
All parents want what’s best for their children.
As a parent, you want your child to live a joyful and fulfilling life. And, you want to provide the support they need to do that. You want to protect your child from being hurt, misunderstood, or rejected. This is true of all parents, and for parents of neurodiverse children and teens, the need to protect your child can feel especially strong.
This is why you may be considering therapy for your child, so they can gain support as they learn to navigate life as a neurodiverse individual. However, if your child or teen is resistant to therapy, you may feel stuck or powerless.
You’re not alone in this feeling. I’ve seen many parents struggling with this same challenge in my practice as a neurodiverse-affirming therapist. But you have the power to make positive changes for your child. If your child doesn’t want to go to therapy, you can.
Therapy can help parents learn how to be neurodiversity-affirming.
Working with a neurodiverse therapist can help you better understand autism and become a neurodiverse-affirming parent. You’ll learn how you can encourage your child to be their authentic self and be proud in themselves. By building neurodiverse-affirming language, media, and representation into their life you can use your knowledge to make a positive impact in your child’s life.
Many neurodiverse individuals struggle with shame because they’re taught that they need to fit into neurotypical standards. While you may not be able to protect your child from all forms of shame in their world, as a parent you can teach them the importance of living proudly and authentically as themselves.
Through therapy, you can gain support in navigating your own challenges as a parent.
Working with a therapist can give you a safe space to explore your own feelings, needs, and questions related to parenting. Parenting a neurodiverse teen has its unique challenges and rewards. Therapy can help you navigate and appreciate all of these whiles also helping you meet the needs of your child.
For example, you may have a difficult time knowing when you should let go and allow your child to make mistakes and be independent. Like any parent, you may sometimes feel like your own fears or past experiences fog your judgment. Working with a therapist that understands and specializes in working with neurodiverse individuals can give you the perspective you need to make more educated decisions as a parent.
Your therapist can also help you accept that what looks right for you and your child may look different from others.
Many parents of neurodiverse children struggle with comparing themselves to other parents. And if you already struggle to feel like you don’t know what the “right” decision is, self-comparison can lead to shame about your abilities as a parent. Especially if you experience judgment from family members, friends, or strangers.
In therapy, you can work through internalized shame or guilt.
By doing so, you can show up as a better parent for your child, because your emotions do impact your children’s emotions and experiences as well. Even if you know that your child’s needs may be different from other children, it can be difficult to fully accept this and put it into practice. For example, if your child has sensory sensitives and becomes overwhelmed in certain situations you may find it difficult to give them the space and support they need. At the same time, because you are overwhelmed as well.
When you are able to understand and process your own emotions, you will be able to better support your neurodiverse child or teen by providing them with a safe and compassionate environment. You have to be able to regulate your emotions if you want to child to be able to do the same. And therapy can give you the tools to get there.
By going to therapy, you’re modeling the importance of therapy for your child.
The idea of seeing a therapist can be intimidating for adults. So, it’s understandable why teens and children can feel the same. While therapy is becoming more normalized in our culture, there is still a stigma attached to mental health care which can make it difficult for teens (who are already feeling insecure) to commit to seeing a therapist.
Going to therapy yourself and modeling the importance of mental health for your child can be a powerful and affirming way to support them. It can normalize therapy for them and help them understand the value it has.
While it’s wonderful that you’re looking into therapy for your child, it’s normal for any teen to be resistant to therapy. If you’re struggling to find ways to support them, you may want to consider seeking support from a therapist yourself.
Begin Working With a Neurodiverse-Affirming Coach in California or Illinois
A neurodiverse-affirming therapist can provide support for you to become a more informed, affirming, and regulated parent. Therapy can allow you space to process the challenges that come with parenting, and support as you work through the emotions that come with it. If you’re interested in gaining support as you become a more neurodiverse-affirming parent, our therapists are here to help.
At Open Doors Therapy, we offer parent counseling for parents of neurodiverse children.
Our therapists can meet with you from anywhere in California or Illinois via online therapy. If you’re interested in our neurodiverse-affirming services, you can follow these steps to get started:
- Reach out to our autism therapy practice to schedule a free phone consultation.
- Learn more about our services and the therapists on our team.
- Gain support as an autism-informed and neurodiverse-affirming parent.
Other Services Offered with Open Doors Therapy
We are happy to offer a variety of services across California and Illinois. In addition to individual therapy for teens, adults, parents, and partners, we also provide a wide range of online groups as well. Our groups for college students with autistic traits, neurodiverse young adults, women who identify as neurodiverse, mothers, and parents are a great way to gain support in a group of others who understand your experiences. You can learn more about our services by reaching out or visiting our blog today!