Weeks 1–4: Tier 1 – Building Safety and Emotional Security

Goal: Establish trust and emotional safety as the foundation for growth.

Week 1: Understanding The Happy Medium Approach

• Overview of HMA and its core principles of safety, collaboration, and flexibility.

• Introducing the Pendulum of Optimal Learning: Balancing comfort and gentle growth.

• Activity: Create a People File for your child, identifying their interests, strengths, and stressors.

Week 2: Creating Safety and Connection

• Exploring the role of emotional and environmental safety in fostering trust.

• Identifying and reducing aversive (unnecessary) demands.

• Activity: Analyze daily routines using the ABC Skill Access Guide to adjust expectations for safety.

Week 3: Finding Joy in Everyday Moments

• The importance of appetitive control: Building positive associations through shared joy.

• Using “Jelly Beans of Joy” to strengthen connection and trust.

• Activity: Develop a “Connection Plan” with simple activities that bring mutual enjoyment.

Week 4: Supporting Emotional Regulation

• How to respond to emotional overwhelm with compassion and presence.

• Learning to “drop the rope” in power struggles while maintaining connection.

• Activity: Create a Comfort and Connection Plan for moments of intense emotions, focusing on strategies that support both you and your child during challenging times.

Weeks 5–8: Tier 2 – Building Flexible Repertoires

Goal: Expand emotional awareness and support your child in trying new ways to engage with their world.

Week 5: Introducing the Noticing Grid

• Teaching your child to recognize and describe emotional states, resources, and discoverer space using the Noticing Grid.

• The importance of noticing as a precursor to emotional awareness and flexibility.

• Activity: Create a personalized Noticing Grid for your child.

Week 6: Encouraging Shared Control

• Using the Continuum of Shared Control to create collaborative decision-making.

• Strategies for offering manageable degrees of freedom without overwhelming your child.

• Activity: Practice low-pressure shared decision-making in daily routines.

Week 7: Supporting Exploration Through Play

• Encouraging trial-and-error learning in a safe, playful way.

• Using appetitive-driven opportunities to gently stretch comfort zones.

• Activity: Plan a playful, low-demand activity based on your child’s interests.

Week 8: Recognizing Patterns in Emotional Responses

• Identifying recurring emotional responses and understanding their meaning.

• Introducing tools for co-regulation to support your child’s emotional confidence.

• Activity: Develop a Personal Support Plan for moments of emotional intensity.

Weeks 9–12: Tier 3 – Supporting Meaningful Participation

Goal: Help your child apply skills in different contexts and strengthen relationships through collaboration.

Week 9: Gradual Expansion of Comfort Zones

• Using the Pendulum of Optimal Learning to introduce new experiences and contexts.

• Supporting your child in feeling safe and confident in unfamiliar environments.

• Activity: Plan a new shared experience using the Pendulum as a guide.

Week 10: Building Collaborative Relationships

• Supporting your child in navigating interpersonal relationships through shared values.

• Introducing the idea of mismatched People Files and how to address them collaboratively.

• Activity: Practice a collaborative problem-solving framework with your child.

Week 11: Navigating Increasing Expectations

• Gradually reintroducing expectations while maintaining autonomy, trust and connection.

• Using a Pathway to Growth and Confidence to scaffold experiences that are both challenging and meaningful.

• Activity: Work together to create a personalized Pathway to Growth for a task or situation your child finds valuable but difficult.

Week 12: Reflecting and Sustaining Growth

• Celebrating progress and discussing how to maintain the gains made.

• Crafting a plan for ongoing connection and emotional growth.

• Activity: Create a Family Vision Map to align shared values and goals.