For Clinicians

Nurturing Playful Minds is a space created by clinicians, for clinicians. As practicing therapists ourselves, we understand the real-world challenges of supporting children and families navigating chronic pain. That’s why we built this community: to offer thoughtful, up-to-date resources and tools designed specifically for professionals working with children. Whether you're new to this area or have years of experience, our goal is to support your learning, enhance your practice, and help you feel more confident in your work. We're so glad you're here and we hope you find these resources as helpful and meaningful as we do.

When Pediatric OCD and Neuroplastic Symptoms Intersect: Addressing Developmental Barriers to Care

Pediatric OCD is increasingly understood as a neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological condition, with neuroimaging research highlighting the involvement of specific threat‑detection and habit‑formation circuits (Abramovitch, Mittelman, Henin, & Geller, 2012). For children ages nine to twelve, who rely heavily on concrete thinking, developmentally attuned, neuroscience‑informed explanations are essential for engagement, but more is often required for sustained change. OCD a

Feb 232 min read

Clinical Considerations from a Social Systems Perspective

At home, the push and pull of family dynamics, like how attuned caregivers are to a child’s emotions, whether parents lean toward overprotection or withdrawal, and even a family history of pain, can lead harmless sensations to be interpreted as threatening. Early experiences of secure attachment teach children that their feelings matter and can be soothed. In contrast, attachment disruptions leave threat circuits on high alert, making pain and dizziness more likely to take ro

Feb 62 min read

Before the First Session: Why Parent Consultations Matter in Treating Pediatric Chronic Pain

Because when parents and therapists align, healing can begin.

Jul 26, 20252 min read

Presentations & Research

We love connecting with professionals through in-person trainings and speaking engagements, sharing the tools, resources, and insights we’ve developed to support children living with chronic pain.

If you are interested in utilizing attachment and play-based interventions in pediatric chronic pain research, please get in touch, via our contact page — we’d be happy to discuss how we can best support your team’s needs.