Beyond “Won’t”: Trauma, Regulation, and Collaborative Care

Trauma-sensitive care and interprofessional collaboration to better support children and families.

Guest: Lauren Thompson, MEd, CCC-SLP, CLC, and Allissa Younan, MS, OTR/L

Earn 0.10 ASHA CEUs for this episode with Speech Therapy PD

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In this episode of First Bite, Michelle Dawson, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC, BCS-S, FNAP, is joined by Lauren Thompson, MEd, CCC-SLP, CLC, and Allissa Younan, MS, OTR/L, to discuss how combining clinical perspectives can strengthen care for children with feeding challenges, sensory differences, nervous system dysregulation, and other complex needs. They consider what may be behind a child’s apparent refusal, shifting the focus from a child who “won’t” participate to one who may not yet feel safe, regulated, or supported enough to engage.

About the Guests: Lauren Thompson, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, CLC, is a Speech-Language Pathologist and Certified Lactation Counselor, and the owner of Well Fed Feeding & Swallowing Therapy in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Since 2012, she has supported infants and children with Pediatric Feeding Disorder, dysphagia, lactation challenges, ARFID, and feeding-related trauma across inpatient rehabilitation, hospital-based outpatient care, Level II and III NICUs, and public schools.

Allissa Younan, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist, TBRI practitioner, and owner of Holistic Abilities where she is passionate about helping children and families thrive through evidence-informed, relationship-based care. She specializes in sensory processing, feeding, and supporting children to make gains in their everyday life.

Contact the Guests:

Lauren Thompson on LinkedInLauren’s Website: www.wellfedfeedingtherapy.comAllissa Younan on LinkedIn

Show Notes:

Feeding MattersTrauma-sensitive DefinitionTrust‑Based Relational InterventionDr. Dan Siegel's Hand Model of the BrainThe Rabbit Listened by Cori DoerrfeldPediatric Feeding Disorder Consensus Definition and Conceptual Framework AB-SSD 2026 Summer Webinar Series - PediatricEmpowering Providers Through Transforming Pediatric Feeding Journeys Courses:Trust-based relational intervention (TBRI): A systemic approach to complex developmental traumaLove Money Cause: www.feedingmatters.org

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