Blog
You Do Not Need to Be Fixed: A Letter to Youth in Unsupportive Households
It is a heavy, quiet exhaustion. You wake up and immediately scan the atmosphere of your home like a meteorologist checking for a storm. You monitor the tone of a voice, the weight of a footstep, or the silence in the kitchen to decide if it’s safe to be yourself—or...
Find Your People: Why a Neuro-Affirming Community is the Missing Piece of Parenting
If you are raising a neurodivergent child of any age, you are likely exhausted, not necessarily by your child; It's by the relentless friction of navigating an ableist world. You spend your days translating your child’s needs to schools, health professionals,...
How to Melt ICE by Talking to Kids About Current Events
I’ve sat in many sessions lately where the air feels heavy before a single word is even spoken; I know exactly what my client is going to bring up because of the distressing national tragedy we've both had forcing itself in our social media algorithm.. Between the...
Why Neurodivergent People Often Struggle Most During Political Unrest
The news cycle is relentless. Between breaking headlines, social media debates, and the general air of uncertainty that follows political upheaval, the world can feel like a very loud, very unstable place. While political unrest is stressful for everyone, for the...
Why Empowered Kids Test Their Parents: Seeing Strength in Boundary Pushing
Every parent has been there: your child pushes back, challenges a rule, or seems determined to test every boundary you've set. In these moments, it's easy to feel frustrated, disrespected, or even worried that you're "losing control." But what if I told you that, from...
New Research Sheds Light on Autism Subtypes — What It Means for Neurodivergent Parents
No two neurodivergent brains are the same. For neurodivergent parents, you already know that autistic children defy simple categorization with their unique abilities and needs. Autism is often described as a spectrum, but as a therapist who works with families every...
Common Co-Parenting Struggles & Tools to Help
Okay, this is an important distinction and will change the focus significantly from co-parents who are neurodivergent/queer to parents who have neurodivergent/queer kids and are working together (presumably with another parent, whether they are still together or...
Parenting from the Inside Out: A Guide for A Neurodivergent Parent
A lot of common parenting advice simply doesn't apply to our neurodivergent families, and that can feel incredibly isolating. Let's get real for a moment. Parenting is tough, but being a neurodivergent parent raising a neurodivergent kid is a unique kind of journey....
The PhD Difference: Dr. Rachel Hughes’ Unique Approach Empowers Neurodivergent & LGBTQ+ Youth
Hello wonderful parents! It's Dr. Rachel Hughes here, the owner of Connect Counseling and Consulting. You might already know Connect Counseling for its deep commitment to neurodiversity-affirming care and the focused support I offer LGBTQ+ youth and their families....