Long before Sarah's daughter Chloe Hayden became an award-winning actress starring in Netflix's Heartbreak High, she was a kid facing immense struggles. Chloe was sensitive to smells, lights and foods; she had no friends; she hated school.

Sarah never suspected Chloe was autistic, but that’s only because her idea of what autism looked like came from the film Rain Man.

Sarah is now a social worker and equine assisted therapist, working with neurodiverse families.

In this episode, Sarah shares her family’s story, her advice for parents navigating school refusal and food aversion – and the shock of getting her own surprise ADHD diagnosis later in life.

You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

Guest:

Sarah HaydenSocial workerEquine assisted therapistAuthor, Parenting Different

Credits:

• Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar
• Producer: Rose Kerr
• Senior producer: James Bullen
• Sound engineer: Roi Huberman

Support services:

Butterfly Foundation

Lifeline

More information:

What to do if nothing's working, Autism Australia

Planning Absences: A Guide for Parents of Autistic Students

Eating disorders and autism

Anorexia Nervosa and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Autism spectrum disorder and anorexia nervosa: Investigating the behavioural and neurocognitive overlap

Personal essay: "I was unseen, even to myself"

Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa Comorbidity: Common Features and Treatment Possibilities With Cognitive Remediation Therapy and Oxytocin

Disability advocates say NDIS changes disregard alternative therapy benefits

Effects of Equine Therapy on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review

Equine-Assisted Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Comprehensive Literature Review

Equine assisted activities and therapies in children with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and a meta-analysis

Autism and Equine-Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Mapping Review

Effects of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effectiveness of Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Update

A Scoping Review of Equine-Assisted Therapies on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Autistic Children and Adolescents: Exploring the Possibilities