Dr. Karen Jaggers, LPC

07/30/2026

Parents of autistic children are often told they simply need to become more resilient.

A new umbrella review suggests the pressure is much bigger than that.

Researchers combined evidence from 41 previous reviews examining stress among parents of autistic children. They found that stress came from several connected levels.

Some pressures involved daily caregiving, a child’s distress, dependency and parents’ worries about the future.

But many came from outside the home.

Long waiting lists. Financial strain. Stigma. Social isolation. Difficulties with schools. Limited respite. Professionals who did not understand autism. Services that were unavailable, unaffordable or difficult to navigate.

The researchers concluded that supporting parents cannot focus only on helping individuals cope better. Families also need accessible services, coordinated support and communities that understand them.

Parents are not failing because they find the system exhausting.

Too often, the system is exhausting them.

📰 Source: Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

07/27/2026

07/26/2026

🤠 Mark your calendars! Get ready to Raise 'Em Up for Texas with us on October 22. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

07/25/2026

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

07/25/2026

📣The most dangerous thing a parent can believe about their college student's mental health is that they'd know.

After over two decades in college mental health, as a clinician, a counseling center director, and a researcher, here are the five beliefs I hear most often that put students at risk.

Myth 1: "My student would tell me if something was really wrong."
Reality: Most students in crisis work hard to protect their parents from worry. The students I've been most concerned about were often the ones whose parents described them as "fine."

Myth 2: "The counseling center will reach out if something's wrong."
Reality: Counseling centers are reactive, not proactive. They respond to students who come to them. They are not monitoring your student's wellbeing.

Myth 3: "It's just adjustment. They'll grow out of it."
Reality: Some will. Some won't. The students who needed intervention and didn't get it because everyone assumed it was a phase are the ones I think about most.

Myth 4: "Athletes are mentally tougher. They'll be fine."
Reality: My doctoral research focused specifically on college student athletes. The data tells a different story, one that the culture of athletic performance makes significantly harder to see.

Myth 5: "They're getting help. They went to the counseling center."
Reality: Going once is not getting help. A 6-week waitlist is not getting help. Three sessions and then a referral is often not enough.

I'm not sharing this to alarm you.
I'm sharing it because the earlier a family understands these realities, the more effectively they can support their student.

I see Florida based college students in my practice and offer convenient virtual appointments that fit into busy schedules. www.ProgressiveMindsTherapy.com

07/24/2026

Get ready for the Back to School Resource Fair, where you can network and obtain the resources you need for the upcoming school year.

07/24/2026

The HUB is opening a new middle school. There are 5 spots available. Find out more information at http://www.thehubhouston.org/admissions , , ,

07/24/2026

For families who are newly navigating an autism diagnosis, water safety may not be the first thing on their minds. Hope for Three, an advocacy group for autism, says people with autism tend to be drawn to water — making supervision and prevention even more critical.