Twenty-four years ago, as a baby OT, I had way more questions than answers (okay…maybe I still do 😅). I had the OT theory. I had an enormous desire to help. But mostly, I spent a lot of those early years feeling like a deer in the headlights, having no idea what I was doing and hoping I could make a difference for each of my clients. Little did I know, these clients were about to become my greatest teachers. Looking back over the past 24 years, I pulled together 8 stories that completely changed the way I think about behavior, regulation, participation, and supporting neurodivergent people. Some start with mistakes. Many happened by complete accident. One involved a few Doc McStuffins toys. Every single one still shapes the way I practice today.
Introducing International Less Compliance Month
Originally published June 20, 2026
Introducing the first-ever International Less Compliance Month. Learn why the movement was created, explore free resources, and discover how interoception, curiosity, and collaboration can support meaningful participation.
Intense Interoception: When Body Signals Feel Strong, Overwhelming, or Hard to Trust
Originally published April 13, 2026
Intense interoception refers to experiences where body signals feel strong, noticeable, and hard to ignore. Sometimes described as hyperawareness or hypervigilance of body sensations, these signals may show up as one or two intense sensations or many signals all at once, and can be overwhelming, distracting, or difficult to interpret, especially when trust in the body has been disrupted.
The ABCs of Interoception: 26 Ways to Understand Body Signals
Originally published March 10, 2026
Explore the ABCs of interoception with 26 short, practical ideas for understanding body signals, regulation, safety, communication, and daily life.
Interoception is often described as our sense of how the body feels on the inside. Sometimes called the body awareness sense or the eighth sense, it helps us notice signals coming from inside the body. Interoception shapes so much of our daily lives, including communication, safety, regulation, trauma support, participation in everyday activities, and how we respond when someone is struggling. Understanding body signals is one of the most important parts of this process. Let’s explore this sense from A to Z.
Why My Child Resists the Toilet (and What Looks Like Potty Training Regression): A Body-Based and Interoception-Informed Perspective
Originally published January 26, 2026
Potty training* is often treated as a skill or a behavior, but for many children, toilet resistance or “regression” is rooted in the body not feeling safe enough to let go. This article explores potty learning through a body-based, interoception-informed lens focusing on safety, sensory experiences, pain, and understanding what’s happening inside the body.
Why Regulation Strategies Fail Without Environmental Modification (And What to Do Instead)
January 19, 2026
Many well-intended regulation strategies unintentionally train endurance, asking neurodivergent people to tolerate environments that overwhelm their body. This post explores why regulation often fails without environmental modifications and how interoception can guide ethical, body-led environmental change.
Interoception, Toileting, and Potty Training: Understanding Inner Body Signals
Originally published February 23, 2021
How Interoception Affects Potty Training
Interoception plays a key role in toileting (often referred to as “potty training”) because it helps us notice, understand, and respond to body signals related to pee, poop, wetness, discomfort, and safety. For many children, toileting challenges are not about motivation or behavior, they’re about how clearly (or quietly) the body communicates its needs. Supporting interoception through curiosity, modeling, and felt safety helps potty training unfold from the inside out, without pressure or compliance.
Interoception & Early Communication in Preschoolers and Non-Speaking Children
This article explains how interoception supports early communication in preschoolers and non-speaking children by reframing behaviors as meaningful body-based communication. It shows … Read more
ARFID Is Not Picky Eating: What People with ARFID Want You To Know
When most people hear “ARFID,” they think of picky eating, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake … Read more
5 Myths About “Less Compliance” (and What It Really Looks Like With Interoception)
Introduction: The Irony of Compliance and Why We Fear Letting It Go For generations, compliance culture has shaped how we support kids … Read more
ARFID and Interoception: Why Epistemic Injustice Matters
Have you ever shared something deeply personal about how you feel, only to have someone dismiss it, question it, or tell you … Read more
Interoception: The Next Wellness Frontier
Redefining Wellness as Felt, Not Forced What if wellness wasn’t about what you do—but how you feel? For far too long, wellness … Read more
Which Interoception Course Is Right for You? A Guide to Choosing Your Learning Path
The field of interoception is growing rapidly—and with it, our understanding of what it means to be human. This expanding body of … Read more
Interoception Activities: Why “I Don’t Know” and “I Feel Fine” are Valid Answers
If you’re using The Interoception Curriculum and hear client responses like “I don’t know how I feel” or “I’m fine” or “My … Read more
