Navigating Family Dynamics and Boundaries During the Holidays
Written By: Dr. Tony Meiners, PsyD | Clinical Director The holidays can be a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for many autistic and ADHD adults navigating mental health recovery, they can also be a season of heightened stress, overstimulation, triggers, and challenging family dynamics. If you
Pervasive Drive for Autonomy
Written by: Diane Gould, LCSW WHAT IS PDA? PDA, originally known as Pathological Demand Avoidance and now often called Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, is an autistic profile. It was first identified in the UK in the 1980s among individuals who differed from most autistic people but shared similar traits with eac
Embracing ADHD-Friendly Holiday Traditions
Written by: Alicia Marie Hutton, MS, LMFT, ACRPS As the holiday season approaches and the to-do list grows, many ADHD folks experience a surge in guilt and shame. Whether it’s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, or New Year’s, the holidays often bring societal expectations that place a heavy bur
Autistic Burnout
Written by: Jessica Geiger, MSc Autistic Burnout For some time, autistic people have taken to social media and other online platforms to discuss their shared experience of autistic burnout. Anecdotally, autistic burnout is described as a state of exhaustion and distress that severely impacts functioning (Higg
Providing affirming support for a loved one with OCD
Written by: Dr. Sarah Schall, PsyD | Clinical Psychologist October is OCD Awareness month. According to the National Library of Medicine, approximately 1% – 3% of the global population meet criteria for OCD. While mental health awareness months have the potential to shed light on frequently misdiagnosed
High + low support languaging with a neurodivergent lens
Written by: Jon Fledzinskas, PsyD | Clinical Psychologist We all have demands of daily living and tasks to complete, sometimes set by ourselves but most often required by external pressures (work, school, government, family and friends, health, etc.). Being able to address tasks and complete them can result in
Hidden Link Between Mental Health + Posture
Written By :: Dr. Hana Khan, OTD, OTR/L, CCTP :: Clinical Occupational Therapist Hidden Link Between Mental Health + Posture One factor that often goes unnoticed within the discussion surrounding mental health is posture. Emerging research suggests that the way we hold our bodies can significantly impact our me
The Medical + Social Models of Disability
Progressing Toward an Affirming Framework for Neurodivergent Clients Written By: Dr. Jon Fledzinskas, PsyD, CMPC The Medical and Social Models of Disability Models of disability provide us a framework for understanding why someone may be struggling or have challenges they’ve sought support for. The medical mo
Adapting Intuitive Eating for Neurodivergent People
https://youtu.be/EsvzRBHwFJk Sasha Silver, RDN, breaks down the importance of adapting Intuitive Eating to accommodate neurodivergent individuals. INTERVIEW Filmed with Sasha Silver, RDN | Registered Dietician Nutritionist WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADAPT INTUITIVE EATING FOR NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE? Intuitive Eati
The Therapeutic Power of Lifestyle Design in Occupational Therapy
Written By: Dr. Hana Khan OTD, OTR/L, CCTP The Therapeutic Power of Lifestyle Design in Occupational Therapy for Mental Health What distinguishes occupational therapy from traditional health professions is its understanding of the mind-body connection. Rather than viewing individuals’ health and bodies as som