Tanya Valentin
Specialized Support for Parents of Neurodivergent Children and Teens
Does Your Child or Teen Have Autistic Burnout?
It is likely that there are so many conflicting thoughts and feelings swirling around in your head and heart right now…
During this vulnerable and anxiety-filled time, Autistic Burnout can affect your child in so many ways from loss of skills, and inability to do everyday things, to ‘school can’t’ and social withdrawal to self-harm or not wanting to be here anymore.
No one prepared you for this and it feels like you don’t know how to move forward from here.
It is a worrying reality that many Autistic children, teens and adults (even those who are undiagnosed) will experience some form of burnout throughout their lives.
Autistic Burnout is a debilitating condition that affects Autistic individuals of all ages and stages of their lifespan. Burnout is caused by “being asked to continuously do more than one is capable of without sufficient means for recovery.”(Raymaker 2020).
High-masking individuals, PDAers and those with multiple neurotypes (such as Autism and ADHD) are at higher risk of being affected by burnout and may be misdiagnosed as having depression or an anxiety disorder. Depending on how severe the burnout is, it can take weeks, months, and even years to recover.
Autistic Burnout can have ongoing consequences for the whole family.
You know from firsthand experience that Autistic Burnout is very real, however, one of the most frustrating things about burnout is the lack of resources and understanding when it comes to Autistic Burnout. Many medical and mental health professionals haven’t even heard about Autistic Burnout and may even try to convince you that your child is just a bit anxious or depressed.
Because there is so little awareness of Autistic Burnout there is very little support for those affected by it amongst family, friends or their communities.
Your child being in Autistic Burnout can have a huge impact on the rest of the family, your relationship with your partner and your own mental health as your child’s primary caregiver.
It can be tricky to navigate or to even know if you are doing the right thing to support your child and the rest of your family.
I know from personal experience how terrifying it can be to watch your child’s well-being decline due to Autistic Burnout and not know what to do to help them recover without a clear end in sight.
I have also seen my children come out the other side and be in recovery (and the things that it took to get them there).
The truth is that caring for your child or teen who is in Autistic Burnout is a lonely and isolating path, especially if you don’t have support or points of reference to guide you.
But it doesn’t have to be.
The Autistic Burnout Care and Recovery Program is a 6-week parent education and support program for parents caring for their Autistic child or teen who is in burnout.
This program is specially designed to give you the important information you need to understand Autistic Burnout and support your child’s recovery while you parent from the trenches and you need it most.
You will receive support from live group coaching sessions alongside a supportive group of parents who intimately understand what you are going through.
When Does The Next 6-Week Group Start?
The next round of Autistic Burnout Care and Recovery starts on 28 October 2024
What's Included
7 live online coaching sessions. These conversational, interactive sessions are conducted live on Zoom to allow you to ask questions, connect with and share your experiences with the other parents in the group.
6 weekly education modules These modules are presented in short videos (closed caption included) for you to watch at your own pace. Audio files are also included so you can listen while on the go. (Transcripts are available by request for those who prefer to read written material.)
Pocket Coaching. Wrap-around support through Messenger Chat.
Access to a private community. This private and supportive online group is where you can share experiences, access peer support and ask Tanya and the other parents in the group questions about your child or family situation. (You will continue to have access to the group after the program ends)
Limited Spaces. The small group size allows you to get the individualised support you need and make genuine connections with the other families in the group.
You will also receive:
- Continued access to the education modules and private group and the connections you made with other parents after the program is finished.
- An opportunity for ongoing support through our alumni online community.
Payment Information
$495 NZD (or $123.75 a fortnight when you use Afterpay at checkout)
Or 4 monthly payments of $135 NZD
Contact me if you intend to use disability funding to pay for your participation in this group to discuss options.
As part of my commitment to ethical practice, extended payment plans and hardship scholarships are available on request.
Course Outline
Module One – Understanding Autistic Burnout
- What is autistic burnout?
- What is happening on a brain and nervous system level?
Module Two – Understanding Meltdowns and Shutdowns
- Understanding the connection between meltdowns/shutdowns, masking and autistic burnout.
- How we can support our child’s nervous system regulation.
Module Three – Burnout Recovery
- The fundamentals of burnout recovery.
- Screens and burnout recovery.
- How we can adapt our parenting to aid burnout recovery.
Module Four – Taking Care of Yourself and Other Family Members
- How do we meet the needs of other children?
- How do we meet our own needs?
- How do we regulate our own nervous system and protect ourselves from burnout?
- Getting on the same page with your partner.
Module Five – Crisis Support
- How to recognise the early signs of escalation and crisis?
- What to do in a crisis?
Module Six – The ‘New Normal’
- How can you support your child as they come out of burnout?
- Managing demands and expectations as your child engages with the outside world.
- Burnout prevention, accommodations and supports to protect your child from future burnout.
Parent Testimonial
I had been following Tanya’s Instagram account for several months, learning all I could about my young adult AuDHD daughter in burnout. We hit a crisis period recently so I reached out to Tanya for one-on-one coaching. It was a turning point for me as a mom. While all the things I was doing to help my daughter was intuitively correct, the anxiety and trauma from all of the years of trying to navigate my daughter’s issues had my own nervous system in complete collapse. In her gentle, loving, compassionate and knowledgeable way, Tanya helped me to understand what the reality of healing from burnout looks like.
I thought I would feel disappointed, sad, and scared, but instead, I felt empowered! There are so many things we can do to help our children! It doesn’t matter what neurotypical people think of our situation or my parenting. And it’s ok if it takes time – we will take it day by day, one step at a time. Instead of panicking and feeling hopeless, I now have the confidence that I can continue to be my daughter’s best advocate and that she can rely on me for her safety and support. Thank you, Tanya! Your coaching has been invaluable!
A.M.
Do You Have Questions About The Program?
Email Tanya: tanya@tanyavalentin.com
or send me a DM on Facebook or Instagram – @tanyavalentinnz
Meet Tanya
Tanya Valentin is a Trauma-Informed and Neuro-Affirming Family Coach, NZ Registered Teacher, Lecturer (Te Pukenga – Early Childhood Education and Care), Author and Podcaster.
Tanya is a Neurodivergent person and a proud Mama of 3 Neurodivergent humans. She works to support, educate and foster inclusion, acceptance and positive life outcomes for all neurodivergent children, teenagers and adults in all her areas of life.
Tanya lives with her family in beautiful Northland, New Zealand. She has authored several books and blogs and co-hosts the Seen Heard Accepted Podcast with her family. She is the founder of the Neurodivergent Family Toolbox and the host of the Parenting Neurodivergent Kids Together podcast.
Tanya is committed to making a difference in the world by supporting parents with practical tools and strategies to help them understand their child and their unique wiring, feel confident in their parenting and nurture strong connections between themselves and their children.