Tuning In to Development

What does love look like when we let go of social expectations and truly meet each other as we are?

In this episode, guest host Dr. Jennie Trocchio is joined by Monica Osgood, a longtime leader in developmental, relationship-based approaches, and Anie Knipping, an autistic homemaker, author and artist, for a deeply human conversation about love, neurodiversity, and connection.

Together, they explore how autistic individuals experience love through comfort, trust, honesty, and shared support—and how many of these needs are universal, even if they show up differently. Anie shares powerful lived-experience stories about partnership, sensory safety, honesty, identity, and what it means to be a true team in a relationship. Monica adds a developmental lens, introducing frameworks that help explain why safety, competence, confidence, and shared control are essential foundations for meaningful connection.

This conversation moves beyond dating “rules” and stereotypes to highlight what helps relationships thrive: being understood, honoring individual differences, finding your people, and building love that makes space for who you truly are.

In this insightful and engaging episode, host Kassie Allison and guest Traci Swink, MD delve into the intricate dynamics of stress, resilience, and nervous system regulation within families, particularly during challenging times. They explore how various stressors, including environmental and social factors, can impact both children and adults, and why some individuals are more susceptible to stress due to early developmental influences and unique nervous system wiring.

The discussion highlights the importance of co-regulation, relational safety, and understanding individual differences in managing stress. Traci introduces the concept of body budgets and provides practical strategies for caregivers to support both their own and their children's nervous systems. Additionally, Traci shares a real-life example of how tailored interventions in a daycare setting helped a child navigate his stress, illustrating the principles of neuro-relational care in action. 

The episode underscores the significance of building resilience through supportive relationships and adaptive stress management, offering hope and practical guidance for families in stressful seasons.

In this episode of Tuning In to Development, host Kassie Allison explores how families and clinicians can navigate the unique challenges the holiday season brings for neurodivergent children. Drawing on perspectives from both parents and professionals, Kassie discusses the increased stress, sensory demands, and shifting routines that can make this time of year especially overwhelming.

Listeners will learn practical strategies for setting realistic expectations, planning ahead, creating flexible routines, developing exit plans, and supporting children around food and social pressures. The episode also highlights ways to build new, meaningful traditions that honor each child’s individual needs. A warm and thoughtful conversation to help families approach the holidays with confidence, compassion, and connection.

In this episode, host Kassie Allison talks with Dr. Josh Feder, a child and family psychiatrist and Profectum Faculty member, about the complex topic of medication use in autism and neurodiversity. They discuss common reasons people are prescribed medications, the importance of addressing environmental and sensory factors first, and how naturalistic, developmental, and parent-mediated strategies can often reduce the need for prescriptions. Dr. Feder walks listeners through his “algorithm for care,” starting with understanding the child’s intent, sensory and motor needs, communication, and co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. Dr. Feder emphasizes a thoughtful, relationship-based approach to care—one that explores all possible supports before turning to medication.

In this episode of 'Tuning into Development,' host Kassie Allison and Dr. Taiisha Calbert-Foster, a school psychologist, discuss comprehensive strategies to support students in the academic setting. They delve into the processes of 504 plans, IEPs, and student and parent rights. The conversation covers how to identify and address different student needs through classroom monitoring, building-level referrals, and comprehensive assessments, and what parents can do to advocate for their children's educational needs.