Project SOOTHe

What is Project SOOTHe (Sensory Opportunities Offering Therapeutic Help)?

For children who have experienced trauma, it can be difficult to feel safe and securely attached in a new home, no matter how loving or supportive that home is. But there’s hope for them...and for you as a caregiver! One of the best ways to support the children in your life is to understand and meet their sensory processing needs. And Project SOOTHe can help. 

What is Sensory Processing? 

We’re glad you asked. Sensory processing is the way our nervous system receives sensory messages and information, and turns them into responses. For example, when we walk into a loud room or brush up against another person, our brain takes cues from those interactions and tells our bodies how to respond. 

What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?

SPD is a neurological disorder in which sensory signals aren’t organized into appropriate responses. Children with SPD perceive and/or respond to sensory information differently than other people and this disorganization interrupts their daily routines.Sometimes when children experience trauma, their brain begins to respond inappropriately to sensory stimuli. This is known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or referred to as sensory sensitivities. If a child’s sensory needs aren’t met, you as a caregiver may see some struggles with emotional regulation, transitions, social skills, sensitivities to light, smells, and/or sounds, and a plethora of other sensory-related behaviors. The good news is that meeting these unique needs can make all the difference, and that’s where Project SOOTHe comes in!

Oftentimes, these children are labeled “troublemakers” because their sensory processing needs aren’t understood, and therefore, aren’t met. The good news is that meeting their unique needs can make all the difference!

5% of kids deal with SPD, but an estimated 80% of kids with traumatic backgrounds experience challenges with SPD.

Project SOOTHe can provide sensory objects such as weighted blankets, therapeutic swings, sensory toys, and other sensory-rich items that can help meet sensory needs and ease anxiety. These items are designed to calm the nervous system, stabilize moods, and aid in sleep and emotional regulation.

“A 45 minute video call changed our family forever, and I'm so grateful. We had no idea what we didn't know. We learned things that immediately impacted our approach to our son's behavior and we are now able to address things with a level of knowledge and compassion that we couldn't have done on our own. Project SOOTHe is a game changer." -Foster/Adoptive Mom