Winding Road Counseling, LLC

08/02/2025

Hello everyone, I'm back. Healing isn't a straight line, and that's as true for therapists as it is for clients. My time away from posting was a period of settling into a new sense of purpose and grounding, and I'm now ready to connect with you all again.

My practice is focused on helping young adults, parents, and families with trauma, neurodivergence, and connection.

I'm ready to jump back into providing a space where you can find support and practical tools.

✨As we get started again, what's one question you have about trauma, neurodivergence, or connection that you'd like to see answered?

05/14/2025

Finding glimmers, making glimmers and finding joy is vital no matter who and where you are. Glimmers help us to regulate our nervous systems, this concept was coined by Deb Dana who has written excellent resources on polyvagal theory applications.

I'm trying to spend at least some amount of time finding glimmers each day to regulate my nervous system, in tiny spaces of time, whenever possible.

What are you doing today and what has your glimmer?

05/06/2025

May is mental health awareness month - practice paying attention to how to best support your own mental health and that of those around you.

Today, this week, this month - practice sitting in curiosity and wonder - about your own state of being and that of others.

04/19/2025

With recent statements that have been made by people currently controlling some agencies in this country, it felt really important to address this. And I'm still collecting my thoughts to be as clear as possible.

While in this process, one of my favorite sources of learning and deep diving is Dr. Megan Neff who put this post together regarding the " rise in the autism epidemic", which is really an increase in awareness and understanding and identity that has a long way to go. We are not in an epidemic. We are starting to understand ourselves better. And we have a long way to go. Read and listen to trusted sources. This is a great place to start or continue your learning.

04/11/2025

Learn.

We knew this April was going to be a hard one with all that’s happening across the pond. And to my lovely American followers I am so sorry you are in the midst of this, it should never be happening.

This person was quoted yesterday as saying:

"In September, we will know what has caused the autism epidemic and we'll be able to eliminate those exposures,"

following launching more research costing money that should instead be spent on tackling outbreaks of preventable diseases.

There is no “autism epidemic” and this scaremongering hurts our community worldwide.

What is happening is we are getting better at identifying Autistic people. There are generations of Autistics who went unidentified because we wrongly had a narrow view of:

a) who could be Autistic

and

b) how that presented

We are getting better at that. We now know Autistics exist in every culture, every gender, every socioeconomic group, every neighbourhood, any aspect of intersectionality you can think of. Until we have a full understanding of what it means to be Autistic those percentages will continue to rise before they plateau.

Being Autistic is a natural expression of what it means to exist for us - human beings are not supposed to be carbon copies of each other. We need differences in order to grow as a species. If everyone always had the same ideas and brains that worked in similar ways, there would be no innovation! The world needs infinite variety, and that includes Autistic people.

And if we are looking for a cause for “the Autism”, given it’s hereditary, the cause is Autistic people! Autistics create more Autistics. I just need to remember my dear dad and I know exactly why I’m Autistic. To understand why my child is Autistic, I just gotta look in the mirror.

More than this though - I don’t need research into why I’m Autistic. I love being Autistic. Even with all the difficulties that go along with living in a world specifically not designed for me, I wouldn’t change being Autistic for the world. I want to change the world for Autistics.

What I do want Autistic led research into how Autistic people can have a better quality of life, have more opportunities, how we can reduce health inequalities, increase accessibility, how to ensure we have the right supports at the right time.

And as someone who was unable to get fully vaccinated as a child due to allergies (and still Autistic) and caught measles, mumps and more, I’d also love to see more support for people who are cannot get vaccines for medical reasons.

04/11/2025

Connecting ideas, remembering, learning and invigorated! This organization is excellent and every speaker on today's agenda is really wonderful. Currently listening to Dr. Shelley Moore, I could listen to her for hours and hours and hours on end!

There is still time to join us on Friday! Register today! Virtual & Recorded!

More info here! bit.ly/41J6oAs

04/02/2025

Every March I attend the Psychotherapy, Networker Symposium and usually post a bunch about the conference. This year in the midst of so many things going on in the world, I did not post, yet. The incredible speakers that I had the pleasure of listening to deserve to be acknowledged for their work and effort. And their information is important for people to hear.

Today felt an appropriate time to post this issue of the Networker focused on the "New Autism". I had the joy of listening to speakers who spoke from their own lived experience. They taught large groups of people to rethink and challenge the beliefs and the knowledge that they have been taught either from grad school or their PHD programs or society at large about what autism is. It's not just awareness or acceptance and it's time to learn more and challenge what you thought you knew.

Read all about new perspectives on autism in our latest issue, with articles by
At Peace Parents, Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman, Diane Gould Therapy on PDA, Kory Andreas on neurodiverse couples, Shir Wolf on the transgender community in crisis, Sadie Dingfelder on faceblindness, Brown Girl Therapy on bicultural identity straddling, and Amy Marschall, Psy.D. (Norton Mental Health) on what NOT to do in neurodivergent intakes!

Explore these and other articles on teens and autism, trauma and neurodivergent burnout, and high-masking clients here: https://bit.ly/3DynyJ9

11/21/2024

Today is the 25th anniversary of Trans Day of Remembrance. Don't just remember, do something to support our trans friends, colleagues, family and fellow community members.

11/14/2024

Today is the start of Trans Awareness Week and I want to make a few things clear: trans people belong everywhere, have always existed, and always will. Period.
Your right to be happy, healthy, and safe is non-debatable!
I see you, I support you, and I will keep fighting by your side. 🌈🏳️‍⚧️

11/13/2024

I could not have said this better. Please reach out to your resources. Take 15 minutes each day to not care for others and limit your media time for at least an hour each day.

We’ve read your messages, seen your posts, and have witnessed your emotions rise and fall over the last twenty-four hours. We feel your anxiety, hold your grief, will care for your pain in times of great sorrow and champion you in moments of triumph. Politics is personal but you are a person first. Your feelings matter and are valid. Your humanity is precious. You will never be reduced to a ballot measure. You deserve a safe space to feel everything. We will always create that for you.

We are here no matter the outcome of any election. And we’re not going away.

If you need support, The Trevor Project is here 24/7/365, free & secure, to help you through anything and everything. Call us at 1-866-488-7386, text ‘START’ to 678-678, or connect online at trvr.org/get-help 🧡🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

10/16/2024

The next time you introduce yourself to someone share your pronouns and ask others to share theirs, if they're comfortable.

We're celebrating International Pronouns Day by highlighting the importance of respecting people’s pronouns today and every day. Pronouns reflect identity, and using them correctly helps foster inclusion and affirms everyone's right to be their authentic self. 🌈

Learn more about why pronouns matter at https://pflagnation.al/3Y3PhYo

10/13/2024

Stepping in on this Sunday to uplift a short meditation that may be useful to try out today or this week. Meditation helps us to settle our nervous system response and provides and solid space to reconnect to ourselves in the moment.

This one is hosted by Insight Timer which is a free app with many meditation options. Enjoy and pass on or save for others who may benefit from this.

This Sacred Pause meditation guides you through a 3-minute break. It's an opportunity to let your mind and body rest for just three minutes--taking a pause. This pause is a gift you give to yourself, allowing you to step out of the business of your day and reconnect with the breath and simply rest f...