Branch and Bloom
Neuroaffirming social skills and parent support growing side-by-side
A neurofirming social skills program for elementary-aged kids who are still learning how to navigate friendships, big feelings, and group dynamics—but thrive best outside of classrooms and demanding environments. While children build confidence, flexibility, and connection through low-pressure nature themed activities, parents will gather nearby for facilitated support, tools, and real talk. This is not a drop-off program—it’s a shared experience designed to help families grow stronger, together.
Mandy guides the children's group: Mandy is a neurodivergent mom, educator, and coach who’s spent nearly 20 years navigating the parenting world with two brilliantly unique, neurospicy kids. Along the way, she's led youth programs, earned a master’s degree in education, and built a career helping families create calm, connection, and confidence—without the shame or shoulds. (bluetulip.ie.llc@gmail.com)
Jen facilitates the parent circle: Jen is a queer, polyamorous, neurospicy homeschooling mom, conscious parenting coach, and Healing Story Circle facilitator with 10 years of experience in helping outside the box families thrive and grow. They bring compassion, curiosity, and play to deep healing and transformation that brings the joy back to parenting and relationships. (healwithjeng@gmail.com)
Does your child have a big heart but struggle to connect with peers?
Do they light up outside of school but dim in classrooms or structured social groups?
Do you wish that you could talk with other parents about the unique challenges to raising these amazing kids?
If this is your family, join us for
Branch and Bloom: A Neuroaffirming Social Group for Kids & Their Grownups
Because growing together is better than going it alone
Program Info:
For elementary aged children and their parent or caregiver
Limited group sizes of 4-6 children to ensure meaningful connections
Location: Park in Northwest Denver
Dates: Spring session begins late March
Time: TBD
Cost: $350
Early Bird Discount will be available- join the waitlist for information when details are released
siblings registered in the same group save 20%
What to Expect:
Low pressure social activities that foster connection and emotional regulation using natural materials
Scaffolding to help children succeed socially in real interactions with peers
A trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming environment
Gentle structure without pressure to perform or “fit in”
A parallel parent group for support, reflection, and community
Led by experienced educators, coaches, and parents who get it
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ages for groups are determined by your child’s age at the start of the program. If you have a request for a group for another age, please email us.
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We believe that consistency in the group allows for more growth in skills, relationships, and depth of connections for both children and adults, so we do not have a drop in option. While we encourage attending all weeks, we understand that illness and life events happen, and there is no penalty for missing a session.
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Mandy’s suggested language:
You’ll have fun playing games, exploring nature, and learning how to be a good friend. We’ll talk about big feelings and work together on fun activities. It’s a place where everyone can feel happy, be themselves, and make friends.
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The kids' activities will be around things in nature. A few of Mandy’s go to guides are:
"Sharing Nature: Nature Awareness aCtivities for all" by Joseph Cornell "Coyote's Guide to Connecting with Nature" by Jon Young, Ellen Haas, Evan McGown
"Play the Forest School Way" by Jane Worroll & Petter Houghton
Activities include storytelling, exploration, nature crafts, predator play, Build a Tree, Animal Communication and camouflage.
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Parent support circles follow a light structure beginning with a grounding/centering exercise before moving into a sharing space. You may share about anything going on in your life- parenting challenges, partner struggles, other stressors, and wins as well! The group will listen with compassion to shares and then offer gentle reflections and questions. There is never judgement or telling you what to do. There is also never pressure or a requirement to share. In our last few minutes, we close our circle with a short closing ritual. Confidentiality is very important for a safe sharing space, so it is vital that nothing shared in circle is discussed outside the circle.
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This group prioritizes inclusion and non-discrimination. We respect everyone’s pronouns and identities and expect the same respect from all participants. Queer, trans or non-binary individuals and non-traditional family structures are welcome!
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Children and adult groups will be near each other- your child will be able to see you and know where you are. For many children, this is enough. We believe that encouraging your child to try to participate without you is ideal, because they get to experience relationships with other children fully, and you get to experience support fully. However, we also want the experience to be gentle and positive for your child and if they need time to adjust or run to the parent group for a hug, we will not stop them.
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Ideally, if you are able to have other childcare for siblings, it will allow you and your participating child to have the best experience. If this is not possible, we encourage you to bring an activity for the siblings to do near the parent group. Please keep in mind that adults may discuss topics you don’t want your children to hear and balancing caring for them may impact your experience in the support circle. However, we believe that less than ideal support is better than no support, so we don’t want lack of childcare to be a barrier to participation.
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Your registration includes one child and one adult. It’s fine if that adult changes from week to week. If you want to have a 2nd adult join the group, please email us or use the “sibling” registration to add a 3rd member of the same family. We want to accommodate as many parents as possible while ensuring the group size stays within our maximum of 6.
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In the event you or your child is sick, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or cough within the last 24 hours, please stay home so you can recover and protect the health of other participants in Branch and Bloom.
Refunds or makeup classes are not available for absences. Please do your best to attend all sessions to maximize the learning and relationship and skills development. -
(During Winter we will meet indoors and do not anticipate cancellations due to weather unless driving conditions are unsafe)
We anticipate being outdoors in weather that is hot, chilly, windy, or damp. Please bring water, use sunscreen, and dress appropriately. If the weather is severe enough for it to be unsafe, we will cancel.
In the event that we need to cancel a session due to severe weather or other unforeseeable circumstance, we will offer a makeup session, and if we are unable to offer a makeup session we will offer a pro-rated refund. We will make every effort to communicate any cancellation by the email and phone number given at registration.
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We are working on being able to accept waiver funding, and we may be able to accept mill levy funding. If you would like to work with us to try to set it up, we would ask you to register and pay, and then we will work together to submit invoicing for waiver funding. If we succeed we would refund your out of pocket cost. Please email us to discuss further.
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We do too! Send us an email with what you’re looking for and we’ll see what we can do for future sessions.
In particular, we are exploring a Fort Collins and a South Denver group. If you would be interested in either, please email us.
Ready to grow with us?
What results do we see from Branch & Bloom?
Children engaging more with their peers
Children exhibit less distress in social situations
Children are more able to articulate feelings and needs
Less dysregulation and conflict
Parents feel less isolated and lonely
Parents are more able to balance their own needs with their child’s
What are people saying?
“This was the first time I was able to really interact with other parents with children the same age as mine who are also going through similar situations. ”
“I find other kids less annoying now. I learned how to play with them and actually have fun.”
“This is the first time she’s ever asked to have a playdate”
“I learned a lot of tips to make friends. I get played with at school more.”
“This compassionate course helps you to find your own answers with skilled support in a small group setting. I learned so much from the other group members, too! ”
“Since Branch & Bloom is the first time we can go places with other kids without him having meltdowns”
Parents of neurodivergent children often deal with chaos and conflict at home, and get burned out, exhausted, and stressed. We work so hard to make sure our kiddos get therapies, supports, and accommodations, and we often put ourselves last on the list of people to take care of. We suffer, and we grieve the way we thought parenting would be.
I help parents of neurodivergent children thrive. I offer space and support to process the stresses of parenting challenging children, tools to communicate effectively and connect with your unique children, and help you learn how to hold boundaries and find win-win solutions so that your needs get met as well as theirs.
This isn't a simple, prescriptive quick fix- those never work for the complex and difficult dynamics in neurodivergent families. This is deep, transformational work that heals parents and families. Parenting a neurodivergent child may never be easy- but it can be rewarding and fulfilling.