Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be an autistic female? Or what’s it like to receive a diagnosis later in life? If so, buckle up, because today we are soaking up the lived experiences of the insightful Kristy Forbes! Kristy dives deep into her personal journey, why she prefers ‘autistic’ over ‘person with autism’,  if there is a fundamental difference between males and females on the spectrum and the neurodiversity movement.

Kristy Forbes is an autism and neurodiversity support specialist and the Director of inTune Pathways. Kristy was diagnosed autistic at 33 years. She is raising 4 beautiful daughters who are also diagnosed autistic.

The post HBH 33: Autistic Females & A Late Diagnosis appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Hands up if you have a little fussy eater? Does your child only eat beige, bland carb-loaded foods? Or are they limited to certain brands? Maybe they will only tolerate crunchy foods? Do they survive on a diet of 20 or less different types of food? Do they crave junk food? Then this episode is for you!

Today we are talking all about fussy eater and how to kick picky eating habits to the curb! I’ll be talking with Ashley Thurn, who is a paediatric occupational therapist and picky eating specialist based in Florida. Ashely has a background in sensory related paediatric feeding issues and is passionate about exploring how food and environmental factors impact brain development, especially for children with Autism and ADHD.

The post HBH 32: Feeding Fussy Eater with Ashley Thurn appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Today we are soaking up all the practical advice and insights into how to make school a success, with the amazing Sue Larkey. We dive into anxiety, transitions, adjustments for tests, sensory tools and SO MUCH MORE!

I have subscribed to Sue’s newsletter 7 years ago when I had my first pediatric caseload at a special development school down in Victoria. I’ve always loved Sue’s ideas because they’re super practical – and she makes everything make sense!

Sue Larkey is an educator who has taught students with autism at both mainstream primary schools and special education schools. She combines practical experience with extensive research having completed a Masters in Special Education.

If your child is at school – then this is one episode you don’t want to miss!

The post HBH 31: Making School A Success with Sue Larkey appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Chloe Hayden, better known as Princess Aspien, is a 21 year old girl with Aspergers Syndrome. Chloe struggled throughout her childhood and early teenage years feeling outcast and unable to connect with anyone. She suffered relentless bullying at school which landed her in hospital. 

When Chole was 18, she came to the realisation that she wasn’t the only child who had gone through these similar experiences. Chloe talks about what school life was REALLY like, how homeschooling changed her life in an instant, what she wishes teachers knew about her, how teachers can support autistic kids to thrive and so much more!

The post HBH 30: Dear Teachers, What I Wish You Knew with Princess Aspien appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Sara Harvey aka Agony Autie is autistic and was diagnosed at the age of 26 after her sons diagnosis. Sara is completely unguarded when it comes to advocating for the neurodiverse. She openly and courageously shares what’s in her heart and on her mind. Sara is shedding light on autistic behaviours and the different experiences being autistic entails. We talk all about her personal experiences, how she describes autism, what the neurodiverse movement is all about, why masking is so damaging, and why stimming should not be discouraged. Buckle up…..and join us for one exciting ride!

The post HBH 29: Unapologetically Autistic with Agony Autie appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

When the brain and body are overloaded with toxins they don’t have the opportunity to function optimally. Our modern day world is full of chemicals which although are often hard to avoid, there is a great deal you can be doing to safely navigate the chemical maze. We conversation dives deep into the common toxic chemicals (‘fragrances’, phthalates & fluoride) you should be avoiding plus the everyday products you should be thinking twice about! This is one episode you can’t miss – because friends, the strategies shared in today’s episode are within your control.

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Bill Statham. Bill is a researcher and writer with an interest in health education and a commitment to making a positive difference to the health of people and the environment. Bill studied and practised homeopathy both in Australia and the UK for over ten years. During this time he became increasingly concerned about the detrimental effects on health caused by synthetic chemicals in the foods we eat and cosmetic products we use every day.

The post HBH 28: Navigating The Chemical Maze appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Kids on the spectrum are drawn to digital devices, and lets face it, many kids prefer the virtual world over the real world. Electronic devices can provide predictability where kids feel safe, secure and can play a game tailored to their current interest. This sounds far more appealing than the real world which is full of unpredictability, judgement, misunderstandings, sensory overload and constant social challenges. But the tricky thing is trying to limit screen time and take back a device when time is up. This can trigger all sorts of meltdowns and behaviours.

Today, we’ll be diving into techno tantrums, safe screen time and practical advice on how to manage things like social media. I’m super excited to be talking with Dr. Kristy Goodwin. Kristy is a children’s technology and development expert, speaker, author & mum. She takes the guesswork and guilt out of raising kids in the digital age and arms parents with facts, not fears, about the best ways to parent when it comes to technology.

The post HBH 27: Techno Tantrums, Safe Screen Time And Raising Our Kids In A Digital World appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

We need to look at autism through a completely different lense. We need to unlearn what we have known to be true. We need to challenge deeply ingrained belief systems and embrace a whole child approach to the complexities of autism.

Today it’s just you and me! I chat about how my understanding of autism was challenged when I stepped out of my therapy bubble and started to look beyond the information that was handed to me. I show you why the confusing history of autism means we need to keep our minds open to interventions that don’t necessarily address ‘autism’. I discuss epigenetics and why our divided autism community needs to work together…now more than ever before.

The post HBH 26: The eyes are useless when the mind is blind- Unlearning What We Know About Autism appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

We know genes play a major role in autism, but are you aware that autism is also heavily influenced by environmental factors? The more we learn about autism as an epigenetic condition – the more we start to realise that lifestyle really matters!

This is a really empowering model to work from – because it means you can make a difference.

We know there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to the complexities of autism but there are simple and effective strategies that ALL children can benefit from such as eating real food, restoring gut health and eliminating chemicals from around the home.

Tune in today as we talk to (the incredibly passionate) Shandy Laskey who will empower you with the knowledge and tools to make health promoting changes and help your child reach their full potential!

The post HBH 25: Lifestyle Matters For Autism- Exploring Epigenetics with Shandy Laskey appeared first on The Wellness Couch.

Does your child often feel isolated and have low self esteem? Chris Varney is 31 years old and has Asperger’s Syndrome. He grew up with a group of mentors who pushed him to think ‘I CAN’ and is driving a rethink of autism, from ‘I Can’t’ to ‘I CAN’!! In today’s episode Chris empowers you with ways to support your child at school and work – to boost their confidence and help them reach their full potential.

Chris is the founder of the I CAN Network. The I CAN Network mentors young people on the Autism Spectrum to live life with an ‘I CAN’ attitude. They build networks across schools, universities, TAFEs, communities, businesses and governments. This is Australia’s first social enterprise founded by people with Autism!

The post HBH 24: Creating An “I Can” Network With Chris Varney appeared first on The Wellness Couch.