Dr. Mark Bowers

Dr. Mark Bowers • Licensed Pediatric Psychologist (Ph.D.
(10)

Licensed Psychologist I Neurodiversity Affirming
Owner
Support for parents of neurodivergent kids who are tired of guessing
https://linktr.ee/dr.markbowers Clinical Child Psychology) (26 years in the field)

• Owner/Clinical Director Brighton Center

• Worked in Hospitals, Community Mental Health, Schools, Residential Treatment, and Private Practice

• Author of Two Books and Published Papers

• Developer of Mobile App for Teens with Autism

• Specialist in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

• Married to a psychologist and we have 4 children

• I moonlight as a rock star

02/17/2026

Why Autistic & Neurodivergent Kids Avoid Endings and Restart Stories Instead of Finishing Them

Ever notice your child restart the same book, movie, or game right before the end?

It’s easy to assume they’re avoiding finishing or not paying attention. But for many autistic and neurodivergent kids, endings aren’t neutral moments. They’re loaded.

Endings mean change. They mean the routine is over. The emotional build-up resolves. And the brain has to let go of something predictable without knowing what comes next.

Restarting isn’t stubbornness or defiance. It’s a way to stay regulated. Familiar scenes feel safe. Control stays intact. Uncertainty stays at bay.

This shows up in more places than we realize: rereading the same chapter, replaying the same level, stopping just before the final paragraph.

Endings are a skill, not a character trait. And skills develop with support, predictability, and choice, not pressure.

When we slow down and guide endings gently, kids learn that closure doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.





When a child is struggling, our first instinct is often to correct the behavior. But real change happens through relatio...
02/16/2026

When a child is struggling, our first instinct is often to correct the behavior. But real change happens through relationship. ❤️

By choosing "Connection Over Correction", we create a safe space for them to learn, regulate, and eventually, do better. Correction without connection often leads to power struggles; connection leads to cooperation.

Prioritize the bond today. The "lesson" can wait until everyone is calm. 🤝✨

02/16/2026

Autism isn’t a ladder to climb—it’s a landscape to explore. 🗺

The DSM levels (1, 2, & 3) are just snapshots—they don’t tell the whole story of a child’s potential, personality, or needs.

What actually matters:
✅ Understanding their sensory world.
✅ Supporting their unique communication style.
✅ Seeing the human, not the label.

Autism isn't one-size-fits-all. A child might need "Level 3" support in one area and "Level 1" in another. Humans are complex, and neurodiversity is a spectrum, not a straight line.

Instead of focusing on the "level," let’s focus on the individual support they need to thrive.
Let’s rethink support.

💬 Share this if you believe in looking beyond the label!

02/16/2026

“I Wish I Had Known Sooner”: The Truth About Late Autism & Neurodivergent Diagnosis

“I wish I had known sooner” isn’t regret. It’s relief mixed with grief.

When a diagnosis comes later in life, everything suddenly makes sense. The burnout. The overwhelm. The feeling of working twice as hard for half the results. And for the first time, the blame loosens its grip.

Late diagnosis doesn’t mean you missed your chance. It means you were surviving before you had language for what was happening.

Many neurodivergent people don’t get clarity early because they’re busy coping, masking, or meeting expectations without support. Survival always comes first. Understanding comes when there’s finally space to look back.

Grief is common. Grief for younger you. For the support that wasn’t there. For the years spent pushing through instead of being understood.

That grief doesn’t mean the diagnosis is wrong. It means strength was used long before answers arrived.

A diagnosis isn’t permission to change who you are. It’s a map. And maps are useful at any age.





Ever feel like a meltdown came out of the blue? 🌪️ It’s rarely "nothing."Most of the time, what looks like a sudden expl...
02/16/2026

Ever feel like a meltdown came out of the blue? 🌪️ It’s rarely "nothing."

Most of the time, what looks like a sudden explosion is actually the result of a "sensory bucket" that has been filling up all day. A scratchy shirt tag might be annoying, but add in a loud appliance and a sudden change in plans, and the bucket overflows.

By understanding interoception (the way we feel what’s happening inside our bodies) and external triggers, we can make the small adjustments that prevent the big crashes.🧠✨

02/15/2026

Why Parking Lots Are So Hard for Autistic & Neurodivergent Kids (It’s Not Defiance)

If your child melts down, bolts, freezes, or won’t move in parking lots, you’re not imagining it. These spaces are intense.

Parking lots are loud, visually chaotic, and full of fast-moving unpredictability. For many autistic and neurodivergent kids, that combination overwhelms the nervous system before safety skills even come online.

What looks like ignoring rules is often a brain that can’t sort threats fast enough. Yelling “watch out” doesn’t help when processing is already maxed out.

Parking lots aren’t neutral. They’re one of the most regulation-heavy environments kids face all day.

Safety improves when we assume support is needed, simplify language, use physical anchors, and practice when pressure is low. Regulation comes before learning. Protection comes before independence.

This isn’t about being careless. It’s about brains under load.





We spend so much time comparing our "behind the scenes" to everyone else's "highlight reel."If your home looks different...
02/15/2026

We spend so much time comparing our "behind the scenes" to everyone else's "highlight reel."

If your home looks different, sounds different, or operates differently than your neighbor's, that’s okay. You aren't a bad parent for struggling with a child who processes the world uniquely. You’re a pioneer finding a new way forward.

Give yourself (and your child) some grace today. ✨

02/14/2026

Obedience is a short-term goal. Emotional regulation is a life skill. 🎯

Stop calling it “coddling.” Call it what it actually is: Effective Parenting. 🧠❤️

There’s a massive difference between raising a child to be obedient and raising a child to be regulated.

Old-school discipline was designed for the 1950s. But we aren’t raising kids for the past—we’re raising them for a world that requires emotional intelligence, self-advocacy, and long-term independence.

For neurodivergent kids, "toughening up" is just another word for masking.

• Empathy is a strategy.
• Support is the foundation.
• Understanding is the goal.

Let’s trade the myths for what actually works. Who’s with me? 👇

02/14/2026

Why Team Sports Can Be Overwhelming for Autistic & Neurodivergent Kids (And Better Movement Options)

“Team sports will be good for them” sounds right… until practice turns into stress, shutdowns, or tears in the car.

Movement is powerful for autistic and neurodivergent kids. The issue isn’t exercise. It’s the social load baked into most team sports.

Fast instructions. Unspoken rules. Loud fields. Constant communication. Split-second decisions while the body is already overwhelmed.

For kids who struggle with processing speed, initiation, or sensory overload, that combo can turn something healthy into something exhausting.

When a child freezes on the field or resists signing up again, it’s rarely about motivation. It’s about fit.

Many kids thrive when movement is predictable, individual, or low-pressure. Swimming laps. Running against a personal best. Bowling. Martial arts. Hiking. Dancing in a quiet room.

Physical regulation and confidence matter more than trophies or team photos.

There’s no single “right” way for kids to move. There’s only the way that helps your child feel capable and regulated.





Is it a tantrum or a meltdown? 🧠 The difference isn't just semantics—it changes how we show up for our kids.Many people ...
02/14/2026

Is it a tantrum or a meltdown? 🧠 The difference isn't just semantics—it changes how we show up for our kids.

Many people use these terms interchangeably, but they are driven by two completely different parts of the brain.

A Tantrum is goal-oriented. The child remains in control and the behavior usually stops once they get what they want.

A Meltdown is a total nervous system crash. It is not a choice, and they have lost the ability to "calm down" on command.

When we understand the "Why," it fundamentally changes our "How." You can't discipline a nervous system that is in fight-or-flight mode. In that moment, your only job is to provide safety.

Does this shift in perspective change how you view those "big" moments? Let’s talk in the comments. 👇

02/13/2026

Telling a screaming child to “calm down” is like yelling at someone to "fall asleep." 🛑

It doesn’t work. In fact, it usually makes things worse.

Why? Because a dysregulated child has lost access to their logical brain. They don't need a lecture; they need a biological anchor. ⚓️

This is the power of Co-Regulation. 🧠
Co-regulation isn't about "giving in" or being permissive. It’s about using your calm nervous system to help settle theirs. It is neuroscience-backed leadership.

When the meltdown hits, try this hierarchy:

1️⃣ Regulate Yourself First: Take that deep breath. If you’re at a 10, they can’t get back to a 1.
2️⃣ Connect Before You Correct: Safety must come before the "teaching moment."
3️⃣ Release the Timer: Don't rush the process. Healing the nervous system takes as long as it takes.

You don’t need the "perfect" words or a degree in psychology. You just need to be their calm in the middle of the storm. 🌪✨

Is co-regulation something you’re practicing? Drop a "❤️" if this was the reminder you needed today!

02/13/2026

Why Autistic & Neurodivergent Kids Obsess Over Potty Words (And How to Respond Without Making It Worse)

One day your child discovers potty words… and suddenly it’s on repeat. Loud. Public. Zero shame.

This phase isn’t about disrespect or bad behavior. For many autistic and neurodivergent kids, potty humor hits the brain like a triple win: it’s unexpected, emotionally charged, and it reliably changes the room.

That reaction? That’s the reward.

These words are concrete, sensory, and easy to repeat. When kids notice that a single word can make adults gasp, laugh, or panic, their brain files it under “very important information.”

What usually keeps the cycle going isn’t the words themselves. It’s our reaction.

Big reactions turn silliness into power. Shame makes the words stick. Lectures turn it into a game.

Kids don’t need punishment here. They need guidance, context, and a place for the humor to land safely.

Potty-word phases are a developmental moment. Handled calmly, they help kids learn language, boundaries, and social rules without crushing curiosity or joy.





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2250 Genoa Business Park Drive Suite 100
Brighton, MI
48114

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