Afleveringen
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In this episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle sits down with Jenna Rowe, board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) at Small Talk OC—and one of Drake’s favorite providers. With warmth, insight, and a little melody, Jenna shares how music therapy opens up new ways for complex kids to express themselves, regulate emotions, and build confidence.
Jenna explains how music therapy differs from music lessons, why songs are so effective for language development, and how families can integrate music into everyday life to support their child’s progress. From co-treating with SLPs to creating personalized “social songbooks,” this episode is packed with real-life stories and actionable takeaways.
Whether your child is preverbal, navigating behavioral challenges, or just lights up with music—this conversation is a beautiful reminder of how powerful and healing music can be.
👤 About the Guest
Jenna Rowe is a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC) with a degree in Music Therapy from the University of Kansas. At Small Talk OC, she collaborates with speech-language pathologists to support children with developmental, behavioral, and neurological differences. Jenna has clinical experience in intellectual and developmental disabilities, apraxia, cerebral palsy, TBI, hospice care, and more. She provides adapted music lessons for voice, piano, guitar, ukulele, and percussion, and is trained in the Nordoff-Robbins approach. Her mission is to use music as a bridge to connection, growth, and joyful expression.
🔗 Connect with Jenna
Website: www.smalltalkoc.com
Email: [email protected]Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf -
In this episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle sits down with Jesseca Perez, a pediatric speech-language pathologist who brings a refreshing, neurodiversity-affirming approach to communication. Jesseca is not only a dedicated SLP at Small Talk OC—she's also one of Drake’s therapists, making this conversation especially personal.
Together, they explore what authentic speech therapy looks like when sensory needs are honored, communication is viewed as more than just words, and connection leads the way. Jesseca breaks down what parents should look for in a provider, how to build a collaborative team, and why supporting regulation is the first step toward meaningful language development.
From movement-based sessions to practical strategies parents can start today, this is a must-listen for anyone navigating speech therapy with a complex kid.
👤 About the Guest
Jesseca Perez is the Lead Speech-Language Pathologist and Assistant Clinical Director at Small Talk OC, a neurodiversity-affirming private practice in Newport Beach, CA. She specializes in working with autistic children ages 2 through school age and is trained in gestalt language processing, sensory integration, and AAC. Jesseca is passionate about building connection through communication and empowering families to embrace their child’s strengths.🔗 Connect with Jesseca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessecaperezslp
Email: [email protected]Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf -
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this powerful episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle talks with Elissa Green Kaustinen, the director of the FAST program at CHOC’s Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center—and a former school psychologist and special education administrator—about a groundbreaking collaboration between families and law enforcement.
Elissa shares how a local partnership with Irvine PD led to post-certified autism trainings for police officers and the development of sensory support bags now carried in patrol cars and ambulances. These tools, designed to reduce stress and increase understanding during emergency interactions, are changing the game for families of neurodivergent kids.
From real-life bodycam footage to nationwide efforts in Arkansas, Elissa explains how her team is influencing first responder training across the country—and what families can do right now to prepare for the unexpected. Plus, Michelle opens up about her own personal experience navigating a police call involving her son, Drake.
This is a must-listen for any parent of a complex kid who’s ever asked, “What if this happens to us?”
👤 About the Guest
Elissa Green Kaustinen is the director of the Families, Agencies, and Schools Together (FAST) program at the Thompson Autism and Neurodevelopmental Center at CHOC. She has over 17 years of experience in public education, serving as both a school psychologist and a special education administrator. Elissa is passionate about inclusive practices, IEP development, and bridging the gap between systems to better support neurodivergent children and their families.Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf -
In this episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle is joined by Jill Lerman—play and parenting coach, early childhood educator, and mom—who believes that every child is capable, curious, and worthy of connection through play.
Jill and Michelle dive into what it means to let go of perfection and instead create space for sensory-seeking, out-of-the-box, messy, real-life play. Whether it’s a child who breaks every toy or refuses to join an activity, Jill shows how behavior is communication—and how parents can tap into that to support growth and regulation.
They talk about teacher-parent communication, early intervention, how to approach differences in play, and why play isn’t about outcomes, but about relationships. For parents of complex kids, this is an invitation to reimagine what success looks like, one joyful moment at a time.
👤 About the Guest
Jill Lerman is a play and parenting coach, early childhood educator, play expert, and mom to a preschooler. She empowers overwhelmed parents and caretakers to connect and engage with their little ones through simple invitations to play and create—making parenting feel more joyful and manageable. Jill also consults with brands, teaches classes, and runs workshops on play and early childhood development.🔗 Follow & Support Jill
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillybeansnyc
Website: https://www.jillybeansnyc.com
Playful Parenting Membership: https://jillybeansnyc.thrivecart.com/playful-parenting-membership/
Free Guide to Independent Play: https://jillybeans-nyc.ck.page/0d7fab4ab9Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf -
In this episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, host Michelle Choairy sits down with women’s wellness coach and medical mom, Erin Trier, for a candid conversation about what it really looks like to take care of yourself when you’re raising a child with complex needs.
Erin shares how her own journey—from fitness burnout and hormone imbalance to simple, sustainable self-care—changed everything about how she shows up as a mother, advocate, and coach. Together, they unpack why moms often end up at the bottom of their own to-do list, and how shifting that priority can be the most powerful gift we give our kids.
This conversation is real, relatable, and filled with refreshing takeaways—especially if you’ve ever felt like “self-care” is just another task you don’t have time for.
👤 About the Guest
Erin Trier is a women’s health coach, entrepreneur, podcast host, and mom of four—including one amazing complex kid. With a Master’s in Social Work and certifications in personal training, nutrition, and women’s hormonal health, Erin is the founder of the Empowered in Health Podcast and creator of the EMPOWER Method—a simple, sustainable approach to wellness that helps moms feel energized, aligned, and in control of their own health journeys. Through her personal story and powerful coaching, she’s helping women ditch the burnout and rediscover their strength.
🔗 Connect with Erin
Instagram: @erinktrier
YouTube: @erinktrier
Podcast: Empowered in Health
Website: www.erintrier.com
Freebie: Quick Tips to Optimize HormonesListen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf -
In this premiere episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle is joined by Amanda Trisdale—a passionate mom, disability advocate, and the driving force behind a revolutionary dance space for autistic children.
Amanda opens up about what pushed her to say, “enough is enough,” and create something entirely new for her daughter, Leta. What started as a personal mission became a community movement—and now it’s reshaping how dance, inclusion, and support intersect for neurodivergent kids.
Together, Michelle and Amanda explore what it means to truly create a space where autistic children don’t have to prove their worth to belong. This is a conversation about vision, advocacy, and making space—not just for movement, but for growth, expression, and self-worth.
And yes… there’s laughter, heart, and even a surprise guest moment at the end.
👤 About the Guest
Amanda Trisdale is the mother of teen autistic dancer Leta Rundell and the CEO of Autistic Wings Dance Company—the only fully autistic-led dance studio in the U.S. She's also co-host of the podcast Leta Tap Styles, where she and Leta share their journey with humor and honesty. With a background in financial services, Amanda made the leap into disability care and advocacy to champion her daughter and the wider neurodivergent community.
🔗 Follow & Support Amanda and Leta
Instagram: @antrisdale
Podcast Website: https://www.letatapstyles.com
Dance Studio Website: https://www.autisticwingsdancecompany.orgListen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf -
Overwhelmed by meltdowns, medical appointments, or IEP chaos? You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own either. Welcome to Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, the podcast that brings real talk and real tools to parents of neurodivergent and medically complex kids.
Watch this short teaser with host, Michelle Choairy—mom, advocate, and speaker—shares what to expect in upcoming episodes: practical strategies, powerful stories, and a whole lot of “finally, someone gets it” moments. If you’re tired of Googling at midnight and just want answers that actually help… hit play.
Because simple solutions? They do exist. And they start here.
Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]
🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf
