HANDLE

(Holistic Approach to Neurodevelopment and Learning Efficiency)

HANDLE is a holistic approach to addressing neurodevelopmental issues that carry labels such as autism, learning differences, ADD/ADHD, and traumatic brain injury.

“Suzanne’s ability to observe details of how an individual interacts with their environment sets her work apart. Using HANDLE, she is able to fashion individualize programs that gently facilitate balancing and strengthening of the vestibular, visual, and autonomic nervous systems. Suzanne’s gift is evident in the positive outcomes reported by her patients/clients. Her programs provide an important foundational piece towards health and healing.”
-Dr. Melinda Roland, M.A.,P.T.,LAc.,O.M.D., Dipl-OM, Dipl-Ac., CST-D

HANDLE is a holistic approach to addressing neurodevelopmental issues that carry labels such as autism, learning differences, ADD/ADHD, and traumatic brain injury. Utilizing the concept of neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to adapt and change to input) and the guiding principles of a systems approach and Gentle Enhancement, the brain and the nervous system have a great capacity to heal. The individual’s systems guide this process; the body’s inherent wisdom, when heard and honored, will lead us to solutions. Although many people come to HANDLE with a diagnosis or label, HANDLE actually benefits anyone looking to bring more ease and energy to their lives.

“What we perceive as sound and sight and touch and movement are all waves of energy that are received through our different sense organs. When functioning smoothly, we integrate those scattered forms of energy into congruent wholes and perceive the world ‘as it is’. Reality is in the eyes of the beholder – and the ears and the skin and the muscles and tendons and stomach.”

-Judith Bluestone, The Fabric of Autism

Learn More

When we are receiving input from our environment in congruent ways, we can connect with others and interact with life in productive and meaningful ways.

When our systems don’t provide consistent, organized information, are stressed, or the connections between the systems are not running smoothly, we have to work harder to process our world. This can lead to fatigue, overwhelm, and irritability. The body begins to take protective measures and if the stress continues, we can lash out to defend against an unrelenting stream of input and/or we can shut down.

HANDLE programs provide consistent, organized input to the body/brain, enhancing or creating neural pathways that enhance learning and functioning.

Increased organization to the brain and body reduces stress resulting in increased efficiency!

The HANDLE approach operates from several key tenets

A systems approach – A system is more than the sum of its parts and does not respond in linear fashion. Systems are dynamic and multi-faceted. ”Systems-thinking is, “Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, states “a discipline for seeing wholeness. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing ‘patterns of change’ rather than status snapshots.”
We are each unique individuals, the sum total of all of our life experiences. A one-size-fits-all approach does not yield maximum results and often can be detrimental. Each unique part of a system is a valuable and influential player in the system.
Gentle Enhancement® Systems that are pushed too hard will either push back or shut down, neither of those responses are conducive to change or healing. Gentle Enhancement becomes a relational approach to navigate change and efficient functioning.
Non-judgement – Behavior is communication, information. Non-judgement allows us to see the message in the behavior and utilize the information for understanding and/or navigating change.

HANDLE programs are:

Customized to the individual. A person’s HANDLE Program aims to address the specific systems that are challenged (and their connections). The assessment is based on an in-depth observational assessment, detailed intake questionnaire and health history.
The approach is developmentally based, recognizing that the systems are interdependent and hierarchical. HANDLE works from the foundation up, to support functioning and growth, and identifies problematic behaviors at their root causes.
Gentle Enhancement® is the guiding principle at all times. Gentle Enhancement describes the HANDLE process of respectfully supporting sensory processing in small steps without undue stress, recognizing that sensory over-stimulation can interfere with attention and learning. The HANDLE paradigm encourages people to apply Gentle Enhancement in their daily lives. Clients and support people are taught to watch for subtle signs of stress as indicators of when to stop a HANDLE activity. Small, incremental changes are integrated more smoothly and more deeply.

How can a HANDLE assessment benefit me or my loved one?

Identify areas in the nervous system that may be impacting function.
Provide an understanding of the possible root causes of problematic or challenging behaviors.
Explanation of how “problematic” behaviors or symptoms relate to challenges within the systems assessed. They learn that “symptoms” are the body’s way of communicating, and they gain insight into how to reduce stress.
Recognize key strengths within your sensory/processing systems that support your goals and activities in life
Identify possible environmental triggers that impede our functioning and learning
Receive a customized, home-based program of activities to gently enhance the nervous system and improve functioning
As a complement to the home-based activities, the HANDLE provider will often include other recommendations as part of the client's program. The health of the brain and sensory processing systems depends heavily on the health of the body. Therefore, recommendations may address the internal and external environments of the individual. The provider also considers the client’s family, social and educational systems when making recommendations.

Testimonials

“I felt like I was really ‘seen’ for the first time. The Practitioner was able to identify the areas where my systems worked overtime which influenced my chronic fatigue.”

-42 year old diagnosed with depression and anxiety

“My son’s HANDLE assessment helped me understand his extreme behavior more clearly than the neuro psyche evaluation administered previously.”

-mother of a 15 year old diagnosed with ODD, OCD

“HANDLE was a foundational therapy in my long journey through my traumatic brain injury.”

-68 year old TBI client, 7 years post-injury