Paediatric, Perinatal & Adult Therapy Centre

08/12/2025

Grace for who I was. Space for who I am.

01/12/2025

Pretty good list of how to support Autistic family members at Christmas. Do you have more to add?

How to have a Happy Autistic Christmas
Or...
How to *not* make Christmas a horrible time for your autistic friends and family.

1. Don't force us to smile all the time. Some of us might be very happy, but it doesn't show on our faces. Our emotion and expression don't always match.

2. Do let us escape if we need to, even if it's in the middle of Christmas lunch. It might be an important meal, but if I know I can get up and decompress in a quiet room whenever, I feel far less stressed.

3. Don't make us join in family games if we don't want to. A busy family Christmas can be hell for social anxiety, and being forced to play Twister won't help that.

4. Do take an interest in our presents, especially if they're related to our special interests. I know I always wanted to talk about my new stuff as a child, and it's a real act of love to sit and listen.

5. Don't make a big deal out of seeing an autistic family member, especially if they've been hiding upstairs or something. That whole "hello stranger, look who's *finally* joining us" thing is bloody awful.

6. Do allow us to wear headphones or ear defenders or earplugs if we want to.

It might not fit your Christmas aesthetic, but it's bordering on cruel not to let us dampen the noise for our sound sensitivity.

7. Don't make us wear scratchy Christmas jumpers if we don't want to. The tactile overwhelm that wool causes (plus long sleeves and a tight neckline) is so bad for me personally that I feel I'm going to scream.

8. Do invite us to stuff, even if we might refuse.

It's one thing declining an invitation, and a whole other horrid thing to never even be asked. We're not all hermit introverts (I mean, I am but we're not all the same).

9. Don't get upset if we don't react 'appropriately' to Christmas treats. Those rules of how people ought to behave don't make sense to a lot of autistic people and so we may not do what you expect. We're not trying to upset you, we're probably overwhelmed.

10. Do set out clear schedules and itineraries. It's really helpful to know exactly when things are going to happen, both on a weekly level and also within Christmas Day itself. Otherwise it feels scarily random as our normal routine has vanished.

11. Don't forget to make sure all the Christmas presents that need it (games consoles etc) have been switched on and updated in advance - nothing worse than not being able to use your new stuff as a kid! Not really an autistic thing - more a PSA.

12. Do allow us to have food we enjoy. Autistic people's sensory sensitivity extends to taste and texture, hence why we may seem 'fussy' (urgh). Being force fed food at Christmas is hardly in the spirit of the season.

13. Don't tell us off for stimming. Christmas day is stressful and if we want to fiddle with stuff at the dinner table or tap or sing or *anything* then give us a break, it really helps our stress levels.

14. Do let us be quiet. The stress of Christmas might make a lot of autistic people non-speaking, even if we're not all the time, and being nagged to speak up and say hello to grannie etc can force us down the fast-track to overwhelm.

15. Don't make us make physical contact against our will. Being forced to hug and kiss is a nightmare for a lot of autistic people due to sensory sensitivity and the fact such touch feels too intimate.

16. Do help us get organised if you can. My executive function is absolutely terrible and I find the organising of Christmas to be impossible. If you're in a position to help someone like me then it'd be very kind and lovely.

17. Don't chop and change activities all the time - give autistic guests and family warning time so we can adjust. It very often takes a while for us to change our focus.

18. Do give us clear instructions. If you expect us to make or clear the table, for example, tell us. Many of us really struggle with overthinking these unwritten rules and social expectations.

19. Don't talk to us like we're children, especially if we have a new diagnosis and we're adults (but also if we're children). It's wild how often a new dx leads to people treating us differently - especially more distant relatives.

20. Do have a lovely time and just be as inclusive, compassionate as possible, and reserve judgement always.

26/11/2025

Recognising, validating and responding to feelings is so important. Helping children (and others we are in relationship with) manage their feelings rather than punishing them for them is how we build healthy adults and relationships.

10/11/2025

It doesn't matter how many years of life I've been working. I still need this reminder every now and then. Maybe you do, too.

Artist credit: Meg Fatharly Printmaking and Collage

23/10/2025

The shared experience of parenting

19/10/2025

Let’s all adopt this. “I don’t” rather than “I can’t”. Let us know how you go 😉

07/10/2025

Beautiful project collecting stories of early motherhood - your contributions are sought.

https://tinyletters.github.io/?fbclid=IwZnRzaANRhFZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHnNSvA0eYaiMX-8dwd3Mx2QpxBdMqWK-g9GdMaXVNXip8F_xucG1E8MU_7Ct_aem__EySFlxy4__YyQc4WzECHA

20/09/2025

It’s not just the extra tasks that weigh moms down.
It’s the patterns that keep showing up.

When you’re the default.
When you’re asked to be grateful for the basics.
When things are minimized, handed back, or avoided altogether.

It’s exhausting to keep holding it all together while these dynamics play out around you. And it makes sense if you feel frustrated, resentful, or invisible in the process.

Therapy can be a space to work through that resentment, to find language for your needs, and to practice new ways of communicating so the load doesn’t always fall back on you. Our maternal mental health specialists understand just how heavy these invisible dynamics can feel.

We offer specialized maternal mental health therapy across the U.S. and Canada.

In the U.S., we’re in-network in CA, TX, FL, NY, IL, PA, VA, and many other states, with average copays between $0–$30 per session.

In Canada, we offer direct billing in several provinces.

💬 Comment or message MWTHERAPY to get started.

11/09/2025

We deserve better than this! But it is so familiar. If you aren’t getting what you need PLEASE see a different medical professional. Good help is out there!

03/09/2025

Pink Elephants was founded on the importance of peer support and validation in helping you through the difficult journey of pregnancy loss and beyond.

We know how helpful and healing it can be to share your story and experiences with others going through the same.

Our Pregnancy after Loss Facebook group offers a safe space to talk to other parents who have experienced previous losses and are navigating the often-complex journey of hope, anxiety and mixed emotions that being pregnant after loss can bring.

You are not alone!

Sign up to our Pregnancy after Loss and other online communities here: https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/online-communities

01/09/2025