EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you ever asked yourself if your autistic child is getting the highest quality care? if you should be doing more? if what you are doing is best for your child?in this episode, we're talking about the components of autism care to help you understand what to advocate for in terms of your child, yourself, and your family. I'm giving you a look behind the scenes and what I believe is essential for a high level of care for neurodivergent children and their families so you, too, know what to look for and where to advocate for more support. this episode will help you learn:the concepts of evidence-based care and neurodiversity affirming carewhy the work you do outside of your sessions is the most important piecewhat you can do if you feel you're not getting the right support for your child or familywant to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered? >> schedule a free consult call here or email [email protected] if you have questions.book referenced in this episode >> An Early Start for Your Young Child with Autismother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you ever wondered if you need to be changing your child's diet once they've been diagnosed as autistic? how do you know when dietary supports are needed?in this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nina-Marie Rueda, a naturopath and nutritional expert who works with families of neurodivergent children. in our conversation, we get into the nitty gritty on myths and truths about dietary recommendations for autistic children, the importance of a healthy conversations around food and mealtime, and common problems that may result from nutritional and physiological imbalances.this episode will help you learn:the definition of a naturopath and what health factors are assessed by naturopathic doctorstheories on dietary shifts to best support neurodivergent children a breakdown of what different nutritional tests mean and example recommendations for dietary changes for maximum nutritional benefitconnect with Dr. Nina-Marie on Instagram @doctorninamarie.want to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com or email [email protected] if you would like to schedule a consult call.other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay*please note: in this episode, both identity-first (autistic child) and person-first language (child with autism / ASD) are used. although as clinicians and practitioners we are slowly learning to shift our language and take the lead from the autistic community, the stance of this podcast is that we ultimately want to honor what each child and family prefer. Dr. Nina-Marie shares her perspective as a parent as well as some of the families she has worked with.

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismthis week's episode is an inspired follow-up to episode 16, where I shared my personal story. I provide three tips for increasing support for your non-autistic children. specifically, we dive into the importance of talking about autism, focusing on quality time, and establishing boundaries for all of your children.and the prequel to these three steps is to support yourself first (more coming soon on the podcast!). in the meantime, learn more about how your brain thinks. by doing so, you can begin to shift your sabotaging thought patterns to ones that serve you. take the free habits of thinking assessment and we can set up a free call to review your results.want to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com or email [email protected] if you would like to schedule a consult call.other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismwe talk a lot about sensory aspects in autism, but how do you know if your child has challenges with that and what should you do?sensory elements and factors can really impact your autistic* child's daily life, and sometimes these can be triggers for things like emotion dysregulation, attention, or even difficulty with transitions.this week, I'm joined by Dr. Sam Goldman, an expert in autism and the sensory systems. in this episode, we cover the eight (yes, eight!) senses. we also discuss different types of sensory difficulties and examples of how this may be showing up in your child's life.this episode will help you: understand what occupational therapy will help to addresslearn how to identify sensory challengesdiscuss how to support your child in sensory regulationfollow Dr. Sam Goldman @drsamgoldman to stay connected. she also has her program, Making Sense of Eating, for parents to work on sensory elements of eating as well as her podcast (check out her recent series on all things sensory, Sensory 101 - Sensory 404)more resources from Dr. Sam mentioned in this episode>>Self-Regulation Freebie for parentsFavorite books: Sensational Kids, The Out-of-Sync Childwant to learn more about Dr. Tay's Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com or email [email protected] if you would like to schedule a consult call.other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay*please note: in this episode, both identity-first (autistic child) and person-first language (child with autism) are used. although as clinicians and practitioners we are slowly learning to shift our language and take the lead from the autistic community, the stance of this podcast is that we ultimately want to honor what each child and family prefer.

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismdoes your child struggle with sleep?sleep is such a foundational piece to brain development, it is essential for mental health, and, yes, many autistic children struggle with falling and staying sleeping.this week, I'm joined by Courtney Zentz, pediatric sleep expert and certified sleep coach. Courtney shares her personal experiences with postpartum anxiety and depression and how she got into helping parents create better sleep routines and environments for kids with sleep difficulties.this episode will help you: understand some of the reasoning behind sleep difficulties in childrengain tips and tricks for how to tackle nighttime and sleepunderstand how you can work on this at home, but also know when support is neededfollow Tiny Transitions for more information and help with sleep @tinytransitions or visit tinytransitions.com.more resources from Courtney mentioned in this episode >>Freebie Resource Library: https://tinytransitions.com/learn/ Free Preliminary Sleep Assessment: https://tinytransitions.com/contact_sleep_consultant connect with Raline Sexton, autism sleep specialist: https://tinytransitions.com/slumber-squad/raline/ other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismin this episode, you'll hear the raw and real story of how I was introduced to autism and how my family's story led me to choosing to help autistic children and their families through evaluations, diagnoses, therapy, and beyond.I hope through the discomfort and vulnerability of sharing my story that you can start to have a shift that autism is a really important part of your child's and your family's identity... and you still have needs in all of this, too.thanks for letting me share my heart with y'all! PS the YouTube video that finally helped my bravery come thru is a must-watch: The Greatest Showman | "This is Me" with Keala Settle | 20th Century Fox. let it serve as a reminder that you do not need to be afraid to be seen!learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com or email [email protected] if you are wanting to schedule a consult callother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

[please note: some explicit language is used in this episode so please be aware if you're listening around children.]join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismare you in the diagnosis process right now and that process is really long and extended? maybe you're in the stages of first concerns or you're even post-diagnosis, and you're asking yourself, "now what?"in this episode, I'm joined by Chelsea Farmer, an autism parent with a passion for sharing her life and encouraging others who are on their own autism journeys. we discuss our shared goals to normalize the emotions that arise throughout the diagnosis process and the healing that can follow.this episode will help you: identify how to navigate early concerns and the diagnostic process highlight many of the emotions that parents commonly experience throughout the autism journeylearn how to shift to a healing and acceptance journey post-diagnosisChelsea is someone who is willing to share so openly and remind others they are not alone in this journey and I am blessed to be able to share our conversation. follow Chelsea for more autism experiences and encouragement on Instagram @chelseamfnfarmer.in this episode, I mention my diagnostic services and my group coaching program to support autism parents! to learn more about these services, DM me or email at [email protected]. other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismthis week, I'm opening the floor to my community of autism parents. I know there's not always an easy place for parents to ask questions, so we're going to answer a few submissions I received in this episode!this episode will answer: what are the levels of autism? should my child have a level? (2:09)how do I find the right speech, sensory, OT, or family therapist? (8:24) what can parents do to support their own needs when childcare is limited? (13:49)when is it appropriate to share your child's autism diagnosis with extended family and friends, particularly on social media? (21:42)what is something you wish every parent with a newly diagnosed child knew? what can I expect walking into my child's evaluation? (33:37)how can I differentiate my child's spectrum behaviors versus when he/she being a kid? (38:05)find my book recommendation here: Uniquely Human by Dr. Barry Prizantin this episode, I shared about my group coaching program designed for you! to learn more about this offer or other services I provide, DM me or email at [email protected]. other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you ever had concerns about your autistic child's eating habits and wondered how do I seek support? do they need medical intervention?today I'm talking with special guest, registered dietician Dr. Patty Ann Ford. food and habits around eating are daily encounters that affect the whole family unit, but it doesn't have to be your child's identity. picky eating can be ok, and is also something that can be worked on through small mindset shifts and lifestyle tweaks.this episode will help you: understand what constitutes picky eatinglearn how to effectively break down picky eating habits and address them one step at a timedetermine when intervention is helpfullearn about ARFID and how it is more than picky eatingconnect with Dr. Patty Ann on Instagram @dr.pattyannfordyou can also learn more at www.drpatriciafordwellness.com or reach out to her directly at [email protected] places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you ever wondered about the best ways to use visual supports for your autistic child? today we're hearing from a special guest, Molly Johnson. Molly has her master's in education and is a former autism teacher. she now has become "the autism consultant" on Instagram. she teaches parents about visual supports, potty training, and behavior and coping - and we talk about it all in this episode.this episode will help you: learn the rationale behind visual supports and why they are so effectiveunderstand the most effective ways visual supports are used for autistic childrenconsider how can parents can help integrate the things they are doing at home with things happening in the classroomconnect with Molly on Instagram @theautismconsultantand find Molly's courses on potty training, behavioral coping, and resources for visual schedules and communication boards here: https://www.theautismconsultant.us/linkinbioother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhow many times have you been told about the power of positive thinking?the way our culture has shifted, we've started to think about positive thinking as magic fairy dust. but will it actually set you up for success? in this week's episode, we explore how you can truly accept and embrace your current reality to find joy even amongst the challenges. this episode will help you: learn where positive thinking came fromunderstand how positive thinking can sabotage you more than help yougive you 4 ways you can actually create more joyin this episode, I shared about the new group coaching program I am launching! ready to dive in? sign up here: https://drtaycoaching.com/founding-member-checkout.have questions about the program? send me a DM or book a consult call using the link above.other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautisma commonly asked question I get as a child psychologist specializing in autism is "how do I reduce challenging behaviors?" this episode will introduce you to the ABCs - antecedents, behaviors, and consequences. at the heart of this episode is identifying the function of your child's behavior before you try to intervene.this episode will help you: identify what happens before the behavior (antecedent) and after the behavior that is reinforcing it (consequence)understand how to track data to discover patterns about when and why your child's challenging behaviors occurget clarity on what your child is trying to communicate (because yes even their challenging behaviors are communicative!) and learn how to use the data to intervene learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com or email [email protected] if you are wanting to schedule a consult callother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismare you the type of person who likes to see the behind the scenes? and get to know the person behind the professional? one year is all it took to put myself on a completely different trajectory. this week, we'll explore the lessons and insights inspired by my personal evolution in becoming a clinical psychologist that focuses on children and autism. and i'll walk through the career pivots I've made to create intentional space for parents of autistic children to have more support.this episode will help you: get to know me from the point of my career. dive into my training, my previous job as a researcher and academic, and why I launched the dr. tay brand.hear some of my biggest lessons and insights I share with families.empower you to change the status quo in your life.learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.comother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismDina is a mother of an autistic son as well as two other neurodivergent children. she shares about her journey of advocating for her son's autism diagnosis for years (yes, you read that right!) as well as what inspired her to start sharing the unleashed version of her family's life on TikTok. this episode will help you: learn how to best advocate for your child during the diagnostic processidentify shifts in parenting that can help you increase your communication with your childunderstand the importance of supporting your own well-being in the autism journeyconnect with Dina >>TikTok @unleashedpartyof5Instagram @unleashedpartyof5and explore Lovevery Play Kits and BrainPop (use DINA15 for 15% off) as mentioned by Dina in the episode! learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.comother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismin this week's episode, I sit down to candidly discuss neurodiversity, cultural shifts around autism, and even some of my story as an expert in this field who has become committed to constantly learning and evolving. I hope to bring more awareness to this topic shared through what I see as a well-rounded perspective and to help encourage more understanding and acceptance.this episode will help you: learn what neurodiversity is and understand some of its evolutionexplore how neurodiversity is different than how autism has been previously conceptualizedlearn how I discuss neurodiversity with my patients and their families as well as things I've learned from the autistic communitya great additional resource on neurodiversity as referenced in this episode is Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry M. Prizant, PhD.learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.comother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismthis week's episode was inspired by a member of my Facebook community. she said "how do you deal with family that thinks your child is normal and they think I blow things out of proportion?" i'll break down the steps for navigating your child's diagnosis/identity when your circle is unsupportive.this episode will help you: learn effective communication with family members and friends about autismunderstand the importance of gaining permission before you educateset appropriate boundaries when necessarylearn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.comother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismyou are the expert on your child, so why does it seem like your input is often not valued? in this episode, we explore what leads you to turn your volume down when advocating for your child and how you can take care of yourself to feel knowledgeable and empowered to best support your entire family.this episode will help you: understand how existing systems may be challenging your intuition in making the best decisions for your childidentify 3 habits of thinking that are standing in the way of serving yourselftake the habits of thinking assessment here >> habitfindercoach.com/drtaylearn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you questioned if your child is autistic? this episode is for you if you want to learn more about the autism diagnostic criteria. i’ll break it down for you so you can know whether or not you should pursue a formal evaluation. and if your child is already diagnosed, you will still find value in this episode! understanding your child's symptoms will assist you in providing beneficial support and accommodations and help you to better recognize their strengths. this episode will help you: understand DSM-5 diagnostic criteria recognize signs and symptoms you may see in your childidentify key differences between neurodiversity vs. the medical model's definition of autismlearn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.com other places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you ever noticed that when your child is emotionally dysregulated, you have less patience or you feel more on edge? in part 2 of our conversation about emotion regulation, I share evidence-based tips and strategies for you and your family. although there are no quick fixes and consistency is key, you can start to make changes that support your child in developing effective emotion processing.this episode will help you: learn 5 tips for effective regulationbegin to explore how emotional suppression may be impacting you and areas where you may need to unlearn behaviorssign up for the masterclass on emotion regulation here (launching in January 2023)learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> drtaylorday.comother places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismhave you ever noticed that when your child is emotionally dysregulated, you have less patience or you feel more on edge? the answer is not to shove down your feelings and move on. in this episode - part 1 of an in-depth conversation - we'll explore how as a parent of an autistic child effective emotional processing starts with you.this episode will help you: understand co-regulation and how children learn effective emotion regulationexplore reasons for greater emotion dysregulation in autistic children than in their neurotypical peersexamine real-life scenarios on how emotion dysregulation may show up for your child and how your reactions may exacerbate itsign up for the masterclass on emotion regulation here (launching in January 2023)learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> email me at [email protected] places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay

join the evolve Facebook community to participate in the weekly Q+A >> facebook.com/groups/evolveautismrecent research shows that one in 44 children are autistic, meaning as parents, many of you are looking for support specific to your autistic child. evolve with dr. tay is designed to be a source for reliable and reputable information for autism parents that is easy to understand. this episode will help you: understand the diagnostic process and the limitations of current resourcesaddress your emotions as a parentlearn how to sort through advice to find valuable and accurate information be proactive in getting what you need to serve your autistic child, your family, and yourself and this is just the introduction to the podcast... so much more to come!learn more about my Whole Family Approachᵀᴹ and current services offered >> email me at [email protected] places you can learn from me >>Instagram @the.dr.tayTikTok @the.dr.tayLinkedIn @the-dr-tay