Rainbow Roots Neurodiversity Clinic

09/01/2026

Why does my child fall apart after school?

For some kids, getting through the school day takes a tremendous amount of energy. They may be managing sensory overload, social expectations, transitions, executive functioning demands, masking, and simply trying to hold it together.

Then they get home—to the place where they feel safest—and their capacity is gone.

That after-school meltdown or shutdown may not be about what happened five minutes ago. It may be the result of everything their nervous system has been managing all day.

A few things that can help:
🌿 A preferred snack and drink
🌿 Downtime before homework or chores
🌿 Fewer questions and decisions
🌿 Comfortable clothes and sensory supports
🌿 Movement or quiet, depending on what their nervous system needs
🌿 Connection without requiring conversation

Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do after school is simply ask less of them for a while.

For Facebook I'd finish with:

08/27/2026

Do your research before sending your child to a particular kind of therapy.

More and more I am hearing RBTs calling themselves therapists, or saying they are providing "ABA therapy".

It's inaccurate and misleading parents who are looking for help.

ABA is Applied Behavior Analysis and the service providers are Behavior Analysts or Behavior Technicians. There is no T in ABA.

There is no such thing as Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy (analysis therapy doesn't even sound right). To call it "therapy" is false advertising. Parents think they're doing right for their children by listening to their doctor and pursuing ABA. Then, they are misled by ABA Centers who convince them their child needs hours and hours of intervention.

ABA practitioners are not therapists, and no, your child does not need 20-40 hours a week of an intervention provided by a "technician" with minimal training.

The 20-40 hours benefits the center's bank account, not your child.

I understand the need for support, but ABA, as told to us by people, is not OK. I understand that in pur current system, it may be the only choice, but parents need to be told the truth...and they're not!

The autistic community has made it quite clear that there's nothing "therapeutic" about ABA. They have called ABA harmful, even abuse. Please stop calling it "therapy". Informed consent matters.

Tell the truth to families.

Picture of my dog trying to make me feel better.

08/04/2026

We are also on Instagram!

08/03/2026

One of the questions I ask most often isn't: "How do we stop this behavior?"

It's: "What is this behavior telling us?"

When a child melts down after school...
When homework turns into tears...
When they refuse something that seemed easy yesterday...
When they avoid situations that look "simple" to everyone else...
I become curious.

Behavior is often the visible part of something much bigger.
Sometimes the answer is sensory overwhelm.
Sometimes it's anxiety.
Sometimes it's executive functioning.
Sometimes it's an unmet communication need.
Sometimes it's exhaustion from trying to hold everything together all day.

Understanding why a child is struggling doesn't mean we ignore the struggle. It means we're much more likely to choose supports that actually help.

That's one of the guiding principles behind Rainbow Roots Neurodiversity Clinic.
✨ Curiosity before conclusions.

What's one behavior you wish people were more curious about instead of judging?

07/21/2026

One of the biggest shifts in my career has been learning to ask a broader question.

Earlier in my career, when a child was struggling, I often focused first on what could be treated. Now I also ask:

"What is making life harder than it needs to be—and what kind of support would actually help?"

Sometimes it's untreated ADHD.

Sometimes it's autism that has gone unrecognized.

Sometimes it's anxiety, sensory overload, sleep difficulties, ARFID, executive functioning challenges, or a school environment that simply isn't the right fit.

Sometimes it's a young person who needs access to gender-affirming care without unnecessary barriers.

My goal has never been to make children fit someone else's expectations.

My goal is to understand what's contributing to their struggles and work alongside families to make everyday life easier—while respecting who that child already is.

That is the philosophy behind Rainbow Roots Neurodiversity Clinic:
🌿 Acceptance of the child
🌿 Curiosity about the struggle
🌿 Commitment to reducing unnecessary suffering

What's one thing you wish more healthcare providers understood about your child?

07/09/2026

About a year ago, my family packed up our lives and moved to Texas. Although we now call Texas home, I've continued serving families throughout Washington via telehealth. Over the past year, my practice has become increasingly focused on the work I'm most passionate about—supporting neurodivergent and gender-diverse children and adolescents through affirming, whole-person care.

That evolution inspired a new name and a new website that better reflects who we are today.

Welcome to Rainbow Roots Neurodiversity Clinic.

🌿

Neuroaffirming autism evaluations and gender-affirming care for children and adolescents in Washington. Telehealth support for neurodiverse youth and families.

05/21/2026

01/11/2026

Gender affirming care is a vital part of healthcare.
"Suicidality significantly declined" among trans youth who receive hormone replacement therapy, a new study has found.

"Suicidality significantly declined" among trans youth who receive hormone replacement therapy, a new study has found.

12/19/2025

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