Most frameworks for understanding autism are built on deficiency models. In the current DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria, core autistic features include “persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction,” with “deficits […]
I work with a lot of families who arrive at Help and Healing Center exhausted. They’ve tried everything: changed schools, adjusted medications, rearranged the entire household around their child’s needs. […]
You left the office with a stack of papers and a sinking feeling. Maybe the psychologist spent 45 minutes with your child – rushed, checking boxes and told you she’s […]
Emotional regulation is something we all do throughout the day, often without realizing it. It shows up both in small moments, like pausing before responding to a frustrating email or […]
“Why does my child panic when asked to do something simple?” This common question echoes in the minds of many parents and caregivers. It’s not always defiance—it may be pathological […]
Support as You Need It: Introducing Follow-Up Consultations for Families Psychological evaluations are powerful tools. They help clarify a child’s strengths, needs, and neurodevelopmental profile, and they offer direction for […]
The Safe and Sound Protocol: A Gentle, Science-Based Approach to Regulating the Nervous System Many of the people I work with—whether they’re autistic, living with anxiety, recovering from trauma, or […]
Why Do I Avoid Things I Actually Want to Do? A neurodiversity-affirming look at demand avoidance in PDA Have you ever looked forward to something, only to find yourself avoiding […]
What Actually Helps a PDAer Feel Safe? Understanding safety from a nervous system perspective. If you’ve ever supported someone with a PDA profile—or you are one—you’ve probably seen how quickly […]
For many adults, receiving an autism diagnosis can be a profound and validating moment. It can bring clarity to lifelong patterns, ease years of self-doubt, and open the door to […]