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Tasha Oswald

Autism Parents and The Importance of Finding Community

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As autism parents, you want what’s best for your child. When they’re on the autism spectrum that typically means a variety of specialized services. To give them the best, you’ve likely sacrificed, putting your own needs on the back burner. But, forgetting to take care of yourself and your needs may leave you feeling overwhelmed and burnt out, no matter how much you adore your child. I get that. In fact, I hear it from autism parents all the time. So, today I want to take a moment and offer you some support and resources you can tap into for support.

Autism Parents and Mental Health

Mom with depression sits on the floor. This illustration represents the emotions felt by autism parents. Get support with autism therapy in California at Open Doors TherapyRecently, there was a study performed to assess the mental health of mothers with autistic or intellectually disabled children. This study showed there is a link between a child’s autism diagnosis and a mother’s depression. As an autism researcher and therapist with many years of experience working with autism parents, I can attest that this study holds merit.
 
Having a child on the autism spectrum comes with a myriad of challenges you likely did not expect. When you were pregnant or your child was a baby, this probably was not the path you anticipated walking. Yet, here you are. And even though you’ve embraced your role as an autism parent, doubt, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, and depression creep into your mind.

Support For Autism Parents

Yet, you likely push all your fears and feelings away, place a smile on your face, and carry on. You do this because your child’s well-being comes first. That’s completely understandable. But, I want you to know that your emotions are valid and worthy of being addressed. Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. It’s important to take care of and focus on your mental health as you care for your neurodiverse child.
I realize there’s a sad lack of support and resources available to autism parents. So, I want to take a minute to share my thoughts on places you can turn to for support during good times. Oh, and the not-so-good times.
 
First things first, as an autism parent, you must find and nurture your support system. Better yet, find a support system of other autism parents that share your same struggles. You may find they can relate to your experiences. For some, this happens through support groups and parent coaching or therapy. Yet, for some parents their options are limited.

If you’re looking for support but finding it hard to come by, consider these options:

  • Online groups
  • Social media support pages
  • Online autism parent classes

Illustration of parents placing puzzle pieces in a child representing the unique struggles of parenting a child with autism get autism parent support and autism therapy in california at Open Doors Therapy

Building Your Support System

Another great option, if there’s no support group in your area consider forming your own. It may surprise you how many parents would enjoy a place for support as they navigate the complexities of parenting an autistic child.
It’s important to nurture your relationships with the people you love. This includes your spouse or significant other, other family members, and close friends. Educate them on autism and your child’s particular strengths and needs. Allow them to share in your struggles and your success. Feeling supported by the people you love most can be a huge blessing.

Consider Autism Therapy and Autism Parent Coaching

Take time to focus on your mental health and self-care. I know this is way easier said than done, and you likely have people telling you this all the time. But, it is so important. You can’t ignore it or your frustrations will pile up and become a more serious problem. Set aside time and resources to do something that brings you joy or cares for your needs. Therapy can be one way to do this. And, as an autism therapist, I encourage you to consider the many benefits of counseling. But, there are many other great ways to practice good self-care. Find what works for you.

Want to learn about our e-courses, webinars, and online membership communities?

Our sister company, Neurodiversity School, is launching soon!
To learn about release dates, sign up for our newsletter.

Click Here to Sign Up

 

Begin Online Autism Therapy in California:

infographic displaying parents talking to each other via zoom. this represents the community of autism parents that can be forged via online therapy or in support groups. Learn more about autism therapy in California at Open Doors TherapyIf you’re looking for autism therapy services for you or your child and live in the state of California, our autism therapy team would be honored to speak with you. To get started, follow these steps:
  1.  Contact us for a free phone consult.
  2. Like us on Facebook. We update helpful info regarding our practice
  3. Sign up for our newsletter.

If you do not live in California but are looking for support and a community of neurodiverse peers, then taking an e-course with our sister company Neurodiversity School may be the perfect fit for you. To get started, follow these steps:

  1. Sign up for our newsletter 
  2. Check your inbox for more information
  3. When the website launches, take the quiz and find out what course is right for you or your loved one!

Other Services offered at Open Doors Therapy:

Our autism therapy clinic located in the South Bay Area serves teens and adults on the autism spectrum. We help high functioning individuals who identify as having Aspergers, high functioning autism, undiagnosed ASD traits, and their families.

Right now, we are providing all our autism counseling services online. Our autism therapists offer a variety of counseling services including individual counseling for autistic teens and adults, parent counseling, and group therapy.  Also, we run several different social skills groups for neurodiverse working professionals, college students with autistic traits, gifted youth & caregivers, neurodiverse adults, women who identify as neurodiverse, a summer social skills college transition training program for youth transitioning to college, teens & caregivers, and a mothers group. Contact our autism therapy office for more information on our services or to schedule a consultation.

About the Author

Photo of Dr. Tasha Oswald, Ph.D. therapist and practice owner in the Palo Alto, bay area in Silicon Valley. She is smiling and looking at the camera to convey a welcoming and open presence for neurodiverse clients | counseling for autistic adult palo alto, ca

Dr. Tasha Oswald is a trained developmental and clinical psychologist. She is also is the founder and director of Open Doors Therapy, a private practice specializing in autism therapy services in the South Bay Area, near San Francisco, CA. Dr. Oswald specializes in helping neurodiverse teens and adults and facilitating social skills groups.

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Filed Under: Autism Parents, Blog