When: Mondays
Time: 5:00-6:00 pm
Dates: June 17-August 19
Cost: $400 for 10 weeks
*Parents only - no child care provided*
Regulated Parents in Action
Come move, play, and learn with us! In this hands-on parent training series, we will dive into strategies to help regulate our children through the power of our own self-regulation. We will provide education and experiential opportunities
to help us understand how to use ourselves and the parent-child relationship to regulate our children. Each week we
will cover a topic that incorporates the use of sensory regulation, mindfulness, and yoga to positively influence our regulation so that we can approach parenting from a place
of fullness and abundance rather than emptiness and burnout. Parents will have practical tools to incorporate right away into daily life.
When: Tuesdays
Time: 6:00-7:00 pm
Dates: June 18-August 20
Cost: $50 for 10 weeks
*Parents only - no child care provided*
Circle of Security® Parenting™ Group
The Circle of Security® Parenting™ program is based on decades of research about how secure parent-child relationships can be supported and strengthened and helps us make sense of what our children are really asking from us. This is a 10-week course that utilizes video clips to present information about The Circle as well as examples of parents using The Circle with their children. Groups are a mix of watching video clips to learn new concepts and discussing and reflecting on our own experiences. This program is appropriate for all parents, those looking to learn a bit more, those who are struggling in their relationship with their child, as well as new parents, foster and adoptive parents!
podcast
Where They're Planted
Host: Jen Bluske
Producers: Jamie Gale and Jen Bluske
Where They’re Planted is a Lit Path Studios Production.
www.litpathstudios.com | IG: @litpathstudios
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Where They’re Planted is a podcast for parents and care providers of unique children to gain skills, understanding and support. Listeners learn how to help children with developmental, emotional or behavioral challenges, neurodiverse brains, or difficult early life experiences bloom where they’re planted. Host Jen Bluske, occupational therapist and parent coach, offers rich insights using brain science, nervous system tools, collaborative strategy sessions and a deep understanding of the developmental process.
34: Failure as a Tool to Help Kids Build Autonomy
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 5/23/2025
Jen Bluske discusses allowing children to fail as an important tool for supporting their increased resilience and autonomy. She explores the developmental context of growing autonomy and discuss strategies parents and teachers can use in order to support children during their times of frustration and failure.
33: The Power and Process of Acceptance in Parenting
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 5/9/2025
Jen Bluske describes the process of moving toward acceptance in ones parenting journey and how to acknowledge both the vision of what we thought parenting would be and what the reality is. She discusses how through acceptance parents can authentically create connection and harbor growth in their children.
32: Kids and Electronics - Part Two: Strategies for Families with Meredith
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 4/18/2025
Jen Bluske is joined again by Meredith Wodrich for Part Two of an important conversation about screens and children. Jen and Meredith offer valuable strategies and places to start to begin to change a parent’s relationship with their child around electronics. They discuss further the use of electronics effect on development and the nervous system and begin to provide strategies to create change for families.
31: Kids and Electronics - Part One: Unpacking What We Know with Meredith
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 4/4/2025
Jen Bluske is joined again by Meredith Wodrich for the first part of a conversation about the use of electronics and kids. Jen and Meredith discuss what is known about how using screens affects the brain, child development and relationships and touch on how video games and social media keep kids online.
30: Glimmers: Regulating the Nervous System through Shared Joy
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 3/21/2025
Jen Bluske describes the concept of glimmers and how parents of neurodiverse kids can lean into finding and savoring these small moments of shared joy to improve their relationships with their kids and their experience as parents.
29: Meeting Our Neurodivergent Kids Right Where They Are with Emily Laird
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 3/7/2025
Jen Bluske is joined by colleague Emily Laird to discuss neurodivergent-affirming care as they both support their clients in their work as occupational therapists and how OT can support the autistic experience.
28: Neuroaffirming Mental Health Care with Sharon Hammer
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 2/21/2025
Jen Bluske is joined by Sharon Hammer, licensed professional counselor and educational consultant who provides psychotherapy and psychoeducation to neurodiverse clients. Jen and Sharon discuss mental health treatment through a neuroaffirming lens, how to choose a neuroaffirming provider and how parents can support their autistic child's mental health.
27: Autism: A Dad's Perspective
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 1/31/2025
Jen Bluske is joined by Nate, the dad of an autistic daughter who shares about parenting while also learning about his own neurodivergence.
26: The Autistic Teen Perspective with Blythe
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 1/17/2025
Jen Bluske is joined by Blythe, a freshman in high school, who shares about her experiences with her family, in school and her dreams for the future.
25: Parenting Values and Intentions for the New Year
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 1/3/2025
As the New Year begins, Jen Bluske offers listeners an invitation to assess their values as a parent and set intentions for ourselves to set 2025 up for a success.
24: Q & A: My Child Won’t Listen to ‘Stop’ and Handling After School Meltdowns
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 12/6/2024
In this episode, host Jen Bluske answers two listeners’ questions about how to best support their kids. Jen shares how to work with a young child that doesn’t listen to ‘stop’ and how to support a school age child who is melting down after school.
23: Supporting Sensitive Nervous Systems: PDA from an OT Lens with Shannon Stuckey
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 11/22/2024
Jen Bluske is joined by colleague and fellow Occupational Therapist, Shannon Stuckey for this conversation about children with sensitive nervous systems, the flight, fight, freeze and fawn responses we may see when a child is overwhelmed, and how this can show up in a child with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) Profile. Jen and Shannon offer parents and caregivers strategies and resources for navigating these challenging dynamics to best support the children in their lives.
22: A Deeper Look into PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance): What Is It and Where to Start? with Bryenne Alesch
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 11/8/2024
Jen Bluske is joined by Bryenne Alesch, director of operations at Elite Cognition, a mental health agency in Madison, WI. Bryenne and Jen offer listeners ways to understand and support individuals with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile of Autism. They discuss how PDA may present and where families should start with resources if they believe their child may have a PDA profile.
21: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) through a Parent’s Eyes
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 10/25/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske and her guest discuss the diagnosis of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) through the lens of the experience of a parent of a child with this profile. Jen is joined by Mel, a mom of a young child with a PDA profile to discuss what has worked for her family, what hasn't and how meeting a child with PDA changes every aspect of parenting.
20: Motor Planning: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 10/11/2024
Jen Bluske explains what is meant in the occupational therapy world by the phrase motor planning, or praxis, and why this concept is so important to children's development. Jen discusses what motor planning is, what we see in children who are struggling with motor planning concerns and what occupational therapists and parents can do to support growth and change for our children in this area.
21: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) through a Parent’s Eyes
19: The Power of Parents in their Child’s OT with Shannon Stuckey
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 9/20/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske is joined by colleague and fellow Occupational Therapist, Shannon Stuckey to discuss the value that parents have when participating in their child’s OT treatment. Jen and Shannon explain how their clinic approaches involving parents in the activities and therapies in session so that parents can best support kids at home.
18: OT Strategies for Anxious Kids
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 9/6/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske explains ways to notice anxiousness in your child and practical steps to take to support them through the lens of occupational therapy. As kids go back to school and navigate new classes and activities, parents can use Jen’s strategies to support their kids and move them through their anxiousness.
17: Back to School: Support and Strategies that Work with Sarah Dimick
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 8/23/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske is joined by licensed school psychologist Sarah Dimick to give listeners strategies and suggestions for school year preparation. Sarah and Jen discuss why taking some time before the school year begins to get the family ready is important and what small steps to take to best support kids, especially unique kids, in the transition to school.
16: Q & A: Bumping Shoulders, Sibling Empathy and a Preschooler Testing Limits with Meredith Woodrich
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 8/9/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske and Meredith Woodrich answer listener questions. They respond to three questions that have been sent in, offering expertise from their occupational therapy and parent coaching lenses.
15: The Power of Anger and Healthy Aggression
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 7/26/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske discusses the topic of anger and healthy aggression. Jen explores societal beliefs around anger, its expression, and the common misconceptions that can affect parenting. She gives listeners practical advice and strategies for recognizing and handling times when children or parents are experiencing anger.
14: The Parent-Child Regulation Balance: A Mom-Daughter Dialogue
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 7/12/2024
In this special episode, Jen Bluske is joined by her 16-year-old daughter Anna to discuss how to support children in their emotional regulation and development from the child’s perspective. Jen and Anna delve into personal experiences, highlighting the challenges and strategies for co-regulation, understanding different nervous system needs, and maintaining strong parent-child relationships through effective communication and connection.
13: Anchoring Parents' Regulation
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 6/28/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske focuses on how parents can understand their own states of regulation and gives concrete steps for a parent to become effective in supporting their child's nervous system development. Jen explains the polyvagal theory and offers listeners the ANCHOR tool and explains how to practically apply this strategy in difficult moments.
12: Regulating through Rupture and Creating Repair
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 6/14/2024
In this episode, host Jen Bluske discusses into the concept of rupture and repair in the parent-child relationship. She discusses how meltdowns and challenging moments with children can be opportunities for growth and connection and offers concrete strategies for parents to use in these difficult moments.
11: Integration Strategies for Mental Health Challenges with Sarah Dimick
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 5/25/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske is joined by Sarah Dimick, licensed school psychologist and parent coach. Jen and Sarah discuss the interplay between regulation and relationship in fostering emotional skills in children and the importance of forming strong attachments, modeling coping strategies, and addressing emotional challenges in order to best support kids’ mental health.
10: Bringing Play into Parenting with Laura Hewitt
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 5/10/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske is joined by fellow occupational therapist, Laura Hewitt, to explore why play is important for kids’ development, what is meant by the concept, and how parents can incorporate play into their family in practical ways. Laura and Jen discuss how play fosters connection and safety and supports developmental goals like regulation and flexibility.
09: Creating a Sense of Safety for Our Kids with Shannon Stuckey
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 4/26/2024
In this episode. Jen Bluske is joined by Shannon Stuckey to discuss the concept of creating a felt sense of safety, both internally and within relationships. They describe how adults can tune into their own needs to better support their child's felt sense of safety to create a secure environment.
08: Navigating Meltdowns: A Guide for Parents
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 4/12/2024
In this episode, Jen Bluske is joined by fellow occupational therapist, Laura Hewitt, to explore why play is important for kids’ development, what is meant by the concept, and how parents can incorporate play into their family in practical ways. Laura and Jen discuss how play fosters connection and safety and supports developmental goals like regulation and flexibility.
07: Caring for the Caregiver with Marcy Waelti
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 3/29/2024
This epsiode focuses on supporting parents and caregivers, especially those raising kids with special needs. Host Jen Bluske talks with Marcy Waelti, an equine gestalt coach with extensive experience in horsemanship and early childhood education, to explore how parents can refill their own emotional tanks while advocating effectively for their children. They discuss the concept of amplified guardianship with regard and how equine-assisted gestalt therapy can be a healing tool for parents to achieve self-awareness, grounding, and self-compassion. Marcy and Jen explain the therapeutic role of horses in facilitating emotional and physical grounding for both children and parents.
06: The Roller Coaster of Emotions
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 3/15/2024
In this solo episode, Jen Bluske describes the common challenges parents face with their children's intense emotional responses and meltdowns. Using real life examples, Jen explains strategies for seeing and soothing your child’s emotions without needing to fix them. Jen explains how the concepts of attunement and emotional intelligence are the keys to getting off the roller coaster of emotion.
05: Attachment: Patterns in Parenting with Meredith Woodrich
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 3/1/2024
In this episode, host Jen Bluske is joined by Meredith Woodrich to talk through different attachment styles and describe how they show up in the parent-child relationships. Meredith and Jen define the different types and give listeners strategies for tuning into their own internal experiences so they can best support their children.
04: Sensory 101 - Nervous System Basics
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 2/16/2024
In this episode, host Jen Bluske discusses the way our nervous systems develop and the way the different senses impact how kids function and interact with their daily lives. She explains the different sensory systems and uses real-life examples to demonstrate the impact of each one. Jen encourages parents and caregivers to consider their own nervous systems and how they can support their children's sensory needs.
03: Foundations of Regulation with Shannon Stuckey
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 2/2/2024
In this episode, host Jen Bluske and guest Shannon Stuckey talk about the concept of co-regulation between parent and child. They explain the basis of what co-regulation is, what can stand in the way of it and begin the conversation of what can help parents work toward this and why.
02: What We Want For Our Kids - A Solo Episode
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 2/2/2024
In this solo episode, host Jen Bluske shares how her own journey as a parent and her extensive experience as an occupational therapist has led her to this point of supporting parents as they help their children develop resilient nervous systems. Jen shares examples from her life and also explans that the podcast will focus on supporting our kids as they move through development with a emphasis on connection, scaffolding them as their skills grow and meeting our kids right where they are.
01: Welcome to Where They're Planted Podcast
Jen Bluske • Lit Path Studios | 1/1/2024
Podcast Trailer Episode: Where They’re Planted is a podcast for parents and care providers of unique children to gain skills, understanding and support. Listeners will learn how to help children with developmental, emotional or behavioral challenges, neurodiverse brains, or difficult early life experiences bloom where they’re planted. In each episode, host Jen Bluske, occupational therapist and parent coach, will offer rich insights using brain science, nervous system tools, collaborative strategy sessions and a deep understanding of the developmental process.