Therapy works—until kids leave the room. Why? - Nate Pope

Nate Pope, co-founder of NCX Brain Recovery, specializes in treating post-concussion syndrome and brain trauma using whole-brain, multi-sensory integration approaches.

In this episode, he breaks down why therapy that mimics real life works better than isolated drills, why younger kids can’t always apply what they’ve learned in new situations, and how fMRI scans show what traditional therapy often misses.

Kim shares Mendability’s experience using short sensory enrichment games to activate the brain’s self-healing mechanisms, and explains how these games tap into interconnectivity to support natural generalization and long-term resilience.

Episode Highlights

03:18 – Nate shares how a life shift at 19 led him to discover a calling in occupational therapy.

10:39 – Nate: “Most of our meaningful activities involve multiple brain systems. Therapy should too.”

15:05 – Why generalization is harder for younger children—and what that tells us about how to structure therapy.

18:23 – Kim: “Kids haven’t had the ‘game’ yet. So drills feel boring and disconnected.”

22:41 – Nate uses Steph Curry as an example of why real-life simulation matters more than isolated drills.

24:46 – Writing therapy reimagined: Nate explains how coloring, scribbling, and storytelling help build real writing skills.

29:00 – Kim: “Multiple opportunities for reward happen more easily in whole-brain contexts.”

30:26 – Nate: “Learning happens best when we stop at just the right level—challenged, but still smiling.”

35:34 – Nate explains how therapy can become unintentionally traumatic—and how to break tasks down to build success.

42:26 – Kim and Nate discuss the risks of over-praising achievement and the value of effort-based praise.

44:06 – Nate on why going outside activates more of the brain than indoor therapy ever can.

48:11 – What fMRIs reveal: underactive brain regions lighting up, and overworked ones calming down after intensive whole-brain therapy.

50:38 – “We need more experiences that make our brain integrate all areas at once.” — Nate Pope