How to Strengthen the Brain of Your Autistic Child against Anxiety

Inside this training, you’ll discover:

How to do the Multisensory Core Protocol, one of our most powerful brain strength routines.
It takes 2-minute twice a day to do, and it does wonders.

And also:
What specific types of exercises will help increase spontaneously your child’s ability to relax on his own,
Why some exercises or therapies are practically destroying your child’s ability to cope with stress,
What to do throughout the day to keep your autistic child’s brain in a state of constant readiness to learn,
How to turn bath-time from a stressful event into a source of comfort for your child and a tool to help the brain produce its own Serotonin.

What you are signing up for is:

3 Training Videos (Free)

You will get the first video right away.
The other videos will be delivered one after the other in your e-mail over a period of a week or so.
Each video lasts between 30 and 45 minutes.
You choose when to watch.
There is no commitment to do anything else ever again.
In fact, the Multisensory Protocol is powerful enough that it might be all you need to make more improvement than you have made so far with other programs you have tried.

Of course, this is a chance for me to show off our Serenity Program. I hope you will find these free videos so full of useful and practical help for your child with autism that you will want to enroll in our full Serenity Program for High Functioning Autistic Children and Adults.

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Kim Pomares

Hi, Alpana!

Claudie is doing a live Q&A session this coming Thursday. I’ll make sure you get an invite. When you call in, Claudie will be able to help you.

One thing I know she will say, and so you should try that before the call, is to let her run away when she feels she wants to. Blocking her ways of exit will increase her anxiety levels and cancel out any potential good the sensory experience could give her.

If smelling is the only activity she makes difficult for you, try to present it in a way that she likes. If she has a favourite toy that she plays with, apply the scent to the toy and present the toy for her to smell.

It’s better if the smell comes on a neutral substract, but if it is not an option, then we have to look at compromises. The benefits of smelling a scent that she really likes will more than make up for the effort. You could put the fragrance on your shoulder and then bring her nose to it by giving her a nice hug.

At first, it’s normal for her to smell very briefly. You cannot really teach her to smell right the first time. It will come progressively. We have many parents on the program who have to run behind their children for the first week or two. It’s normal. Good exercise for you!! Ha Ha!!

Always demonstrate your own pleasure as you smell slowly and eventually she will copy you and get the same pleasure.

Make sure it is a scent that she loves. Try several until you get one that gets the best response.

Same for the picture, it’s normal for her to only glance briefly at first. The ideal is for her to look at the art for long periods of time. We have additional games to make that happen in the full program.

Remember that you have to make it a warm and fuzzy experience for her. You have to do it when she is most receptive. Maybe if she is playing with something you can come and slowly bring in the picture. She will have to look at it for a second or two.

Use all the calming parenting techniques you know. Whisper. Sing to her. Dim the lights. etc

I hope one of the things I said was useful…
Kim Pomares

Hi, Alpana!

Claudie is doing a live Q&A session this coming Thursday. I’ll make sure you get an invite. When you call in, Claudie will be able to help you.

One thing I know she will say, and so you should try that before the call, is to let her run away when she feels she wants to. Blocking her ways of exit will increase her anxiety levels and cancel out any potential good the sensory experience could give her.

If smelling is the only activity she makes difficult for you, try to present it in a way that she likes. If she has a favourite toy that she plays with, apply the scent to the toy and present the toy for her to smell.

It’s better if the smell comes on a neutral substract, but if it is not an option, then we have to look at compromises. The benefits of smelling a scent that she really likes will more than make up for the effort. You could put the fragrance on your shoulder and then bring her nose to it by giving her a nice hug.

At first, it’s normal for her to smell very briefly. You cannot really teach her to smell right the first time. It will come progressively. We have many parents on the program who have to run behind their children for the first week or two. It’s normal. Good exercise for you!! Ha Ha!!

Always demonstrate your own pleasure as you smell slowly and eventually she will copy you and get the same pleasure.

Make sure it is a scent that she loves. Try several until you get one that gets the best response.

Same for the picture, it’s normal for her to only glance briefly at first. The ideal is for her to look at the art for long periods of time. We have additional games to make that happen in the full program.

Remember that you have to make it a warm and fuzzy experience for her. You have to do it when she is most receptive. Maybe if she is playing with something you can come and slowly bring in the picture. She will have to look at it for a second or two.

Use all the calming parenting techniques you know. Whisper. Sing to her. Dim the lights. etc

I hope one of the things I said was useful…
Kim Pomares

I got a question from Alpana. She had trouble posting it as a comment on here so I will do it for her. She has a daughter with autism…

Hi Kim,

I had few concerns after I tried multisensory protocol on my daughter couple of times.

1. My daughter does not sit still at one place. So when I make her sit on the chair (enclosed, because she would run away in an open chair or sofa), for something other than food, she becomes upset.

2. She can not follow the instructions, so when I say “Prisha, nice smell, can you breathe?”. I show her too how to do that. But when I bring the smell closer to her nose she thinks this is something to eat and opens her mouth OR just turns her face. So again not concentrating on the smell.

3. She does not focus on the picture and try to get out from the chair instead. Basically she is not interested.

4. When I bring fruit (strawberry) for massage she again try to reach that out for eating

So, basically I was not able to do the protocol successfully with her. Is it that because she can not follow the instructions, I can not do the protocol with her or should I still keep trying.

Many thanks.
Alpana

Kim Pomares

Hi, Alpana!

Claudie is doing a live Q&A session this coming Thursday. I’ll make sure you get an invite. When you call in, Claudie will be able to help you.

One thing I know she will say, and so you should try that before the call, is to let her run away when she feels she wants to. Blocking her ways of exit will increase her anxiety levels and cancel out any potential good the sensory experience could give her.

If smelling is the only activity she makes difficult for you, try to present it in a way that she likes. If she has a favourite toy that she plays with, apply the scent to the toy and present the toy for her to smell.

It’s better if the smell comes on a neutral substract, but if it is not an option, then we have to look at compromises. The benefits of smelling a scent that she really likes will more than make up for the effort. You could put the fragrance on your shoulder and then bring her nose to it by giving her a nice hug.

At first, it’s normal for her to smell very briefly. You cannot really teach her to smell right the first time. It will come progressively. We have many parents on the program who have to run behind their children for the first week or two. It’s normal. Good exercise for you!! Ha Ha!!

Always demonstrate your own pleasure as you smell slowly and eventually she will copy you and get the same pleasure.

Make sure it is a scent that she loves. Try several until you get one that gets the best response.

Same for the picture, it’s normal for her to only glance briefly at first. The ideal is for her to look at the art for long periods of time. We have additional games to make that happen in the full program.

Remember that you have to make it a warm and fuzzy experience for her. You have to do it when she is most receptive. Maybe if she is playing with something you can come and slowly bring in the picture. She will have to look at it for a second or two.

Use all the calming parenting techniques you know. Whisper. Sing to her. Dim the lights. etc

I hope one of the things I said was useful…

Agnes

1. My daughter’s gentle-touch tolerance has increased much, but she is still far from enjoying it or uttering ‘ah’ as you mention in your book. Can it be still effective? (she loves and does smelling very thoroughly, however)

2. I understand that she should take part in the exercises willingly, even happily, but her malfunctioning digestion takes enormous effort and energy as usually in the afternoons, even evenings she focuses inward, regresses terribly and becomes exclusive, very-very autistic. I and my husband are convinced that her digestion is (one of )the key(s) of her autistic behaviour. Can such huge digestive problems risk the effectiveness of MAPS or will/can MAPS fix digestion as well? (We have tried all sorts of vitamins/supplemets and diets with no/little result. Now she has mostly organic, only fermented milk products, sugarfree, highly nutritious (wholegrain, etc.) diet.)

Claudie

1-her capacity to tolerate soft touch. it is only such a short time, it is very encouraging. It will get better with time and will be more effective, rehabilitation needs to happen and it is happening2-yes, it will since digestion is in the roles of serotonin

Do not worry about it too much at this point. You have made the right decisions in opting for safe food, give time to the brain to mend and to repair each dysfunction. It is a natural process which takes the time needed for any natural function to be restored. No rush but patience and commitment.

Remember that the brain needs a large amount of sugar to process and grow, ensure she gets enough of it daily. Be cautious when it comes to restrictive diets as they may prevent growth or impair health. Consult your nutritionist, if you have one, or see out various articles about nutrition.

Bernie

Claudie
When I do the gentle claw and smell Ryan flinches like the claw is uncomfortable. I’ve tried doing it over clothes and tried different levels of pressure but he still finds it unpleasant. He tells me not to touch him. Should I just have him smell every hour and skip the claw.
Thanks, Bernie

Claudie Gordon-Pomares

Yes, gentle touch is not always the most pleasurable form of tactile stimulation when a person suffers from anxiety. When Serotonin is not well regulated and has not been for a long time, the brain does not translate sensory inputs correctly and subtleties get lost and mistranslated as possible danger. “When in doubt, it could be danger” is the brain’s motto.

The back is not always the best place to start when someone is not used to gentle touch, so find parts of his body where he IS comfortable being touched gently. The face, the forehead should be good. Sometimes, the legs or the tummy.

The gentle claw won’t work if he doesn’t relax when you do it. Ticklish won’t do and cringing won’t do either.

BUT, and it could be the case for Ryan, you just have to get passed the initial startle and then he relaxes. Does he?

Bernie

Kim, thank you for the message about the “storm”. Ryan had a very emotional day on Friday and after reading your message I remembered that this is a good sign. I have a question – When doing MAPS 1 can the image that matches the scent be an image on the computer or does it have to be printed on paper?

Claudie Gordon-Pomares

congratulations to Ryan to be demonstrating the first “storm” of the season! Yes, Bernie, it is truly the first sign of recovery!

It is totally fine to use online images if your monitor is of reasonable size and your child is not tempted to play and interrupt the session.
Claudie Gordon-Pomares

The computer around the image would be a distraction, being a 3D object. When you present a three-dimensional object to anyone, a lot more brain zones activate then when you bring an image on a sheet of paper.

The stimulation must pass a certain threshold in the brain to become therapeutically effective, but at the same time it must be gentle and non-intrusive, so we need the gentle protocol to be as specific as possible and target isolated brain zones so as not to dilute its impact.

In fact, even a sheet of paper is a compromise. The ideal would be a large projection screen in a dark room. But we need to be reasonably practical too.

Makes sense?

Sandy

Hi Claudie, I was wondering if the twice a day core protocol, water game, and multitexture path that are on my worksheet 1 should be done one after another immediately or with some time in between. Also, on the smell and claw is it ok to use a head tingler i got at Bed, Bath and Beyond instead of my fingers? i learned about that thru Dr. Moreno.

Claudie Gordon-Pomares

Ideally, all the games in the list of sequences to do twice a day should be done one after the other without pause.

The only exception to that is the Multisensory Core Protocol. A short 1-2 minute pause between this exercise and the next sequences in the list is actually a good idea. Just long enough for the brain to have a chance to “stabilize.”

I love the head tingler and I hear it also does other good things. I focus with Multisensory Therapy on stimulating the sense of touch and addressing the Serotonin function that way. You are welcome to complement Multisensory Therapy with whatever else is natural and non-invasive.

Liam’s mom

Liam is nine so the 1-9 year protocol would probably work best?

Claudie Gordon-Pomares

I believe you make a good choice.

claudie

Liam’s mom

Does this protocol work for a child who has limited verbal skills (better with receptive than expressive, but does not typically initiate conversation other than to express wants or needs)?

Claudie Gordon-Pomares

if the child is able to follow three to four steps instructions, the treatment will work perfectly. I would recommend that you choose a treatment according to his mental age rather than chronological, to stay close to his capacity to understand. Most exercises are very simple and short, all it takes, really, is for you to apply gentle and patiently.
Claudie Gordon-Pomares

I want to add to my previous answer a comment on what we consider as a three to four step request: we look at the number of brain zones invested to complete a task. For example : take a deep smell is a 2 steps request, smell is completed with the type of smell : deep, which is different from taking a quick sniff which most children will do with ease, while smelling slow and deep demands focus and understanding. Another example can be : give me the green book.This really is a four step. One is the action requested, then who is the book being given, the object is a book and it is the green book, not the blue or the red.

With this added comment I think you can appreciate if you child can follow a three to four steps instructions. In the case of your child with good receptive language, there is little doubt that he will be able to participate fully in the exercises.

claudie

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Bernie

I have a few questions.

I looked at the training videos that give the background under “foundational principals”. I have an older computer and I was not able to watch the videos. Can I read the information somewhere instead of watching?

I printed the first worksheet. Can I go ahead and get started today or do you want me to start on a specific day? I assume I do the worksheet for 2 weeks, then go on to the second sheet.

Kim Pomares

Thanks, Bernie, for posting your questions here where everyone can see the answers.
Kim Pomares

I have now added audio only alternative formats on each of the videos in the Fundamental Principles section.

Worrels5

I also have a question about activities. Since my son with chronic fatigue has no energy to do anything active all day, he just sits around and watches TV, plays video games, and goes on the computer. He used to be a great reader and read a lot of books, but he cant focus anymore. So are those activities ok to do or do these activities overstimulate his brain too much?

Anonymous

BY activities, are you referring to the exercises in this Anxiety Treatment Program for Autism or are you referring to the TV watching and video game playing that he does right now?

sworrel

By activities, i mean the tv watching and video games. is it ok to let him continue those while we add your anxiety treatment activities as well?
Claudie Gordon-Pomares

Are video games over bearing on brain activity? Should a child or adult on the anxiety treatment refrain from too much computer activity?

The question has several dimensions to it and it is reasonable to look at what can have a negative effect generally speaking, and what cannot hurt.

Some groups and researchers are concerned that violent video games raise anxiety, drains the individual, and could even lead to addiction. I tend to be less worried than they are but, considering the potentially harmful effects of violent video games on anxiety levels, I would definitely avoid them.

There are some who are worried about potential harmful effects of some high motion video games on the visual system. That is something else to keep under advisement.

Watching TV shows and staring at a computer screen is pretty harmless. It will not do any good in itself, but as a way for the brain to switch off, it can be useful.

the brain grows and repairs itself when it is doing nothing, so, in a way, watching TV is great for someone who needs to relax more because there is more to be repaired inside his brain.

From a neurological point of view, they present a visual information in 2D which is easy to process. Also, the use of the mouse has led young adults of our era to develop pathways which did not exist in their forefathers!

Many of the people we are working with have a limited capacity to enjoy typical activities and pass-times. Some children will rewind and look again at the same cartoon over and over and this is helping them deal with their anxiety. It does not physiologically help the brain to work better, certainly, but being an outlet for anxiety it certainly has a valid purpose.

My recommendation when it comes to computer time or video time, is mainly to ensure that the screen is of a good enough size to not cause exhaustion. Ensure that the image and contrasts are of good quality. We don’t want to increase stress because text is too small or images are too glaring.

Be very vigilant when it comes to sound. Again, neuroscience has recently measured the very negative effects of dissonant music, too loud, high pitch and startling sound effects.

Cheap video games have nasty soundtracks. Try sitting next to him and reading a book while he is playing. If it annoys you, then it is causing stress to both you and him.

A recent study from the University of San Diego has been able to put in evidence that the reading or hearing of a swear or insult, even out of context, has an impact on serotonin levels in a negative measure.

There are many video games which can keep one alert and interested without using violence or aggression. Evaluate the games with your child if he or she is able to make an objective evaluation. You can run a very simple test by checking the heart rate of your child before playing, then thirty minutes into the game. If the heart rate is noticeably increased, while your child has remained sitting the whole time barely moving his or her wrist, you have a good indication that the stress caused by the story and game is not appropriate for the success of the treatment.

Another good test is for you to watch the trailer of the game, when they have one and they usually do. The story is really always the same with little variation: the hero finds his civilization is lost, his father tells him a sad sad story, and the hero has to save his world from monstrous creatures. From that story line, the diversions are many and the graphics multiple. If you can sit through the trailer without feeling uncomfortable at all, the game is probably just fine. Of course, this recommendation works only if you are not yourself an avid player of violent video games!

Worrels5

I will have trouble with the spa treatment on my 14 yr old son. Not only because he is a teenager but because ever since he developed chronic fatigue, he complains that showers and baths make his muscles feel weaker. I have to fight with him to get clean and he only takes a shower or bath about 1 time per week.

Anonymous

The purpose of the SPA treatment is to promote an increase of production of both serotonin and dopamine, the effect is immediate and soothing.

It is not always possible to give a bath to your loved one, for many reasons :
- the child is afraid of the water
- the loved one is too old to be bathed by a parent
- the bath is a negative experience for as many reasons as there are conditions

How do we achieve the goal without a nice warm calm bath? Clearly no plan B will have the same impact, but it is still possible to get as much of the effects in a re-design of the experience so that it is a pleasurable experience.

1- have your loved one wear a t shirt and shorts and have him wrap him or herself in a very large warm bath towel. As for the full SPA you warm up the towel in the dryer or by leaving it out in the sun for our happy parents living in a year round summer weather.

Once wrapped in the towel, or wearing a warm bath robe, you have him or her lay on the bed where you can proceed with the hands, feet, head massage. Play a relaxing music, lit up candles, dim the lights.

This is the SPA treatment without a bath!

Worrels5

Hi Kim,
My son has chronic fatigue syndrome, not autism. But CFS is also a very high anxiety problem going on in the brain. He’s 14 yrs old. He was home-schooled for past 2 years, but this year can not focus enough to even do that. Would Claudie’s anxiety program help him too?

Anonymous

Yes, this treatment would certainly help and I recommend that you pick the anxiety treatment for an adolescent with Asperger’s.

This would be a great fit for him. This is a treatment where anxiety is the primary focus, where the child is able to understand the requests of the exercises and apply. This young man will also be able to evaluate very quickly the benefits and will be a dynamic partner of the treatment

Anonymous

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How to Strengthen the Brain of Your Autistic Child against Anxiety

Inside this training, you’ll discover:

3 Training Videos (Free)

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