Restorative Learning
A Vision for Neurodiversity
Understanding Theory of Mind
The heart of restorative learning lies in personally answering this fundamental question: How do we each uniquely experience and interact with the world around us? This is what I call “your theory of mind" a personalized approach that springs from a practical theory of mind. It is not just learning or knowing, it is understanding and practice. A personal practice of self-awareness.
Something special happens when you set out purposely to define and develop your own personal theory of mind. Not just declaring or accepting what you are, but really going out and figuring out what you are, what are your true capacities and how you can use that knowledge to build a personal framework to address the problems you confront.
The Wholistic Problem Solving Approach
To support this understanding, I've developed Wholistic Problem Solving (WPS) - a scaffolded framework that adapts to each individual's developmental level. This approach isn't about fitting students into a predetermined mold. Instead, it helps them examine their own problem-solving process, identifying both strengths and areas for growth.
Goal-Setting as a Journey of Intention
One crucial insight that often gets overlooked is that goal-setting isn't a destination - it's a developmental process. Many people don't realize that setting and achieving goals is a skill that continually evolves. You may suck at it now, but that is only because you have not made doing it a priority, or have not made that priority into a habitual routine. Individual goals are simply data points along this ongoing journey. Maybe what you are experiencing is not a failure, but rather an early data point that you will be able to look back on with pride later. An obstacle you overcame in the face of the odds against you.
Various factors can impact your ability to set goals and achieve intentions. Uncover these obstacles. Sometimes all we need is a little help to develop our own personalized solutions or to create effective workarounds. Mentorship in Wholistic Problem Solving is all about supporting you in discovering your unique path.
Discovering Your "Special Sauce"
Through Wholistic Problem Solving (WPS) you identify the primary ingredients of your learning style - what I call your "special sauce." Understanding these core elements enables you to move toward self-authorship - taking control of your own learning journey and life direction.
The Power of Peer Mentoring
For those who continue with the program, we offer a unique opportunity: the chance to share your insights with others who share similar neurodiversity patterns. Using the WPS framework, we can identify individuals with similar neurological strengths and challenges, creating powerful mentoring relationships.
These connections work in multiple ways:
Experienced learners mentor those earlier in their journey
Peers with complementary strengths support each other
Mentoring reinforces self-regulated learning skills
Scaling Up: From Private Practice to Community Impact
I'm transitioning from private practice to a center because I've recognized that this framework has the potential to transform entire:
Classrooms
Schools
Communities
We're in the early stages of this expansion, and every contribution supports our mission to provide high-quality metacognitive education to all students. My goal is to ensure every learner has the support they need to achieve success.
Join My Mission
This is just the beginning of a journey to revolutionize how we approach neurodiversity and learning. I am committed to helping every student develop their metacognitive skills and thrive. Your support helps make this vision a reality. Thank you for your support.
I really enjoyed the emphasis on self-awareness over labels. The idea of helping people understand how they learn and solve problems, rather than forcing them into a predefined framework, feels both practical and empowering.
I also loved the point that goals are data points, not verdicts. More people need to hear that.