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Many parents expect anxiety to look like worry. They imagine a child saying: I'm nervous. I'm worried. I'm anxious. But for many autistic, ADHD and neurodivergent children, anxiety rarely looks that straightforward. Instead, it can show up as: irritability meltdowns emotional outbursts needing constant reassurance rigid thinking perfectionism "controlling" behaviour refusal avoidance exhaustion shutting down As parents, it can sometimes feel confusing. You may find yourself w

Supporting Your Child Starts with Supporting Your Own Nervous System As parents, we often believe our biggest challenge is helping our child manage their emotions. But sometimes the harder challenge is managing what happens inside us when our child is distressed. Many parents arrive in my therapy room feeling exhausted, guilty and stuck in patterns that seem impossible to change. Their child becomes upset. They become upset. Everyone's emotions escalate. And before anyone rea

If you are looking for therapy for an autistic child, ADHD teenager, or a young person experiencing anxiety, OCD, school avoidance, sensory processing difficulties or emotional overwhelm, you may be surprised to discover that therapy does not always begin with talking. Many parents imagine therapy involves sitting face-to-face, discussing feelings and answering questions. Yet children often come home talking about: a dragon called Anxiety a nervous system alarm a friendship b

One thing I often discuss with parents is that many teenagers, particularly autistic young people, ADHD teenagers, or those who have had previous therapy, can find some of the traditional anxiety language used in SPACE a little awkward or "cringey." Phrases such as: "I know anxiety is talking right now." or "I can see OCD is telling you..." can feel unnatural, overly therapeutic, or simply not fit with how some teenagers understand themselves. This doesn't mean the principles

"I know it's OCD." "But every time I try to help my child face it, everything explodes." "My child isn't refusing because they don't want help. They seem genuinely overwhelmed." These are conversations I have regularly with parents of children who experience OCD, anxiety, PANS/PANDAS and a PDA profile. Many parents find themselves caught between two pieces of advice. On one side they are told: "Don't accommodate the OCD." On the other they see a child who appears terrified, o

Parents often tell me: "The antibiotics helped." "The inflammation has settled." "She's so much better than she was." And yet they also say: "The OCD is still there." "She's still anxious." "She still needs constant reassurance." "We're not sure what to do next." If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many children with PANS or PANDAS make significant improvements when the underlying medical condition is identified and treated. However, even when the acute symptoms settl

"She falls apart if a teacher corrects her work." "One disagreement with a friend can ruin her whole week." "If she doesn't get picked for something, she takes it as proof she's not good enough." These are concerns I hear regularly from parents of children and young people. As parents, it can feel confusing. A small piece of feedback from a teacher, not getting chosen for a sports team, or a friend cancelling plans can seem like relatively ordinary disappointments. Yet for so

Understanding the difference between OCD rituals, autistic routines and sensory seeking in children One of the most common questions parents ask me is: “How do I know if this is OCD… or just part of my child’s neurodivergence?” This can feel incredibly confusing for families, especially because many autistic and ADHD children: enjoy repetition, seek familiarity, prefer routines, rewatch favourite programmes, eat the same foods, repeat phrases or movements, and find comfort in

What do children really need during anxiety, OCD and big feelings?

Why This Growing Area of Research Has Caught My Attention Over the past few years, I’ve noticed more and more parents asking questions about natural supplements that may support neurodivergent children — particularly around: emotional regulation anxiety sleep focus executive functioning and nervous system overwhelm One supplement that keeps appearing in both research conversations and parenting spaces is Saffron. As a psychologist and psychotherapist working with children and

When a child develops OCD, maybe around getting things right, getting things wrong, upsetting people, germs, contamination, vomiting, food or feeling “dirty,” it can understandably look like the fear itself is the whole problem. Parents are often told: “They’re afraid of germs.” "They are afraid of something bad happening" "They are afraid of the air being dirty" “They’re worried about getting sick.” “It’s contamination OCD.” "It's perfectionism OCD." And that can be true. Bu

OCD Help UK for Children: When Contamination OCD, Food Anxiety & Fear of Choking Feel Too Strong If your child has said something like: “I want to get better… but I can’t.” “The OCD is too strong.” “I don’t want to get dirty.” “I can’t eat that… I might choke.” —you’re not alone. Many UK parents search for child OCD help, ERP therapy for teens, or support with food anxiety and fear of choking, and feel confused when their child wants to get better—but can’t take the first ste

A practical, compassionate approach for families If your child struggles with anxiety or OCD, you may feel like you’re constantly trying to reassure, fix, or prevent distress—only to find that the worry comes back stronger. Many parents I meet say things like: “I just want to help them feel better.” “If I don’t reassure them, they get so distressed.” “We feel stuck in the same cycle every day.” This is exactly where the SPACE model (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood

If your child has tics, you may find yourself wondering: “Why is it worse today?” “Is something causing this?” Tics can feel unpredictable—but there are some common patterns that many parents begin to notice. What can trigger tics? Tics are influenced by the nervous system, and they often increase when a child is: Stressed or anxious Big feelings can make tics more noticeable. Tired Fatigue is one of the most common triggers. Excited or overstimulated Tics can increase durin

This is a question many parents ask—and it’s completely understandable. PANS and PANDAS are medical conditions, and therapy does not treat the underlying cause, which may involve the immune system or inflammation in the body. However, therapy can play a really important role in supporting your child with the emotional and behavioural impact of what they are experiencing. Why therapy can still help Children with PANS/PANDAS often experience: OCD behaviours Tics Anxiety or pan

If your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, you may find yourself doing everything you can to help them feel better. This often includes reassurance, avoiding triggers, or helping with routines. The SPACE Programme (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) offers a gentle, effective way to support your child—by focusing on what you can do as a parent . What is SPACE and how does it help? SPACE is a parent-led approach designed to support children with anxiet

If your child has started making sudden movements or sounds they can’t seem to control, you’re not alone—and neither are they. These are called tics , and they’re more common than many people realise. What are tics? Tics are brief, involuntary movements or sounds that happen repeatedly. They can come and go, change over time, and are often influenced by things like stress, excitement, or tiredness. Importantly, tics are not done on purpose. From a brain perspective, tics are

If you’re parenting or caring for a teenager, you might sometimes feel hurt, confused—or like you’re the person they treat worst. Your teen may seem polite, capable, even easy-going at school…But at home, they’re irritable, withdrawn, or quick to snap. Many parents quietly wonder: “Why does my teenager behave like this at home? If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. And very often, it’s not really about rudeness at all. The Effort of “Holding It Together” Teenagers today

When your child is both autistic and has ADHD (often referred to as AuDHD), it can sometimes feel like they are being pulled in two different directions at once. As a parent, you may notice moments where their needs seem to clash — for example, a strong urge to move, explore, or act quickly, alongside a deep need for predictability, calm, and time to process. Understanding these internal “pushes and pulls” can be incredibly powerful in supporting your child. The ADHD side of

How We Explain ERP, ACT and Inhibitory Learning to Teens If your teenager has been struggling with OCD you may have heard terms like ERP , ACT , or inhibitory learning mentioned in therapy. They can sound technical and intimidating. But in practice, these approaches are actually very relatable, practical, and empowering for young people. In this post, I’ll walk you through how we explain these ideas to teens in a way that makes sense—and helps them feel more in control. Help