In this episode of Down to Heal, Cynthia is joined by Beth Simmons, a family nurse practitioner certified in functional medicine, naturopathy, and well-care. Beth shares her personal journey with endometriosis and why functional medicine became the missing link in her healing.

This conversation explores perimenopause, hormone balance, gut health, stress, emotional regulation, and hormone replacement therapy. Beth also offers practical, realistic wellness strategies for women and parents navigating hormonal shifts, without overwhelm.

Whether you’re experiencing perimenopause symptoms, supporting children through hormonal changes, or feeling dismissed by “normal labs,” this episode provides clarity, compassion, and actionable insight.

This episode answers common questions about functional medicine, perimenopause symptoms, hormone balance, gut health, and hormone replacement therapy.

Connect with Cynthia Sharpe: https://cynchronisity.com/ & https://additionalneeds.info/

Connect with Beth Simmons: https://farfallawellnessfh.com/

In this episode of Down to Heal, Cynthia Sharpe sits down with Laurie Barraco, founder of The Mystical Moon and intuitive advisor, to explore the mystical side of parenting children with additional needs.

Together, they dive into:

• The concept of soul agreements and pre-birth awareness
• How children communicate through presence, sensitivity, and telepathy
• Navigating the human emotions of blame, guilt, and exhaustion
• Recognizing synchronicities (aka the “Rule of Three”)
• Supporting your child’s high-frequency spiritual sensitivity
• Tips for grounding, protection, and mindful energy practices at home

This episode is for parents, caregivers, and anyone who wants to see the unseen guidance that surrounds the additional needs community—and how children can teach us about patience, love, and presence.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more heart-centered conversations.

Connect with Laurie Barraco / Mystical Moon: https://lauriebarraco.com/ and https://themysticalmoon.com/about/

Learn more about Cynthia at https://cynchronisity.com/

Learn about Additional Needs, Inc. at https://additionalneeds.info/

When life feels out of control, most people look outside themselves for answers. But what if the truth is… you already carry them within?

In this episode of Down to Heal, Cynthia Sharpe — Biofeedback Specialist, energy practitioner, and advocate for holistic healing, connects with Sue Campanella, energy therapist, Reiki Master, and practitioner of Emotion Code, Body Code, and Belief Code, to explore how energy healing helps people return to who they were born to be.

Sue shares her defining “jump off the cliff” moment, leaving a lucrative career in advertising to follow a calling she couldn’t ignore. Facing fear and self-doubt became the doorway to her life’s mission: helping people release limiting beliefs, clear trapped emotions, and walk fully in their truth.

Together, Cynthia and Sue discuss how energy work supports adults, children, and especially families in the additional needs community, where emotional patterns often show up through behavior, overwhelm, and unspoken stress. Sue shares a powerful real-life example of helping neutralize extreme “equalizing behavior” in a young girl, a moment that reveals what becomes possible when trapped emotions are released.

This episode is a grounded, compassionate reminder that healing is not about fixing what’s broken, it’s about remembering what’s already whole.

Learn more about Sue at https://suecampanella.com/

Learn more about Cynthia at https://cynchronisity.com/

Learn about Additional Needs, Inc. at https://additionalneeds.info/

Two mothers met while their children were in hospice… and changed the future of cannabis education and medical advocacy forever.

In this deeply moving and educational episode of Down to Heal, host Cynthia Sharpe sits down with Sasha from Realm of Caring, a nonprofit founded by Heather Jackson and Paige Figgy—two mothers who transformed unimaginable grief into one of the most trusted cannabinoid research and education organizations in the world.

This conversation goes far beyond trends or headlines. It’s about necessity, research, safety, and love, and what every caregiver deserves to understand about CBD, THC, and the Endocannabinoid System (ECS).

In this episode, we explore:

• How Realm of Caring was born in hospice—and why that matters 
• The difference between CBD (hemp-derived) and high-THC medical cannabis 
• Why medical cards and dosing guidance are critical, especially for minors
• How THC microdosing works and why panic or intoxication can happen and does pass
• Why product quality is non-negotiable (the “remedial crop / Chernobyl” analogy)
• The Endocannabinoid System, the body’s largest neurotransmitter system
• How cannabinoids may support ECS deficiencies 
• Real stories of non-verbal individuals beginning to speak
• The truth about CBD and liver health—and what research actually shows 
• How families are reducing ER visits, pharmaceuticals, and overall medical burden

This is stigma-free, research-backed education for: 

• Parents of children with additional needs 
• Caregivers navigating complex diagnoses 
• Anyone seeking safer, informed cannabis use
• Clinicians and advocates ready for honest conversations

Free Support & Resources: Realm of Caring offers a free hotline, educational support, and a robust research library for families and providers. ‪@RealmofCaringvideos‬ website: https://realmofcaring.org/ 

Subscribe for grounded conversations on healing, education, and empowered choice.

Learn more about Cynthia at https://cynchronisity.com/

IEP meetings shouldn’t feel like an ambush. Yet for most additional needs parents, they do, intimidating, confusing, and stacked with educational jargon designed to wear you down. In this powerhouse episode of Down to Heal, Cynthia sits with legendary advocate Wilbur Hawke, who brings 30+ years of special education experience and personal advocacy for his own son.

Wilbur breaks down the hidden mechanics of the IEP system:

• the legal force behind Informed Consent,
• the truth about Least Restrictive Environment (LRE),
• and why documentation is the engine that drives real change.

You’ll learn how to shift from emotional overwhelm to strategic power — turning every IEP meeting into a focused, business-like negotiation where you, not the district, lead the conversation.

This is the roadmap every parent needs from kindergarten to high school and beyond.

Chapters

• The Dangers of Modified Curriculum & Informed Consent
• Why IEP Meetings Feel Intimidating (and How to Change That) 
• Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): Where True Inclusion Happens 
• Why Parents Must Master IDEA & 504 
• Prepare Like a Pro: The Non-Emotional Business Approach 
• How We Revoked Consent for Modified Curriculum 
• “Neutral Funding”: The Rule That Makes the Money Follow the Child
• What Dads Bring to the Table (and Why Schools Notice) 
• Your Right to an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)

You can contact Wilbur Hawke via South Florida Parent Center https://sfptic.org/ or email him at wilbur@sfptic.org

You can also find the South Florida Parent Center and other resources discussed during the conversation at Additional Needs, Inc. https://additionalneeds.info/resources/

In this deeply personal episode of Down to Heal, Cynthia sits down with fellow moms from Camp Able Marco Island to have one of the most honest and emotional conversations yet, about love, dating, intimacy, and boundaries within the neurodivergent and additional needs community.

From navigating personal space and consent to the challenges of friendship, rejection, and social understanding, these moms share their lived experiences raising teens and adults with autism, traumatic brain injury, and Down syndrome.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to model affection without overstepping boundaries 
• The difference between being friendly and showing romantic interest 
• When neurotypical interactions get misunderstood, and how to teach context 
• The social pain of exclusion and the longing to belong 
• Why one mom says she’d focus less on academics and more on social growth 
• A powerful reminder: our kids’ desire for connection is just as real, and just as sacred

This is a conversation filled with compassion, vulnerability, and hope. Because every child, regardless of ability, deserves to experience love safely, freely, and without shame.

Get the tissues out… we’re getting real. 

Learn about Camp Able: https://additionalneeds.info/resource…

Learn about Additional Needs, Inc.: https://additionalneeds.info/

Learn about STARability Foundation: https://additionalneeds.info/resource… 

When a family receives a diagnosis like autism or Down syndrome, everything shifts. The roadmap changes, and so does the rhythm of life. In this conversation, Behavioral Analyst Carolyn O’Connell joins Down to Heal to shed light on what true support looks like — for the child, the parents, and the entire family system.

Together, we explore: 

• What a Behavioral Analyst really does — beyond behavior modification
• How early signs can guide compassionate, proactive support 
• The myths around ABA and how love and structure can co-exist
• Ways to stay grounded, attuned, and connected through challenging moments

This episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t begin with fixing — it begins with understanding, presence, and love.

Listen, learn, and lean into connection. Subscribe to Down to Heal for more conversations where science meets soul, and where every story invites us to grow in empathy, hope, and heart.

Learn more about Carolyn at Mindful Master Pieces: https://www.mindfulmasterpieces.com/

Learn more about Cynthia at 𝐂𝐲𝐧𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: https://cynchronisity.com/

Learn about 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧’ at 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, 𝐈𝐧𝐜. 𝐀𝐍𝐈: https://additionalneeds.info/sharpeli…

𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞!

Some stories stop you in their tracks — not because they’re easy, more so because they remind us how powerful love can be in the face of adversity.

In this episode of 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥, we sit down with 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡, a former special education teacher turned mother and now the Executive Director of 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 — whose story redefines resilience. What began in the classroom led to adoption, advocacy, and a journey through trauma and healing that continues to inspire countless families.

We explore:

• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
• 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐏𝐓𝐒𝐃
• 𝐓𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭
• 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝” 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐬

This conversation is raw, real, and full of wisdom that doesn’t just inform — it inspires. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or advocate, you’ll walk away with insights on how to show up with love, empathy, and courage in the face of life’s toughest challenges. 

Resources & Links Mentioned:

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 — National Alliance on Mental Illness https://namicollier.org/

𝐂𝐲𝐧𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: https://cynchronisity.com/

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬, 𝐈𝐧𝐜. 𝐀𝐍𝐈: https://additionalneeds.info/resource…

A Note from the Down to Heal Team:

We wanted to let you know that this episode has a few sound challenges due to microphone issues. It’s the only episode with this issue, and while we value professionalism and high-quality production, we also deeply honor authenticity.

The conversation that unfolded here was too genuine, too heart-led, and too full of wisdom to recreate. Rather than re-record and lose that magic, we chose to preserve its original energy and truth.

To help you fully enjoy and follow along, we encourage you to turn on closed captions or subtitles for this episode.

Thank you for your understanding, your open hearts, and for journeying with us—flaws and all—into the real and raw spaces where healing conversations live. 

Cynthia & the Down to Heal Team

In this heart-led episode, Speech Language Pathologist Anne Steiner CCC-SLP, PROMPT-Trained, NBCECG at Golisano Children’s Healthcare Center of Naples shares specialized expertise for parents navigating communication challenges.

We dive into Childhood Apraxia of Speech—the early signs, diagnosis, and how the tactile PROMPT Therapy (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Musculature Phonetic Targets) method unlocks a child’s voice. Anne explains how to maximize daily routines, the link between gut health and speech, and how to foster emotional safety for healing communication. A vital listen for any parent, caregiver, or professional seeking deep, compassionate insight.

Key Topics: Apraxia red flags, PROMPT therapy, early intervention for babies, trauma-informed practice, and advocacy tips.

➡️ Connect with Anne Steiner: https://www.leehealth.org/our-service…

➡️Learn more about Cynthia’s process🔗https://cynchronisity.com/ 

Additional Needs, Inc. (ANI) is excited to support the launch of 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥, a powerful new podcast created by our very own Cynthia Sharpe. 

Learn about Additional Needs, Inc. (ANI)🔗 https://additionalneeds.info/

If you’d like to sponsor 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥 and help us continue upgrading equipment while also supporting ANI’s 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 (𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐏), email ⁠doug@additionalneeds.info⁠ Learn about ANI’s 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 (𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐏) 🔗 https://additionalneeds.info/family-e...

In this deeply personal episode of 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥, host Cynthia Sharpe sits down with Dr. Lowell, pediatric cardiologist, who guided her family through one of the most challenging seasons of their lives, her son’s open-heart surgery as a baby. Together, they explore what every parent of a child with Down syndrome or other additional needs should know about congenital heart defects: The most common heart conditions in children with Down syndrome How congenital heart defects are diagnosed, prenatally or after birth When open-heart surgery is recommended and why early intervention matters What testing, imaging, and surgical timelines look like How families can prepare emotionally and practically for surgery This conversation goes beyond medicine, it’s about resilience, trauma-informed care, and the hope that families can hold onto when facing the unknown. Whether you’re a parent walking this journey, a caregiver, or simply someone who wants to better understand the unique challenges and triumphs of these children, this episode will leave you informed, supported, and inspired. Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Learn more about Cynthia’s process: https://cynchronisity.com/ 

Additional Needs, Inc. (ANI) is excited to support the launch of 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥, a powerful new podcast created by our very own Cynthia Sharpe. 

Learn about Additional Needs, Inc. (ANI): https://additionalneeds.info/

Kicking off 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥, Ann Robertson (‘Granny Annie’) steps in as guest host to share Cynthia’s journey—from new mother in crisis to visionary co-founder and catalyst for healing. Cynthia doesn’t call herself a healer; instead, she serves as a reminder, helping others reconnect with their body’s innate wisdom . This conversation is about vulnerability, resilience, and the courage to create something beautiful out of hardship. If you’ve ever felt lost in the fog, this episode offers hope and a path forward. 

Learn more about Cynthia’s process: https://cynchronisity.com/

Additional Needs, Inc. (ANI) is excited to support the launch of 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥, a powerful new podcast created by our very own Cynthia Sharpe. 

Learn about Additional Needs, Inc. (ANI)🔗 https://additionalneeds.info/

𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐓𝐨 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥 is a powerful tool to help families on their journey, and as ANI grows, we’ll continue upgrading our equipment to put our best foot forward. If you’d like to sponsor Down To Heal and support ANI’s Family Empowerment Employment Program, email me at doug@additionalneeds.info Learn about 𝐀𝐍𝐈’𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 (𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐏) here: FEEP

“𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞.” That phrase has become my compass.

Welcome to Down to Heal, a tribute to the young man who completely changed the course of my life—our son. He came into this world with a quiet strength and unmistakable power, and just one week after his birth, we learned he had Down syndrome and would need open heart surgery. It was a moment that cracked me wide open.

I believe our neurologically different children are the canaries in the coal mine of our modern world—highly sensitive, deeply intuitive, and often the first to show us what needs to change. They are not broken; they are mirrors.

This podcast is not just a series of conversations—it’s a movement. A call to slow down, observe more closely, and rethink the systems we’ve been told to trust without question.

I’m starting this journey with the professionals who met us at the very beginning—when parenthood was still brand new, and we were trying to survive a maze of therapies, diagnoses, medical jargon, and educational systems.

It’s not always a beautiful story. It’s a human story. And if sharing it means one parent feels less alone or one child is better understood, then it’s worth every word.

In this sizzle reel, you’ll hear from our son’s cardiologist, Dr. Robert Voigt Lowell, who diagnosed his congenital heart condition, and from his speech-language pathologist, Anne Steiner, trained in P.R.O.M.P.T. therapy, who first recognized his apraxia.

What I’ve learned is this:

No one—not even you—knows the full capacity of your potential.

And when you start to believe in it, that’s when the healing begins.

May this ignite something in you, as it has in me.

We’re just getting started.

Down to Heal is in its early stages, and this is just a glimpse of what’s to come.

Follow along as we shine light on the real, raw, and remarkable stories behind diagnosis, development, and healing.

Subscribe. Share. Stay tuned.

Because healing begins with awareness—and awareness begins here.

To learn about Additional Needs, Inc. the non-profit that produces it, please visit ANI’s website here: https://additionalneeds.info/