Understanding Masking: Helping Neurodiverse Kids Be Themselves
Masking, or camouflaging, is when a child hides their natural behaviors to fit in or avoid negative attention. This is common for neurodiverse kids, like those with autism or ADHD. […]
Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits
Navigating the world of insurance for mental health services can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can make the most of your benefits. Whether you’re seeking therapy or […]
Parenting Neurodiverse Children: Coping Strategies and Support
Parenting neurodiverse children, whether they have autism, ADHD, PDA or another condition, brings unique rewards and challenges. These children experience the world differently and often have varying needs compared to […]
Easing the Transition Back to School for Neurodiverse Families, Including PDAers: Practical Tips for All Ages
As summer days gradually give way to the cool, crisp air of autumn, many families begin preparing for the transition back to school. This time of year is often filled […]
Autistic Adults are Getting their Moment in the Media
It seems like everywhere you turn, the spotlight is shifting to adults who are just now discovering that their quirks, habits, and lifelong struggles might actually be a sign of […]
How to Support a Newly Diagnosed Person with Autism: A Guide for Friends and Family
Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult can be a profound and life-altering experience. For many, it brings a sense of relief and understanding, but it can also be overwhelming […]
Is it AuDHD?: When to Consider an ADHD Evaluation along with Autism
Have you heard the term AuDHD? Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (Autism) are both neurodevelopmental conditions that can have overlapping traits, making it challenging for individuals, families, and […]
4 Takeaways from Participating in a PDA Clinical Consultation Group
When you work as a private practice psychologist, you have to create your own community. While I get to know many lovely clients and other professionals who work with my […]
Join the Conversation: Your Insights Can Shape Autism Research and Services
Hello community! I have some exciting news to share, especially for those of you in the autism community or those who work closely with individuals on the autism spectrum. The […]
Find Your Place in The Neurodivergent Family with the Autistic Support Network
Have you ever felt out of place, even when surrounded by people? Wondered if anyone else sees the world quite the way you do? For many adults who are just […]
OCD Treatment for Autistic People
Here is an exciting guest blog post written by my local colleague Dr. Bethany Walker. Dr. Walker loves to help clients process and manage OCD symptoms, and she wrote this […]
Chicago-area Parent Support Group!
For many people, being a parent is one of the most challenging adventures they have—there can be tons of uncertainty, stress, and more—but it is also incredibly rewarding. When I […]
Understanding Neurodiversity: Embracing the Spectrum
You hear a lot about neurodiversity these days, and in this blog, I’d like to dive into what neurodiversity means and why it matters! Neurodiversity is a concept that recognizes […]
Assessing for Autism in High Masking Adults
This is a special blog post written by Help and Healing Center psychologist Dr. Jaime Long. Jaime is passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming psychological evaluations. She wrote this blog to help […]
Imposter Syndrome: Navigating Self-Doubt during and after Neurodivergent Assessments
Are you familiar with the term “imposter syndrome”? It’s that nagging feeling of doubt, making you question if you truly belong or if you’ve somehow “faked” your way into your […]
Breaking the Stigma: Embracing Mental Health Care and Seeking Help
In this guest blog, I invited Shauna Larson to share some information about mental health and some of the common misconceptions regarding diagnosis and treatment options. Check out this informative […]
Tips for Sharing Your Autism Diagnosis with Others
In this guest blog, I asked Malk Palmer, an autistic blogger, to share some information about a topic that many newly diagnosed adults worry about—disclosing an autism diagnosis to others. […]
The Importance of Finding a Neurodiversity-Affirming Provider for Mental Health Assessments
Have you ever felt misunderstood or mislabeled by a mental health provider? Or perhaps you’ve observed a loved one’s struggle with feeling truly seen or heard during their mental health […]
Understanding Autism and OCD while Embracing Neurodiversity
Autism and OCD are two neurological conditions which often intertwine, and their co-occurrence presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth. It’s important to understand the similarities and differences between autism […]
Understanding the Increase in Adult Autism Assessments: Exploring this Phenomenon
In recent years, an intriguing phenomenon has emerged in the field of psychological testing. Adults across the world are increasingly seeking evaluations for autism, resulting in a significant backlog of […]
The Real Reason So Many Adults Are Getting Diagnosed With Autism – It’s Not Just The Zoom Meetings
Have you noticed more and more people talking about being on the autism spectrum lately? Are you starting to wonder if maybe you’re one of them? Well, you’re not alone! […]
Could You Have PDA? The Surprising Symptoms You Might Be Missing
Are you someone who struggles to follow directions or feels overwhelmed by even the simplest of tasks? Do you find yourself constantly coming up with excuses to avoid doing things […]
Self Care for Autistic Adults
Self-care can be an incredibly complicated process for autistic people. You live in a world that is often not designed to meet your needs, and trying to understand what it […]
Forge Your Own Way – Your Neurodiverse Marriage – Guest Blog By Cheri Timko
This is another great guest blog written by a dear friend, Cheri Timko. Cheri is a Couples Relationship Coach who offers support to couples who want to ditch the disappointment […]
Autistic Support Network – An Online Community for Autistic Adults
Are you an adult trying to navigate life with autism? If so, Autistic Support Network (ASN) is here to provide support and resources. ASN is a free online community designed […]
Help and Healing Center is Growing!
Help and Healing Center is Growing! Meet Our Newest Clinician, Dr. Jaime Long! There is a tremendous need for neurodiversity-affirming, quality psychological evaluations. Doing this work well takes a combination […]
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive skills that are responsible for controlling and organizing other cognitive abilities and behaviors. These skills include the ability to: Plan and organize: […]
Building Connection in a Neurodiverse Marriage: Connection that Doesn’t Rely on Touch – Guest Blog By Cheri Timko
This is a special guest blog written by a dear friend, Cheri Timko. Cheri is a Couples Relationship Coach who offers support to couples who want to ditch disappointment so […]
How are Eye Contact and Autism Related
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a person’s social interaction, communication, and behavior. Lack of eye contact is one of the early signs of autism in children, and many […]
Evaluating for Autism in Women
When it comes to assessing for autism in adults, there are a number of key differences between males and females. When adults are being evaluated for autism for the first […]
Understanding the Differences Between Autism and Introversion
Autism and introversion are both often misunderstood concepts. Autistic people are often thought of as uninterested in conversation or social interaction, when in reality, many autistic people just have difficulty […]
Psychiatric testing
There is a NYT article that came out recently about mental health and there was a photo of a psychological test in it and many psychologists were pretty upset. Why […]
The Importance of Self-Care by Trapper Shafer
Here is another great piece from Trapper Shafer, an autistic adult and father to both neurotypical and autistic children. Enjoy! Taking Care of Them, Starts With Taking Care of You […]
Autism Assessment by Trapper Shafer
Here is another great piece from Trapper Shafer, an autistic adult and father to both neurotypical and autistic children. Enjoy! The Journey of Assessment My twins were diagnosed with autism […]
Benefits of an Adult Autism Diagnosis
For many autistic adults, receiving an official diagnosis can be a profound and life-changing experience. Prior to receiving a diagnosis, many individuals with undiagnosed autism struggle to understand why they […]
Why do Autistic People use Masking?
Masking is a complicated subject, and one that is often misunderstood by those who are not on the autism spectrum. This is why I’m so excited to be introducing our […]
How do you tell your child they are autistic?
After a child is diagnosed with autism, parents face many decisions. One of the most difficult questions is how to tell the child about their diagnosis. There is no easy […]
Adult Autism is Difficult by Trapper Shafer
Here is another great piece from Trapper Shafer, an autistic adult and father to both neurotypical and autistic children. Enjoy! Sometimes, I’d rather have cancer. The struggle of being autistic […]
Is it autism acceptance or autism awareness month?
Is it autism awareness month or autism acceptance month? You’ve probably heard both this year, and depends on who you talk to! Over the last several years, you have probably […]
Here is another great piece from Trapper Shafer
Here is another great piece from Trapper Shafer, an autistic adult and father to both neurotypical and autistic children. Enjoy! How do you tell them How I talked to my […]
What You Need to Know About Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
This week on the blog, I want to share a post from a Chicago-area therapist, Lora Dudek. Lora specializes in working with women with anxiety-based disorders and the transition to […]
What is sensory processing disorder?
Sensory processing disorders (SPD) are medical disorders that produce sensitivities and reactions to stimuli to the senses. Our senses give us much of the information about our environments, and there […]
Dr. Arturo Osorio discusses managing stress while waiting for a diagnosis
I am very excited to have Dr. Arturo Osorio with a guest blog post this month! He reached out to me with a desire to bring awareness to the importance […]
Are you journaling?
Journaling is something that allows you to focus purely on yourself and your thoughts, which is harder and harder to come by in a world of increasing technology. It can […]
How is Covid-19 Affecting Children
Everything that parents are experiencing, kids are too. Kids are affected by the stress that their parents have in their lives. Whether it is the mild frustration of being cooped […]
How does Screen Time Affect Children
Screens are everywhere—technology has changed our lives, and it is having new and unpredictable impacts on our children. Infants and young children learn by observing and interacting with their environment. […]
When Should Parents Seek Help for their Child?
When you are raising a child, it can be difficult to know what is normal and what is not. It can be a very fuzzy line, and many unusual behaviors […]
How To Manage Difficult Behavior
How should you handle difficult behavior with children? It is completely normal to get frustrated with your children at times. Children get our best and worst traits as parents, and […]
Choosing A Doctor
How should you choose a psychologist? What makes someone a good doctor or therapist for one person might make them the wrong choice for another person. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and therapists […]
An Overview of Behavioral Disorders in Children
Many children occasionally get into trouble; they do naughty things or act impulsively. This is frequently a rite of passage for many children, and with some learning and some disciplinary […]
