Autism is a developmental difference characterised by specific differences in social interactions, communication and behaviour. Autistic people often also have sensory differences, meaning that they are particularly sensitive to noise, light, texture or taste. They often have intense interests which might be unusual. They may find it difficult to identify and describe their emotions. A significant proportion of autistic people will have an intellectual disability, but many will not. The autism diagnostic category includes a very varied group of people.
Being on a different developmental trajectory can make life challenging. It can mean that too much is expected of autistic children and teenagers without enough support being provided. Anxiety is very common among autistic people, as are difficulties with school and friendships.
That’s what we talk about in our webinars and courses. They focus on practical and useful tips which will help you to understand your autistic child and see a way ahead. We do not do autism diagnoses. Autism should be diagnosed by a multi-disciplinary team. This is because autism is a lifelong diagnosis and so it should be given with great care.
Many autistic children are anxious. Dr Naomi Fisher, clinical psychologist, will help you understand some of the reasons and will show you some ways you might be able to support your child. You will leave with a better understanding of what might be going on, and some ideas as to how you as the parent can help.
Why are so many autistic teenagers anxious - and what can parents do to help? Gain understanding, insight and practical tips in this mini-course by Dr Naomi Fisher.
Living with your autistic child is like walking on eggshells. They sleep badly, they cling to you and they have extreme reactions to seemingly small events. They are very scared of particular things, and you aren't really sure why. Naomi will explain how trauma affects the brain - and why understanding trauma in autism requires us to look beyond major traumatic events to understand the person's individual experience.
Why do autistic children love screens so much – and what should parents be doing about it? In this mini-course, Naomi will dive into the psychology of behaviour around screens. She’ll explain why many autistic children have a special relationship with screens, and how parents can help their children develop a healthy and sustainable relationship with technology.
Life is full of transitions - and many autistic children find them really difficult - which means that their parents find them hard too. Life can feel like walking on eggshells. Dr. Naomi Fisher will help you gain a new understanding of why transitions are so hard, what makes it worse - and how to help.
Dr Naomi Fisher will explain OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and how it can interact with autism. She'll describe how parents and children can fall into OCD traps, and what to do to get out. She'll give you some ideas to help your child, even if they themselves don't think that there's a problem.
Is your autistic child having problems at school? Naomi offers ways to think about the issues, and tools and strategies which will help you make changes for your child.
Dr Abigail Fisher, Educational Psychologist, talks from her experience both as an early years psychologist and as a Reception teacher. She shares ideas for how you can help and explains how school can support them.
Some of you may not know that I am a EMDR trainer, as well as a clinical psychologist. EMDR is an evidence-based therapy, recommended in the NICE guidelines for PTSD and I’ve been using it since 2005. Most recently I have become an accredited trainer, meaning that I can now train other therapists in EMDR.
Illustration by @_missingthemark When a child has difficulties at school, it’s common to locate the problem in the child or their family rather than in the school. Here’s what families tell me about that. Children who don't fit the mould are told that they need to try harder, make less fuss, be less different. The way that everyone else fits in is held up as what to aspire to - no matter if the child thinks otherwise.