Episode 72: Dana Baltutis (Speech Pathologist and Parent Coach) - Taking a Mindful Pause

Send us a text

The journey we've been on together for 71 episodes is taking a thoughtful pause. After two years of deep conversations about neuroaffirming parenting, understanding our children's unique neurological wiring, and moving from compliance-based expectations to relationship-centered approaches, it's time for me to rest and refill my well.

Throughout our episodes, we've explored the intricate landscape of raising uniquely wired children—from sensory processing and emotional regulation to anxiety, PDA, and social connection challenges. We've tackled practical strategies like environmental setup, co-regulation techniques, and building connection in everyday moments. More importantly, we've delved into those quieter, deeper parent mindset shifts that transform how we show up for our children and ourselves.

This podcast has always been a love letter to parents who want to parent differently, who are learning to trust themselves, trust their child, and trust the process. The pause I'm taking now honors that same principle—recognizing when it's time to step back, when the demands of running a business, supporting families, writing a book, and creating meaningful content each week require a moment of recalibration. But this isn't goodbye—it's a reset, a chance to gather fresh insights and return with even more clarity about what will truly serve you.

While I'm away, I invite you to shape what comes next. What parenting challenges leave you feeling lost? What topics around neurodiversity in the home, school, or community would support your journey? Send your thoughts through the My Therapy House website, where you'll also find our online courses covering PDA, communication development, regulation, and more. Revisit any of our existing episodes that resonated with you, and remember: you're not alone. You're doing sacred, unseen work, and this community sees you. I'll be back soon with new conversations that reflect your needs and questions.

danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello and welcome to the Empowered Parent Podcast,
with me, dana Baltutis, as yourhost.
If you've been here before,thank you.
If this is your first episode,I'm so glad you've joined, even
as we hit pause.
Today is a little different.

(00:22):
After 71 episodes, I've decidedto take a break from the
podcast Not forever, just fornow, and before I go quiet for a
little while, I wanted to spendthis episode with you,
reflecting on what we'veexplored together and inviting

(00:44):
you to shape what comes next.
Over the past two years, theEmpowered Parent has been a
place for deep, simple andhonest conversations.
We've explored understandingyour child's unique wiring, from
sensory needs to emotionalregulation, anxiety, pda and

(01:09):
social connection.
We've explored neuroaffirmingparenting, letting go of
compliance-based expectationsand leaning into relationships,
leaning into authenticity anduniqueness.
We've explored real strategieshow to support play, set up the

(01:32):
environment, use co-regulation,reduce demands and build
connection in everyday moments.
We've explored parent mindset,those quieter, deeper shifts,
how to stay steady in the hardtimes, how to work with your own

(01:53):
nervous system and how to movefrom reactivity to
responsiveness.
We've explored conversationswith guests, therapists,
teachers and, most importantly,you, the parents, sharing your
lived experiences and insightswith us.

(02:15):
And we've dived into topicsmany people avoid overwhelm,
boundaries, grief and burnout,and we've done this with
compassion and honesty.
To me, this podcast has alwaysbeen like a love letter to

(02:40):
parents who want to show updifferently, who are learning to
trust themselves, trust theirchild and trust the process.
So why pause now?
To be honest, I need time torest, reflect and refill my well
Running a business supportingfamilies, mentoring therapists.

(03:01):
I've just written a book, I'mdoing a conference presentation
and showing up every week withsomething meaningful to say.
It takes energy and care, and Iwant to return to this podcast
with fresh ideas, deeper insightand more clarity about what

(03:22):
will truly serve you the parents, educators and therapists who
listen.
This isn't a goodbye.
This is a reset and I'mtrusting the space.
So here's where you come in.
I would love to hear from youwhat topics do you want to hear

(03:45):
more about?
Are there areas of parentingthat feel confusing or
overwhelming?
Are you curious about play, pda, co-regulation or
neurodiversity in the home, inthe community, in schools?
Do you want to hear more realstories from families or have

(04:05):
practical tools to use at home?
Leave a comment, send a messageor email through the my Therapy
House website.
Let me know what would be mostsupportive for you and also, if
you've got a story to share,please let me know.
Come on to the podcast.

(04:28):
This podcast will come back andI want it to be shaped by you.
In the meantime, I'd like youto get onto our Teachable
website.
You can find that through themy Therapy House website.
This is where you're going tofind many online courses that
I've developed and othertherapists of my therapy house

(04:51):
has helped me develop.
We've got information about PDAin the family, pda in schools,
how to support your child'scommunication development, how
to support your child'slistening and attending, how to
support your child's play, howto support your child's
regulation.
We're always trying to developmore tools for parents so you

(05:15):
are equipped to better supportyour child.
So, dear parent, thank you forlistening, thank you for sharing
in the episodes and thank youfor walking alongside me in the
last year and a half.
To every parent who sat in thecar and cried while listening,

(05:38):
or you sat and drank your teawhile listening.
To every therapist who feltless alone after hearing a story
.
To every listener who found alittle bit more courage, calm or
clarity, thank you.
This is a community.
You are part of the communityand I'm so grateful to be in it

(05:59):
with you.
You're not alone.
You're doing sacred work.
You're doing sacred unseen work, and I see you.
Other people see you.
So I'll be back in the futurewith new episodes, new insights
and new conversations.

(06:20):
In the meantime, you canrevisit any of the 71 episodes
on your favorite podcast app,and don't forget to share your
thoughts on what you'd love tohear next.
This has been the EmpoweredParent with Dana Baltudis.
Thank you again for listening.

(06:42):
Thank you again for yoursupport.
See you soon.