Unleashing Happiness through Flexibility and Lifelong Learning with Louise Sattler

On today's episode of the "Helping Families Be Happy" podcast, host Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist, wellness advocate, and author based in Sonoma County, California is going to talk to Louise Sattler, a content creator dedicated to spreading fun and joy for families and children, particularly those with special needs and talents. 

 

Episode Highlights:

• 01:22 - Louise compares herself to Gumby, emphasizing her flexibility, curiosity, and constant learning. She mentions her belief in being a lifelong learner and her generous nature.
• 04:12 - Carla acknowledges the beautiful charts and resources provided by Louise including sign expressions in English and Spanish, as well as important words and a bookmark. 
• 08:02: Carla and Louise discuss the importance of communication cards for first responders, parents, and kids.
• 08:58: Carla mentions the foundational values of healthy families and asks how Louise's work contributes to family happiness.
• 09:28: Louise acknowledges that their work as a psychologist is not always about delivering happy news, as they often have to inform parents about difficulties their children may be facing, such as autism. However, Louise finds satisfaction in providing parents with resources, connections, and support during challenging times.
• 10:57: Louise expresses how providing solace to parents going through difficult times brings them comfort. She mentions her personal experience as both a parent and a professional, highlighting the challenges she faced with her own child's reading difficulties.
• 11:35: Carla commends Louise for naturally addressing the silver lining in their work, which involves providing tools and resources to families. 
• 12:22: Louise emphasizes the importance of teamwork and collaboration in supporting families and children. She mentions relying on a team of experts and professionals to provide comprehensive support for parents and children going through challenges.
• 14:08: Louise suggests referring to children with special needs as having "unique challenges" or "unique talents" instead of disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and celebrating the different lenses through which individuals perceive the world.
• 14:32 - Carla shares a personal anecdote about their sister with Marfan syndrome, highlighting her exceptional intelligence, creativity, and stamina. She emphasizes the value of focusing on individuals' unique talents and what they bring to the world.
• 15:22: Louise discusses the importance of resilience and acknowledges the grieving process that parents may go through when their expectations for parenting differ from their reality. She emphasizes the need for professionals to understand and support parents during this process.
• 16:01: Louise encourages professionals to acknowledge and support parents through the grieving process that may arise from having a child with special needs.
• 17:03: Resilience is not about being Teflon or unaffected by challenges but rather accepting the circumstances and finding a way to move forward.
• 18:47: Having realistic expectations is important; Louise mentions how some people struggle with small everyday challenges, hindering their resilience.
• 19:23: Louise shares an example of someone becoming overly upset about getting the wrong shopping cart, emphasizing the need to move on from small inconveniences.
• 22:39: The learning tools, the literacy levels, and the care that is taken towards early young child literacy as well as the young adults, there are so many great books.
• 23:11: There are so many great books for parents and grandparents. As per Louise, a good book is one that she reads, and she is willing to stay past her bedtime to still be reading on the adult level.

3 Key Points:

1. Louise talks about her dedication to supporting children with disabilities and unique challenges, emphasizing the importance of seeing the world through different lenses and being inclusive.
2. Louise highlights the importance of pulling oneself up and moving forward with grace and dignity, without dwelling on the past.
3. Louise loves reviewing books, puzzles, games and traveling. She talks about picking out authors writing these children's books on levels that are very interesting to both parents and child.

Tweetable Quotes:

• "Resilience is not about being Teflon; it's about accepting what life throws at you and finding the strength to move forward." - Louise
• "Support from others can be the fuel that helps us build resilience in the face of challenges." - Louise
• "Sometimes the smallest things can feel monumental, hindering our ability to bounce back. Realistic expectations are key to fostering resilience." - Louise
• "Don't let minor inconveniences become volcanic eruptions. Keep your focus on what truly matters." - Louise
• "Resilience is not about avoiding pain; it's about facing it with grace and dignity and finding the courage to move forward." – Louise
• "There are a lot of books that I think are great for professionals as well, on topics like ADHD and autism." - Louise

Resources Mentioned

• Helping Families Be Happy Podcast Apple
• https://louisesattler.com/
• Podcast Editing