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🧠 Clinical Psychologists (Gillian & Nat)
🤝 Practical tools for professionals, parents & educators supporting neurodivergent kids
⬇️ Check them out here ⬇️
www.pocketpsych.com.au/shop

We all seem so polarised about technology in the parenting space. Unlimited use vs tech free. But when it comes to teen ...
13/03/2026

We all seem so polarised about technology in the parenting space. Unlimited use vs tech free. But when it comes to teen years and technology it isn’t simple. I feel we sometimes underestimate how smart they are. I have yet to meet a teen that isn’t thinking about their own tech use. Maybe the best we can do is empower them with information while working together on the guard rails.

Supporting a PDA child means focusing on creating an environment where they feel safe, valued and understood.
09/03/2026

Supporting a PDA child means focusing on creating an environment where they feel safe, valued and understood.

This outdated understanding of what autism actually is, still pervades MANY spaces. When I think about the cost of this ...
02/03/2026

This outdated understanding of what autism actually is, still pervades MANY spaces. When I think about the cost of this in educational settings, I think about the weight of expectation on autistic kids to communicate in a way that conforms to the expectations of others. That their communication style is defective; rather than simply different.  
 
We need for communities to better understand the false beliefs that underpin the treatment of neurodivergent children to make these spaces safer.

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) involves children resisting demands due to anxiety, resulting in behaviours that may...
27/02/2026

Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) involves children resisting demands due to anxiety, resulting in behaviours that may seem challenging or oppositional. 
 
When everyday requests lead to distress, families can find themselves stuck in a cycle of frustration and disconnection. 
 
As clinicians, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming. But the first step is clear: helping families break the cycle and rebuild connection.  
 
Check out the guide in the bio for more information on how to support families to break the cycle.

Autism WITH Anxiety - it’s not the same as “typical” anxiety.⁣⁣Research from Griffith University shows autistic children...
26/02/2026

Autism WITH Anxiety - it’s not the same as “typical” anxiety.⁣
⁣
Research from Griffith University shows autistic children are 3–4 times more likely to experience anxiety, but why they feel anxious often looks different.⁣
⁣
Their anxiety might come from:⁣
🌧️ Uncertainty – not knowing what will happen next⁣
🔄 Change – disruptions to plans or routines⁣
🔊 Sensory overload – too much noise, light, or movement⁣
💬 Social confusion – not understanding what’s expected⁣
⁣
Unlike typical anxiety, which often comes from distorted thinking (e.g., “What if I fail?”), autistic anxiety often comes from real challenges in feeling safe or understood.⁣
⁣
Support looks different too:⁣
✅ Increase predictability⁣
✅ Lower demands⁣
✅ Support regulation⁣
✅ Accommodate sensory needs⁣
✅ Lead with compassion⁣
⁣
When an autistic child feels anxious, try asking:⁣
1️⃣ How can I prepare or explain what’s coming?⁣
2️⃣ Can I reduce the sensory or emotional load?⁣
3️⃣ Does this event truly matter for them right now?⁣
⁣
⁣

Time to talk about the TAX of existing as a neurodivergent person or family in our society. It's something that I find r...
25/02/2026

Time to talk about the TAX of existing as a neurodivergent person or family in our society. It's something that I find really powerful to acknowledge in the therapy space. There are the obviously costs- like lost time in therapy appointments ... then there are the more pervasive costs such as emotional load... and then there is the compounding costs of the associated mental health issues that arise living in a society that doesn't value you equally...   
  
So- what can we do?  
❗️Recognise and talk openly about the neurodivergent tax  
❗️Advocate for better access to diagnosis, therapy, and school/work supports  
❗️Push for neurodiversity‑affirming policies at home, school, and in the workplace  
❗️Build communities that value neurodivergent people for who they are  
  
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲?  
⁣  
  

Supporting neurodivergent individuals in self-advocacy is one of the most empowering things we can do as professionals. ...
25/02/2026

Supporting neurodivergent individuals in self-advocacy is one of the most empowering things we can do as professionals. 
 
To self-advocate, individuals need: 
 
✅ An understanding of their needs and what supports them. 
 
✅ The skills and confidence to communicate those needs and preferences. 
 
 
 
Why Self-Advocacy Can Be Harder 
 
- Masking & People-Pleasing: Many autistic individuals suppress their true feelings or needs to fit in, making it harder to advocate for themselves. 
 
- Difficulty Identifying Needs: Interoception challenges can make it hard to recognise physical or emotional needs. 
 
- Negative Past Experiences: Rejection, dismissal, or trauma can lead to fear of speaking up or internalising the belief that their needs don’t matter. 
 
 
 
💪 Where Self-Advocacy Can Make a Difference 
 
🔹 Physical needs 
 
🔹 Learning needs 
 
🔹 Sensory needs 
 
🔹 Emotional needs 
 
🔹 Personal boundaries 
 
🔹 Health & safety 
 
 
 
How Professionals Can Support Self-Advocacy 
 
- Help clients identify their sensory preferences and advocate for tools like noise-canceling headphones or sensory breaks. 
 
- Teach clients to recognise and name emotions so they can communicate feelings and needs effectively. 
 
- Ensure access to AAC systems to support communication—everyone deserves a voice. 
 
- Break down skills into manageable steps to build confidence in daily challenges. 
 
Sometimes advocacy starts with us speaking alongside the client, not instead of them. Over time, the goal is for their voice to feel safer, stronger, and more accessible. 
 
When ND individuals are supported to understand themselves, trust their experiences, and have their needs respected, self-advocacy grows naturally. It becomes a pathway to confidence, autonomy, and agency, not because they were trained to speak up, but because they finally feel safe enough to do so.

💭 “But if I keep accommodating… will they ever learn to do it on their own?”⁣⁣It’s a question we hear from so many paren...
20/02/2026

💭 “But if I keep accommodating… will they ever learn to do it on their own?”⁣
⁣
It’s a question we hear from so many parents, and it comes from a place of love. ⁣
⁣
You want your child to grow, to build skills, and to one day manage independently.⁣
⁣
But here’s the reframe 👇⁣
Accommodations aren’t barriers to independence — they’re bridges.⁣
⁣
Just like glasses help someone see so they can learn from the world, accommodations help a child feel safe, regulated, and ready to engage.⁣
⁣
Growth doesn’t come from removing support —it comes from providing the right support, at the right time. ⁣
⁣

I was listening to an episode of The Daily podcast a few months ago and they featured a heartbreaking story about a youn...
20/02/2026

I was listening to an episode of The Daily podcast a few months ago and they featured a heartbreaking story about a young person who had been utilising a Chat Bot for therapy/companionship. I know as a society, when new technology or innovation arrives we risk a moral panic about its use - but this tragic story highlights the many issues associated utilising Chat Bots in this space.  
 
If you are currently parenting or supporting a young person- its time to start asking. "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘎𝘗𝘛 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵?" or "𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘈𝘐?" It's okay to be using this technology- but we need to talk about its limitations and its role in our lives. To help them make an informed choice- and allow them to access the most appropriate support when vulnerable.  
 
And if you are looking for the podcast I mentioned it’s called "𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘎𝘗𝘛 𝘚𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭". Please be aware the story involves the mention of su***de.

As a profession, we can't get away from the reality that most treatment approaches are developed and tested on prodomina...
19/02/2026

As a profession, we can't get away from the reality that most treatment approaches are developed and tested on prodominately neurotypical individuals. That's why I see so much value in research that studies a 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐃 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Given the rates of mental illness in the ND community, it is key that we evolve our approach when we know 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 a client is ND. 
 
I loved this study, it was very easy to read and I haven't done it justice. We may do another post on it because there is more to be extracted. But please feel free to check it out at this link: 
 
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1436053/full 
 

How are we already two weeks out from the new school year? The back-to-school energy has arrived so we thought it might ...
19/02/2026

How are we already two weeks out from the new school year? The back-to-school energy has arrived so we thought it might be a good time to remind you that effective co-regulation requires us, as the grown ups, to be regulated ourselves. It can be SO hard so we have included a few tips and tricks at the end. 
 
When it comes to the practical strategies for the mornings- one of the biggest tricks can be anchoring your regulation to a step within your routine. So practicing your breathing while drinking coffee- or grounding on the walk to the car.
 

I am not sure at what point in my career I finally realised that environment accounts for a large part of the mental hea...
19/02/2026

I am not sure at what point in my career I finally realised that environment accounts for a large part of the mental health disorders we see in autistic girls. Perhaps it was a gradual realisation over time as more and more evidence piles up telling us that autistic girls who mask have some of the worst mental health outcomes. 
 
I think it can be hard for schools (and sometimes parents) to understand it’s not actually a 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 thing when they are 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵. This is NOT a fake it till you make it scenario. For many autistic girls and women, this separation of self becomes so deeply rooted- they have to spend years in therapy to uncover their authentic self. Imagine if the gift we gave this generation of autistic girls is the permission to not only BE themselves, but VALUE that person. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐄 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.

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