Does your child struggle with handwriting? What about writing composition in general? Writing is a highly integrative process with many factors to consider. Challenges with writing skills can be confusing and complicated, leaving a child and/or family with no clear direction to take other than to “try harder” or opt-out of traditional writing practices altogether. But what if we could pinpoint the unique needs of a child to help their writing skills flourish? In this episode, Teresa Nair joins C...
Jul 11, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 39
“My child HATES school.” “It’s like pulling teeth to get my child to school.” “I literally can’t get my kid to go to school.” If you’re facing school refusal issues in your home, you’re not alone. As the educational landscape simultaneously shifts and stagnates in the United States, increasing numbers of children struggle to engage in school and learning. What do we do about it? Listen to this episode to find out! In this 5th episode of our 6-part series, Erica and Cassie once again join Teresa ...
Jun 07, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 38
We’re circling back to a hot topic—Executive Function. This multi-layered set of skills is impacted by many building blocks of development, and challenges can present in a myriad of ways. As a continuation of our six-part series with Teresa Nair, in this episode you will hear about: Descriptions of Executive Function from multiple perspectives Nature and nurture contributions The integrative and developmental pathways of executive function which includes: Physical/sensory Emotional Experiential ...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Season 4Ep. 37
PDA is a concept still in its infancy in the United States. Otherwise known as Pathological Demand Avoidance, this behavior profile is often associated with autism and pervasively impacts a person’s ability to participate in meaningful everyday activities. The physiological experience becomes a powerful barrier—even in activities that a person wants to do. It’s not that a person won’t participate, it’s that they can’t. So how do we address PDA, and how do we make sure we are helping kids grow an...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 4Ep. 36
Have you ever experienced anxiety? What about someone you know and love? Statistically speaking, very few people will live their entire life WITHOUT being touched by anxiety in some way. For such a small word, the topic is MASSIVE. And we're left with so many questions. Like...why do some people experience so much anxiety that it negatively impacts their lives? Is it something we must live with forever? Is it just our genetics? What can be done besides “talk therapy” and medication? In this epis...
Mar 01, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 35
To kick off Season 4 of Edge of the Nest , Erica and Cassie are bringing back a popular guest—Teresa Nair. Thanks to our listeners who loved the "Neurodivergence and Twice Exceptionality" (Season 3; #31) episode, we’ve asked Teresa to join us for several thoughtfully chosen topics that hit close to home for many families—whether they have neurotypical OR neurodivergent children. In this episode, our mini roundtable discussion is on Self-Regulation . We will discuss: The umbrella term of Self-Reg...
Feb 01, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 4Ep. 34
We're about to kick off our fourth season here at Edge of the Nest, and we're doing things a little differently this time around. For Season 4, we are bringing back Teresa Nair to have mini roundtable talks around: Self-Regulation Anxiety PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) Executive Function School Refusal Writing Skills And if you have any additional topic requests, we would love for you to email us! Some of our favorite past episodes have been inspired by listener requests. You can email at e...
Jan 01, 2025•9 min•Season 4Ep. 33
Did you know that “rough and tumble play” is associated with greater motor, cognitive, and emotional development in children? But it goes way beyond play wrestling! Join Erica and Cassie to hear about all things rough and tumble. We will cover: What are the benefits of rough and tumble play? What constitutes rough and tumble play? What if I don’t want to or can’t wrestle with my kids? How do I keep myself and my child safe during rough and tumble play? **Resources** The Art of Roughhousing: Good...
Oct 12, 2024•46 min•Season 3Ep. 32
Does your child struggle in school? Maybe academics are the challenge. Perhaps their difficulties are more related to the social or emotional aspects of school. Does your child have a diagnosis such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism, dysgraphia, etc? Do sensory processing challenges impact your child’s success? If any of these ring true, this episode is here to empower YOU. Join Erica and Cassie as we chat with our special guest, Teresa Nair. Teresa helps families navigate the complex journey of neurodi...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 31
Picky eating is a HUGE challenge that many parents face. Whether your child eats 5 or 20 foods, if mealtime is a source of stress in your household, this episode is for you. Join Erica and Cassie as they discuss: The power in APPROACHING food and asking “How Can I” support child-food interactions. Why starting with eating is NOT usually the best choice. The nuances of the child-food relationship. The many root causes of picky eating: Sensory Motor Psycho-social-emotional Nutrient deficiencies Pr...
Jul 12, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 30
Have you ever thought, “I’m doing all of the right things, so why am I still [insert your life obstacle here]?” In the self-development world, we’ve been told we have the power to change our lives. That we just need to get out of our own way. That once we know better, we will do better. But what if you’ve committed yourself to the changes and still are experiencing: Immense stress Chronic illness Emotional dysregulation Relationship issues with your spouse, child, parent, etc Low self-worth, sel...
Jun 01, 2024•53 min•Season 3Ep. 29
For any parent who becomes confused or overwhelmed by your child’s behavior at times—this episode is for you. As relational developmental therapists, we do not set out to “fix” behavior but rather help parents and other caregivers to understand a child’s behavior and respond in a way that supports balance, growth, and harmony in the future. Join Erica for this solo episode as she describes the “tools” for relationally resetting your child’s nervous system and mitigate the most challenging behavi...
May 02, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 28
How do you respond to life’s obstacles? Do you often feel a state of FLOW or RESISTANCE in your life? In this brief episode, Erica and Cassie begin to “plant the seed” for reflection upon the thoughts and actions you take to either facilitate or block ease in the day-to-day. It’s perfectly normal to feel things such as worry, frustration, or overwhelm as we navigate life’s twists and turns. In fact, it’s that emotional activation that serves as a signal or catalyst for growth and change. And don...
Apr 01, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 27
Have you ever thought about what drives INNATE development? How do we begin to learn to move? To use our eyes in a meaningful way? How does the infant begin to lay foundations for future executive function? The answer = Primitive Reflexes! Join Cassie and Erica to learn more about reflex integration as a therapeutic modality to help children and adults address challenges related to motor skills, self-regulation, executive function, visual skills, and more. You’ll learn why Cassie doesn’t like th...
Mar 01, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 26
In this special episode, Erica & husband, Jeremy Scheifflee, join forces to share content from their program Feeding Conscious Relationships. Although the content is geared toward romantic partnerships, the concepts can be applied to any intimate, meaningful relationship. “It takes a lot of personal responsibility to make a relationship work." Listen to hear about how Jeremy and Erica transformed their marriage of blame, frustration, and misunderstanding to a relationship of ultimate respect...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 25
It’s January 2024! Perhaps you’re thinking about the months & year to come. Maybe your hopes & dreams are at the top of mind. Likely none of those aspirations include getting sick more often. In fact, getting sick might get in the way of what you want to experience and accomplish this year. For these reasons, it feels like the perfect time to bring you this “Navigating Illness Naturally” episode. In this episode, Cassie dives into: Why it’s beneficial to get sick (occasionally). How acut...
Jan 01, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 24
In this special episode, Natalie Benoit, co-owner of Inspiration Wellness Center, joins us for a BIG talk on taking our health and power back. Join us to hear about Natalie’s own health journey. Natalie shares about having a stroke at 15 years old, experiencing constant migraines, and being diagnosed with bipolar, depression, anxiety, and a neurological disorder. And that’s just to name a few! By age 31 when having her first child, Natalie discovered the path to optimal health and ALL of her ail...
Dec 03, 2023•1 hr 41 min•Season 2Ep. 23
The holiday season is fast approaching. For many, it is something to look forward to. A season filled with gatherings with those we hold dear. A time for celebration. For others, these words are cringe-worthy. We’ve experienced relational rupture and thus have stored memories. We feel unfulfilled and disconnected. And now we anxiously anticipate what’s ahead as we gather with the people we have hurt and/or have hurt us. The first step in HAVING different is THINKING differently. Listen in as Eri...
Nov 01, 2023•15 min•Season 2Ep. 22
KID FIGHTS: Is it possible to diffuse the situation and build skills for harmony in the future and support emotional intelligence? YES, YES, and YES! Join Erica and Cassie to learn more about the rupture and repair process for the developing brain. We’ll cover topics such as: Sharing Teasing and bullying Perspective-taking Social negotiation Solid social skills aren’t only important for relationships. They are associated with: Better academic performance Overall life success Better health and we...
Oct 01, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Relationship Fact #1 : Breakdowns between people are inevitable! No one is immune to these experiences. Yes, even “relationship experts” cannot hide from this truth. Relationship Fact #2 : It’s what we do after the rupture that counts the most! Join Cassie and Erica as we share about the experience we had with miscommunication, confusion, and frustration within one another. In this episode you’ll hear the details about: The circumstances that led to the rupture. The hurts we felt. The personal r...
Sep 01, 2023•53 min•Season 2Ep. 22
The Back-to-School season is almost here, and along with it will come…stress. Transitions tax our systems physically and emotionally—whether the change is welcomed or not. Now is the time to prepare your and your children’s bodies to hopefully smooth out the bumps as we all get back into the school routine. And preparation can be EASY! We promise! Listen to this “Quick Thoughts” episode to learn about one single hack for building stress resilience and preparing for the kids to return to school. ...
Aug 01, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Have you ever felt mystified by your child's or significant other's behavior? Do you experience communication breakdowns or misunderstandings despite countless efforts to harmonize? If so, Human Design could offer a new path! Human Design offers an "operator's manual" for your unique self to thrive and to discover who you are authentically. It helps you understand why you do what you do and how you were meant to show up in this world. Even more, Human Design offers you tools and guidance in how ...
Jul 01, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 20
If you thought acupuncture was only about needles, then this episode is for you! We’re debunking acupuncture myths left and right. In this episode, you’ll learn more about how: Acupuncture is not only for adults; it’s for CHILDREN too! Acupuncture is only ONE tool in the toolbox. You’ll hear more about what Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has to offer. As a healthcare model more than 2,500 years old, TCM’s arsenal and wisdom runs deep and helps us get to the root cause and truly heal. Acupunc...
Jun 01, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Are you thriving as a mom? Is your life aligned with your human rights and needs? Our mainstream culture has a pretty dismal narrative about what motherhood is: It’s hard, exhausting and you feel guilty or worried all of the time. On top of that, we are rewarded for self-sacrificing! It’s no wonder mothers are prone to mental health challenges and chronic physical ailments. And you know what? Maternal health affects kids’ future outcomes even more than paternal health! So it’s time to reclaim ba...
May 01, 2023•20 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Are you concerned about your child’s attention skills or ability to follow directions? Does your child seem to lose or forget things easily? What about emotional or social challenges that impact everyday experiences? If any of these apply, then this episode might be for you! Join Erica and Cassie as we continue this two-part series on “praxis.” This time we’re focusing on executive function—skills that are critical for independent living and adulthood. In this episode, we will unpack: What are e...
Apr 01, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Okay everyone, we are interrupting our regular programming to share some exciting news!! Erica and Cassie are combining forces yet again…We’re joining together along with our friend and mental health expert—Jordan Olsen—to bring a LIVE discussion about parenting from a heart-centered, evidence-based approach. This live professional discussion will guide its listeners onto a path of supporting emotional wellness and resilience for not only children but parents alike. Read on for the full descript...
Mar 01, 2023•7 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Most people have never heard of the word “praxis,” and yet it permeates our everyday lives—for both children and adults. For many people, praxis skills come easily and naturally which is why we never really talk about it. However, for many other people—especially those with sensory processing difficulties—a breakdown in praxis can lead to challenges with: Social interactions and success with peers Rigid thinking Emotional dysregulation (meltdowns, tantrums, anxiety, “shut down”, etc) Academic le...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Despite their popularity, New Year’s Resolutions often end with little success. As humans, one of our core desires is to learn and grow to deepen our sense of self and meaning in life. But if so many of us are “failing” in achieving our goals, then it might be time to reimagine how we go about growth and change. What if January 1st is not the best time to take physical action but rather to go deep within and take emotional, intellectual, or spiritual action? Maybe now is the time to do our quiet...
Jan 01, 2023•12 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Let’s face it. We’re all human and we all have our “moments.” We break down. We rupture our relationships. We experience low bandwidth and react rather than respond. And it can get ugly! When these breakdowns happen, how we do move through them and learn from them? What do we do next? The answers… ACCEPT and ACKNOWLEDGE you are having a hard moment. Seek out COMMUNITY for being seen, felt, and understood AND to help expand your perception and perspective. STEP AWAY . Take time. Take care of your...
Dec 15, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this “Quick Thoughts” episode, Erica shares a vulnerable personal story. One that reveals how sometimes—despite our best intentions to proactively self-nourish—breakdowns happen, and the proverbial “cup” runs over. Reflect with us as Erica unlocks wisdom through curiosity to explore questions such as: “How do I transform obstacles into learning opportunities?” “How do I grow even in my discomfort?” “How do I move forward with grace AND personal responsibility?” Journey with Erica through a di...
Dec 01, 2022•13 min•Season 1Ep. 12
