The ADHD Porcupine Approach to Handle Oppositional Kids and Build Emotional Safety with Dr. Christie Rogers

Feb 3, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Christie Rogers-Larke, founder of Outside of the Box Therapy, shares her journey with ADHD and the inspiration behind her book, The ADHD Porcupine and the Bunny. She emphasizes re-framing oppositional behaviors as communication, advocating for collaboration over punishment. Listeners will learn practical strategies for nurturing emotional safety and resilience in neurodiverse children. Dr. Christie also encourages recognizing each child's strengths and fostering motivation through understanding and compassion.

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ANECDOTE

Porcupine Self-Discovery

Dr. Christie describes being labeled a "strong will" child and testing boundaries throughout her life.
She adopted the porcupine metaphor to explain her defensive quills and how others respond to her.

INSIGHT

Opposition As Communication

Opposition often reflects a nervous-system-driven need for safety rather than willful defiance.
Behaviors communicate distress when words or self-awareness are missing.

ADVICE

Choose Teamwork Over Punishment

Avoid purely punitive discipline like taking things away repeatedly.
Get the child on your team by teaching expected behavior and offering meaningful benefits for cooperation.

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Learn kind and practical tips to support your ADHD child by downloading the First 3 Chapters of the book for FREE here: https://bit.ly/first_3_chapters
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In this episode, host Kate Brownfield sits down with Dr. Christie Rogers-Larke, founder and clinical director of Outside of the Box Therapy in South Carolina. Dr. Christie shares her journey growing up with ADHD, her observations as a therapist, and the inspiration behind her children's book, The ADHD Porcupine and the Bunny.

Diagnosed with ADHD in college, Dr. Christie uses her personal experiences and professional expertise to support neurodiverse children and their families. Through practical advice, real-life examples, and the heart-touching story of her book, she emphasizes the importance of understanding, compassion, and recognizing the unique strengths of individuals with ADHD.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and caregivers looking to support neurodiverse children better and help them thrive in their own way.

📚 Expect to Learn

How to reframe oppositional behavior as a form of communication.
Strategies for navigating emotional regulation and motivating neurodiverse children.
The importance of focusing on a child's strengths rather than their challenges.
How to build flexibility and structure in parenting without losing balance.
Insights from The ADHD Porcupine and the Bunny and its approach to resilience.

⏳ Episode Breakdown with Timestamps ⏳ [00:03:25] - Dr. Christie’s ADHD Journey
[00:06:57] - The Inspiration Behind the Book
[00:08:46] - Parenting Strategies
[00:10:46] - The Bunny’s Role in the Story:
[00:13:06] - Understanding Oppositional Behaviors
[00:15:05] - Social Media & ADHD Awareness
[00:17:35] - Final Words of Wisdom
[00:20:32] - Conclusion

Connect with our Guest Dr. Christie Rogers- Larke
👉 Visit her website: https://www.outsideoftheboxtherapy.com/
👉 Her Book, “The ADHD Porcupine and the Bunny”, is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DFTZ6BWP

Follow Host Kate Brownfield at the ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast on:

👉 Join Parent Support Group: Sign up for details here

👉 Website: http://www.adhdkidscanthrive.com/
👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Adhdkidscanthrive

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