When a teenager shuts down during an appointment, our first instinct is often to ask: How do we get them to participate? A different question might be: What is participation costing them? Are they overwhelmed? Masking? Unsure how to explain what's happening? Trying to avoid making a mistake? Protecting themselves from one more demand? Sometimes the goal isn't helping someone tolerate more. Sometimes it's helping them understand themselves well enough to ask for what they need. #occupationaltherapy #speechlanguagepathology