166. Giving a Voice to Children with PANS/PANDAS with Dr. Montserrat Casado

Lessons from the Playroom

In today’s episode, we delve into one of the most requested topics of the past year. Dr. Montserrat Casado joins Lisa to shed light on PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), offering invaluable insights for supporting children, parents, and therapists.

Tune in as Montse and Lisa engage in a captivating conversation, debunking misconceptions about PANS/PANDAS, and offering new ways of understanding and supporting clients and caregivers. Discover Montse's personal journey and her decade-long mission to educate therapists on understanding PANS/PANDAS in children.

Key topics covered:

• Understanding PANS/PANDAS: Definitions and associated symptoms, including the gut-brain connection.
• Impact on immune responses and brain inflammation.
• Primary issues such as OCD, rage/aggression, developmental regression, and restrictive eating.
• Exploring underlying factors such as infections and toxicity.
• Trauma responses and navigating overactive reactions.
• The complexities of parenting a child with medical challenges and behavioral issues.
• How PANS/PANDAS impact nervous system regulation and dysregulation
• Counseling strategies with a focus on the brain and systemic therapy approaches.
• Supporting attachment and strengthening the parent-child relationship.
• Hope for healing: Insights into therapeutic strategies and fostering resilience in children with PANS/PANDAS.

Wow, wow, wow! 😳🤯 Don't miss this enlightening discussion! Tune in now to gain invaluable insights into supporting children with PANS/PANDAS. 💖

Find the resource Montse recommends here: https://aspire.care/

*Dr. Montse Casado was a professor of counseling for 17 years training school counselors, mental health counselors, play therapists and marriage and family therapists. Montse loves working with children and families whether in therapy, schools or empowerment parenting workshops. As an educator, she has done many workshops over the years helping families and clinicians understand children through a holistic, trauma-focused and strength based approach. Her work integrates Play Therapy, Expressive Arts, Trauma, Attachment, Resiliency, Strength-Based Parenting and Nature based activities. Dr. Montse is currently working as a Child/Family Therapist, Parent Educator and Expressive Arts Coach/Educator in North Carolina. One of her passions is to educate child therapists as to how to Understand PANS/PANDAS in Children.

Podcast Resources:

• Synergetic Play Therapy Institute
• Synergetic Play Therapy Learning Website
• FREE Resources to support you on your play therapy journey
• Aggression in Play Therapy: A Neurobiological Approach to Integrating Intensity

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