Moyna Talcer Consultant Occupational Therapist

31/07/2026

A new study by Clarey et al (2026) explored how adults experience autistic burnout and how this can impact participation in daily life. They interviewed 20 autistic adults, and analysed the interviews through an approach called reflexive thematic analysis.

Five themes were developed about how autistic burnout felt for these participants.

(1) the powering down of the mind and body
(2) the overactivation of the mind and body
(3) craving social and sensory rest
(4) making the world more manageable by using substances
(5) not knowing why this is happening to you can take a (sometimes dangerous) toll.

They also explored how participants experiences of burnout differed if diagnosed in childhood versus in adulthood with often more impactful and disabling symptoms when diagnosed later in life.

Research has shown that not having an autism diagnosis earlier in life could, indirectly, lead to not understanding one’s own needs accurately and not having the right support from others. Their research found that experiences seemed to be more disabling for participants diagnosed in adulthood where themes 4 and 5 related particularly to those diagnosed with autism in adulthood.

This study adds an important insight into the predicted needs of adults diagnosed at different times in their lives and can offer further considerations of support.

How does ‘autistic burnout’ feel? A qualitative study exploring experiences of earlier and later-diagnosed autistic adults

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26/07/2026

Supporting a child with PDA takes a huge amount of unlearning previous approaches to to traditional parenting and beha iour management. PDA is driven by a dysregulated nervous system stuck in fright/flight/freeze when loss of autonomy is present. Applying typical behavioural or usual parenting strategies when the childa nervous system is in overload quickly lead to total disconnect and distance. In order to support a PDA child you must relearn how to first connect, support nervous system regulation, become a space for coregulation and only then will you be able to support engagement.

26/07/2026

Well done Rachael CG and well done Ella, great work you're doing.

24/07/2026

This is a brilliant post from explaining how a child/ adult with adhd can really struggle during the day. It outlines how the brain and the demands of the environment do not always add up and are often in conflict, which over time, can build stress resulting in fall outs when home. This is one of the best descriptions ive seen to date. Please share as this will help others understand how the daily demands and stressors upon an already maxed out nervous system can lead to melt downs and anxiety.

20/07/2026

I am officially out of office and I return to work on the 7th September.

As I head into my out-of-office period, I've been reflecting on what has been an incredibly rewarding journey.

I'm proud to have supported so many families in achieving their goals, helping them build confidence, overcome challenges, and celebrate progress along the way. It's been a privilege to work alongside parents and carers, empowering them with a greater understanding of PDA and neuroaffirming approaches, whilst providing practical strategies that make a real difference in everyday life.

I've also had the opportunity to deliver training to dedicated professionals, supporting staff to better understand PDA and neuroaffirming practice and create more inclusive, compassionate environments for the children and young people they work with.

I have very much enjoyed supporting the adults I work with, finding strategies and approaches that empower, support independence and most importantly, honour their individual needs.

Thank you to every client, family, parent, school, and professional who has trusted me to be part of your journey. Your commitment, resilience, and willingness to learn continue to inspire me.

While I'm out of the office, I'll be taking some time to rest and recharge. I'll respond to messages as soon as I can when I return. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

16/07/2026

Since delivering this training at a local primary school, I have had so much wonderful feedback from participants. Some of the comments ive received:

"Thank you so much for the training, ive implemented some of the strategies you recommended and we have seen such an improvement".

"Learning about the link between anxiety and nervous system activation has been so important and totally changed how I see things now".

"This training has been so powerful in helping me understand my son'.

I feel this type of training should be delivered to all schools as part of their universal training package. The importance and impact of how adults interact with a child whose nervous system is stuck in survival can make or break progress. With the increase in emotionally based school non attendance, we need to act now.

13/07/2026

Ottar has been crowned "Sir Ottar" by a client today, he was very pleased about it too! It has been so frustrating being unable to offer Sensory integration in the clinic due to the heatwave, so Ottar was most pleased with the cuddles.

13/07/2026

I had a very unexpected surprise today from a client and their family. Thankyou so much for the beautiful flowers and card, so unexpected. It honestly has been a pleasure.

04/07/2026

03/07/2026

Many factors can lead children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities to miss school - from anxiety and sensory challenges to delays in getting the support they need through an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Yet too often, parents who are doing everything they can to support their child's education and wellbeing find themselves facing fines or prosecution because the system is failing to meet their child's needs.

I've signed a parliamentary motion calling for unmet SEND needs to be recognised as a distinct category of absence, so families are offered support, not sanctions.