



SUGGESTED MEDIA:Open Letter to the Music Therapy Community on Justice and Equity by Dr. Natasha Thomas and Dr. Marisol Norris EVENTS/TRAININGSIntro to Anti-Ableism through Music Therapy Academy Confronting Racism, Discrimination and Othering: Perspectives from Around the World through the William Alanson White Institute



PEOPLE TO FOLLOWDecolonizing the music roomBlack Creative Arts Therapy Black Creative Healing Black Music Therapy NetworkDisability ReframedDisability VisibilityLatinxTherapyLatinx Social Work Indigenizing Arts EdMentally LGBTQ



PODCAST EPISODE SUGGESTIONS: Necessary Expressions: Allowing Black Pain Into Therapeutic Spaces from the Chronicles of a Play Therapist with Althea T. SimpsonUnderstanding Play Therapy Interventions for Black Children Affected By Racial Trauma with Arron Muller, LMSW from Chronicles of a Play Therapist with Althea T. SimpsonDear Asian Americans PodcastDisability and the Arts: How can we make the Arts Accessible for Patrons? from Disarming DisabilityDisability Basics: What are the Intersections of Race and Disability? from Disarming DisabilityDisability and the Arts: What are the Barriers for Professional Artists? from Disarming DisabilityCode Switch – Finding ‘A Perfect Match’The Accessible Stall Disability After DarkStill Processing PodcastLGBTQ&AYOUTUBE CONTENT SUGGESTIONS:Creative Vibes Music Therapy – The Untold History of Music TherapyCreative Vibes Music Therapy – Racial Inequity in Music Therapy ARTICLES/BOOKS"Ignoring The History Of Anti-Asian Racism Is Another Form Of Violence" article by Connie Wun"How to support Asian American colleagues amid the recent wave of anti-Asian violence" by Jennifer LiuAnti-Racist Resource Guide by Victoria AlexanderAnti-Racist Resource List Deaf Culture and Community The Deaf Community Challenges that still exist for the Deaf Celebrating National Deaf Awareness Month (AND ALL YEAR LONG!)The Milan Conference: When Sign Language Was Almost DestroyedDONATEHate Is A Virus - Raising $1 MILLION to give back to local and national community organizations that are providing pivotal services and programs for our community. This includes programs related to mental health, better protections for our elderly, AAPI representation, solidarity-building and more. -Also you can donate to many of the content creators above!!!







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In this episode, Tamara talks with us about how movements, creative movement, and dance can reconnect us back to our minds and bodies. She describes how we can use creative movement and body connection in our sessions to support clients as well as how to use that connection for ourselves as therapists! Take a listen and enjoy!



Tamara Nazon is a Dance Movement Therapist and dancer from Montreal, Canada, whose mission is to help people cultivate psychological, emotional, and physical transformation through movement. Putting the body and movement at the center of the therapeutic process, she uses a combination of creative movement, psycho-somatic techniques, and movement analysis to guide people into connecting with the deepest parts of themselves, and tap into the healing power of their bodies. Tamara's clinical experience includes working with children, artists,  immigrant populations, people suffering from eating disorders, and people suffering from chronic pain.  Tamara is part of the Inclusivity, Diversity, Accessibility, and Equity (IDEA) committee of the Dance Movement Therapy Association of Canada. She is also the founder of the Healing Dance Class and Power & Flow technique, where she mixes her love for dance, movement, and healing in creative exploratory workshops.  Tamara is passionate about helping mental health professionals find creative ways to embrace and integrate the power of the body in their own practice and connect to their inner mover!



Follow Tamara on Instagram or check out her YouTube! Check out her website here!



Email Tamara at tamara@danceandmovementtherapy.com or nazontamara@gmail.com







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So save some time, save your creativity, and head over to this link to save $50 on your subscription with Simple Practice.



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In this episode, Rachel talks about the ins and outs of eating disorders, recovery, the basics of polyvagal theory, diet culture, and more. Through this discussion Rachel shares ways that she integrates Polyvagal theory into her own practice and what she has learned utilizing this theory as a therapist and human. Take a listen and enjoy!



Rachel Sellers is currently on the road to licensure as a mental health counselor with a focus on young adults and adolescents through both private practice and The Renfrew Center. She has most recently completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counselling, while also holding a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Rachel uniquely combines these two aspects of passion as a way to educate, counsel, write and lead about the interconnectedness of trauma, the polyvagal theory, diet culture, and eating disorders -- all with a mission to end the stigma around mental health -- especially for younger generations. An Atlanta native, Rachel has lived and worked in Nashville for the past 7 years with her husband, Coy. Rachel is the host of The Rachel Sellers Podcast, an avid mental health blogger, a coffee enthusiast and a lover of slow mornings and sleeping in. To connect further, you can find Rachel online at https://www.rachelesellers.com/ or on IG @iamrachelsellers. 



Follow Rachel on Instagram or Facebook!



Check out Rachels' podcast!



Check out Rachels blog post "Body Neutrality" on her blog!



More posts on Polyvagal theory from Rachel's blog!







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In this shared episode, Tricia and I talk about the importance of leaning on your community during difficult times. Without community support, self-care can be an empty vessel and having others to lean on for creative ideas, general support, and validation is so crucial for our creative well-being. Tricia and I talk about shared experiences of creativity within groups, communities, and more in this episode. take a listen to learn more!



Want to learn more about the Umbrella Community? Check out the details here!



Learn more about Tricia on her Instagram and check out her awesome podcast if you haven't already!







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Check out the episode on Youtube for closed captioning!



How do we expand our own idea of what creativity is? Can we tune in to how often we are creative throughout the day and give ourselves more credit for our creativity? Take a listen to learn more about how when we take the time to expand our own creative awareness, we can actually cause a ripple effect that helps the clients we work with and that can have a larger effect on our cultures view of creativity!



We want to hear how the challenge went for you! Tag us on Instagram #ctucreativitychallenge or email us at Kate@creativetherapyumbrella.com







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