For many young Autistic people, their families, and school staff, the transition to adulthood is a daunting one, marked by significant changes in available services. More than half of young Autistic adults are not successfully transitioning to adulthood in the first two years after high school. However, proper planning can ease this difficult transition and ensure that Autistic individuals build the skills and establish the support that will allow them to flourish in adulthood.

It is common for children with learning difficulties to describe themselves as feeling "dumb" or "stupid," and to compare themselves negatively to their peers. As a result, these children can lack confidence in attempting academic tasks, experience low self-esteem and peer victimisation, and symptoms of anxiety.

A few weeks into our friendship she told me she had been diagnosed as an adult with ADHD. We talked about how girls and women are so overlooked and underdiagnosed. She shared with me the process she had been through to get diagnosed and the benefits she felt had come with that diagnosis.

How much do you really know about mindfulness and what it is? Here I aim to dispel a few myths and help you learn more about what is involved in this ancient way of understanding ourselves and approaching the world.

Many of the behaviours linked to ADHD - like being easily distracted, highly active, or acting without forethought - are believed to derive from challenges with executive functioning skills. But what exactly are these skills?

Autistic individuals often face unique challenges in navigating a world that may not always be attuned to their needs. One aspect of this experience that has gained increasing attention is Autistic burnout.

How do you know when you have a child who is a PDAer in the therapy room? There is no quick and definitive answer to this…sometimes you just ‘know’ and other times you sit with indecision for a very long time – ‘Are they or aren’t they?’.

As the world becomes increasingly shaped by digital technology, the topic of screen time and its impact on Autistic individuals, including those with a Pathological Demand Avoidant (PDA) profile, has become a largely discussed topic.

Parenting an Autistic child can take more thought and resources than parenting a non-Autistic child with research showing significant parenting stress levels for parents of Autistic children. These parents may experience a myriad of feelings including worry or guilt, as well as hope and fear about their child’s future. In addition, numerous expectations and unspoken societal pressures can be felt more strongly for parents of Autistic and neurodivergent children.

Imagine the power of the greater community comprehending the struggles and triumphs of someone with ADHD, sensory sensitivities, or complex trauma. When we seek out knowledge of others' experiences, we gain insight into the challenges and strengths of those individuals.

Taking a trip overseas, whether it be to a new or familiar place, may come with numerous challenges and high levels of uncertainty. The thought of an overseas trip or a family holiday can be daunting even for those of us who are well accustomed to travel.

Studies show that Autistic people have a reduced life expectancy and poor physical and mental health outcomes. There are likely many Autistic people accessing mental and physical healthcare services that are not receiving services that best support their individual needs, as well as those who are who have not disclosed, are yet to be formally identified or have been misdiagnosed with other mental health conditions.

While traditionally associated with boys and men, ADHD in women often presents itself differently, making it more challenging to recognise and diagnose. Until recently, most studies have focused on boys and as a result more is known about how males experience ADHD.

In a world marked by diverse backgrounds, experiences, and communication styles, it is crucial that we embrace empathy as a two-way street. The Double Empathy Problem is a concept in psychology that challenges the traditional assumptions about empathy deficits in Autistic individuals.

When the opportunity to attend in person training with Dr Russ Harris (in Perth!) arose I was excited and took it. Dr Russ Harris authors several books you may recognise – The Happiness Trap, The Reality Slap, The Confidence Gap to name a few.

The art therapist might make a mental note of recurring patterns in an artwork or if a particular art medium is favoured, but their priority is to help the client who has created the artwork to work out their own interpretation and what that means for them.

Flourishing is known as one of the most important concepts to come out of positive psychology and has can provide significant direction for how we live, love and relate to each other.

You may have heard of the word ‘inertia’ before but may not have heard it used in reference to Autism. ‘Inertia’ is the term used for Newton’s first law of motion: that every object will stay at rest or in uniform motion unless influenced to change by the action of an outside force.

Young people may benefit from some involvement from their caregivers in implementing therapeutic goals and making environmental changes to match their needs. Research has found that psychological outcomes are better for neurodivergent children and adolescents when parents are involved. At The Kidd Clinic, we often recommend parent sessions in addition to, or instead of, sessions for our young people.