When Rewards Stop Working: Rethinking Motivation in Kids
Sticker charts, treasure boxes, screen time tokens—many parents have tried them all. And sometimes, those rewards work for a while… until they don’t. One day your child is racing to earn that extra bedtime book, and the next, they couldn’t care less. If you’ve found yourself wondering why rewards seem to lose their power—or never […]
What to Expect: Understanding the Stages of Play Therapy
When parents bring their child to play therapy, one of the most common questions is, “What willthis process look like?” Because play therapy is based on the idea that children expressthemselves through play rather than words, the process can seem subtle from the outside—butmeaningful changes are often happening beneath the surface. Play therapy begins with […]
Navigating the Back-to-School Transition: Supporting Students with Autism
As the summer break winds down and the school bells ring in a new academic year, students across the country face the challenge of transitioning back into their school routines. For many, this shift is simply a matter of adjusting to new schedules and re-establishing daily habits. However, for students with autism, this transition can […]
The Importance of Early Autism Testing in Children
The Importance of Early Autism Testing in Children Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction. Early detection and diagnosis are crucial for children suspected of having ASD. Here’s why: Early Intervention and Support Early diagnosis of autism can lead to early intervention, which is vital for improving outcomes […]
Parenting Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
The transition from teenager to young adulthood can be stressful for parents, as there are many unknowns and shifts in roles. The transition can be even more challenging when the young adult has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Young adults with ASD are more likely to experience “failure to launch” and struggle with the transition from […]
What is Social Skills Training?
Challenges with social communication are a core feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). For example, people with ASD may experience difficulty making eye contact, interpreting non-verbal cues, initiating interactions, engaging in back-and-forth conversation, and understanding what others are thinking or feeling. These difficulties can inhibit the ability to form relationships with peers, which can contribute […]
What is Autistic Burnout?
Although adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been experiencing and discussing autistic burnout for many years, the concept of autistic burnout is relatively new to the academic community. Autistic burnout is defined as: “A syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic life stress and a mismatch of expectations and abilities without adequate supports. It is […]
Parenting and Mental Health During COVID19
It’s easy to get caught up in the “magic” you see on Facebook that other families are creating. These families are eating dinner at the table together, baking 42 cakes, helping their child with homework with beautiful Pinterest-worthy set ups, and art projects to put in the windows for walkers in the neighborhood. Then, there […]
The Mental Health Connection Between Parents and Children
The old saying goes that apples do not fall far from their tree, and we see this idiom play out in the traits and features of our children. Some of this is due to the environment we share with our children, or the “nurture” part of nature and nurture, and part is due to genetics. […]
The Mental Health Toll of COVID19
At this point, it is likely an understatement to say that we are in unsettling, trying, and stressful times. With what felt like very little warning, our global economy has ground to a halt, disrupting almost every aspect of daily life. School, work, social gatherings, and regularly scheduled appointments have been altered, modified, or canceled […]