Blogs and Free Resources
Here at PESI, our mission is to provide professionals like you with FREE practical and valuable tools, strategies,
and resources to assist with the great work you do. Find expert tips, helpful worksheets, demonstration videos, CE, news,
and more here. Happy learning!
4 Easy Steps to Calm a Stressed Child
If you work with children who struggle with self-regulation, mind-body strategies that use yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and guided imagery can be especially effective, and often fun, for the child to gain their composure. Use this activity, called The Steps, at home, in the grocery store, or wherever life takes you.
Wearing Your Heart on Your Face: The Polyvagal Circuit in the Consulting Room
In the interview that follows, Dr. Stephen Porges offers some research-based insights into how therapists can more effectively convey safety to clients and clarifies the evolutionary roots of anxiety, depression, and trauma.
Mindfulness + Doodling = The Secret to Staying Focused & Present
5 FREE doodle exercises
Research has proven that doodling can enhance focusing skills, increase retention of information, ease feelings of impatience, and even inspire bursts of novel ideas. So go ahead - color outside the lines with these 5 FREE doodle exercises.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study and Why it Matters
In life, getting dealt a hand of ACEs is surely not the thrill that it is in a card game. But thanks to the ACE study, communities are developing creative ways to intervene and prevent intergenerational transmission of the issues caused by high ACE scores.
Environmental Enrichment
A Multisensory Enrichment Protocol for Autism
Environmental Enrichment (EE) was designed as a low-cost program that has been shown to decrease autism symptoms and sensory issues and increase receptive language and cognitive skills at home. In this blog from Teresa Garland, MOT, OTR/L, you can download a free EE activity worksheet.
5 Postures to Help Deepen Your Breath
In this short video, psychotherapist, award-winning author and former Buddhist monk, Donald Altman, demonstrates 5 postures to help deepen your breath.
A Hidden Culprit of Poor Handwriting Posture
For most children, following proper writing posture is no problem. But what about Johnny, a bright child in your class who just can't follow your directions to sit up straight. Is it that Johnny just wants to look cool slouched in his chair, or is something bigger going on?
Simple Breath Awareness: An exercise to fight stress, anxiety and insomnia
You can use this simple breath awareness exercise from the classic text, “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali," in a therapy session to help the client direct their attention to internal states and balance their autonomic nervous system.
Video: Emotional Responsiveness with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
When you nurture your child's emotional world, you help build the connective fibers that make the reactive centers of their brains more readily and easily calmed down. Over time, these repeated emotional responsive interactions change your child's brain in a way that allows them to have better behavior and better emotional regulation. Learn more from Dr. Tina Payne Bryson...
Can’t vs. Wont: The No-Drama Strategy to Help You Respond to Your Child’s Needs
Free Worksheet: Distinguishing Can’t From Won’t
Making the distinction between can’t and won’t will help you respond to your child’s needs, and support him in moments when he is having difficulty managing his emotions and behaviors. Instead of reacting to disobedience, you can respond to your child in a way that builds connection and reduces the unwanted behavior.