EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇
this episode is part 2 of our autistic burnout series.
dr. tay is joined by patrick casale, a neurodivergent therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur, and group practice owner, for a conversation about what autistic burnout can feel like .
patrick shares his lived experience with burnout, the overlap between autistic burnout and chronic illness, the impact of societal demands, and why recovery is rarely as simple as “just reduce demands” or “take a break.”
this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for parents who are trying to better understand their child’s burnout, support recovery, and recognize early warning signs before the nervous system fully crashes.

you’ll hear about:
what autistic burnout can feel like
why burnout can overlap with chronic illness, sleep disruption, and mental health
how societal demands and sensory overwhelm contribute to depletion
why reducing demands is important, but not always simple or realistic
how joy, meaning, autonomy, and special interests can support recovery
what parents can look for when burnout may be approaching


timestamps
00:00 introduction to autistic burnout and guest
01:28 why conversations about burnout are increasing
02:44 overlap between chronic illness and autistic burnout
05:24 what autistic burnout looks like
07:12 complexity of supporting children in burnout
10:01 restructuring life to manage burnout
12:04 the impact of society and privilege
17:02 supporting children’s interests and joy
21:10 patrick’s journey to autism diagnosis
23:48 transitioning to a therapist and entrepreneur
26:16 running a neurodivergent-led practice
33:28 recognizing and responding to burnout signs
36:04 balancing demands and building capacity
37:19 final thoughts and glimmers of hope

resources
⚡️ patrick casale’s linktree — connect with patrick, his podcasts, social media, and clinical/business resources
⚡️ Resilient Mind Counseling — Patrick’s neurodivergent-led therapy practice serving clients in North Carolina
⚡️ episode 183 — a related episode on co-occurring health conditions that can overlap with neurodivergence, including chronic illness patterns discussed in this conversation
⚡️ listen to part 1 of this series (episode 234) and stay tuned for part 3 with amanda diekman on how to support your autistic child through burnout
⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids
⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com
⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇
this episode kicks off a three-part series on autistic burnout.
dr. tay shares what she sees clinically when autistic kids are in burnout, why it can be so confusing for parents, and why traditional approaches to depression, behavior, or school refusal may not fully capture what is happening.
this is a primer episode to help you understand what autistic burnout can look like, what makes it different, and why recovery often requires time, nervous system repair, reduced demands, and support for the whole family.

you’ll hear about:
what autistic burnout can look like in kids
the three core features of autistic burnout
why burnout can overlap with anxiety, depression, PDA, and school refusal
why “just getting out and doing things” may not help during burnout
how recovery often happens slowly and incrementally
why your child is not trying to be difficult


timestamps
00:00 introducing the three-part autistic burnout series
03:25 what this series aims to offer parents
08:36 defining autistic burnout
10:20 skill regression, sensory overwhelm, and deep exhaustion
13:33 how autistic burnout can differ from depression
17:27 intro to burnout phases and what recovery can look like
21:47 recovery, lowering demands, and rebuilding capacity
26:05 closing reassurance and episode wrap-up

resources
⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids
⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com
⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇
if your child is melting down, resisting, avoiding, running, crashing, or seeming impossible to support, sensory may be part of the story.
in this episode, dr. tay welcomes laura petix, occupational therapist and author of The Sensory Code, back to the podcast to talk about sensory regulation, sensory profiles, meltdowns, and how parents can start building sensory support into daily life in a way that actually fits their child.

you’ll hear about:
why sensory regulation can be so impactful for autistic children
what parents may miss when they only focus on stopping the behavior
laura’s personal experience as an OT mom navigating intense meltdowns
why parent regulation matters, even when that advice feels frustrating
the 8 sensory systems and how to think about sensory “cups”
how The Sensory Code helps parents understand sensory profiles and daily supports


timestamps
00:00 introduction to sensory regulation in autism
02:02 why sensory supports are crucial for children
04:56 laura's personal journey as an OT mom
09:56 understanding sensory profiles and thresholds
14:59 supporting regulation through simple strategies
20:01 the power of mindset shifts in parenting
24:57 using sensory profiles to tailor activities
29:56 overview of The Sensory Code book
34:59 case study: tactile defensiveness and behavior
40:00 building a sensory lifestyle for daily support

resources
⚡️ The Sensory Code by laura petix — learn more about the book, sensory profiles, and pre-order bonuses
⚡️ connect with laura on Instagram @theotbutterfly and find resources on her website
⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids
⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com
⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇
this episode is for the moms who feel like some weeks they can do it all… and other weeks everything feels harder.
dr. tay shares a vulnerable, real-time reflection from the depths of her luteal phase and explains why cycle tracking can be such a powerful tool for understanding mood, energy, capacity, productivity, and parenting.
because your hormonal health is not separate from your autism parenting journey. your body, your nervous system, your capacity, and your regulation are all part of the ecosystem your child is living in.
you’ll hear about:
why the luteal phase can impact mood, energy, and capacity
how cycle tracking can help reduce shame and increase self-understanding
the connection between hormones, mental health, and neurodivergence
why parenting often requires so much “output” energy
how to adjust expectations, support, and routines around your cycle
why your capacity matters in the whole-family support picture

timestamps
00:00 why dr. tay is talking about her luteal phase on an autism podcast
04:16 what the luteal phase is and why cycle tracking matters
08:15 tracking mood and energy, and medication adjustments
16:46 what happens hormonally before your period
23:25 why the luteal phase is harder for some people
27:32 how this connects to parenting and capacity
31:32 adjusting expectations, support, and routines around your cycle
36:36 why this belongs in the autism parenting conversation
38:28 EVOLVE support and closing reflections
resources
⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids
⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com
⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇
what does it mean for a child to be twice exceptional, or 2e?
in this episode, dr. tay is joined by dr. megan helmen, a pediatric neuropsychologist and founder of Developmental Discoveries, to talk about 2e profiles, giftedness, autism, and why these kids are so often misunderstood.
dr. megan explains how giftedness is not just “being smart,” but can involve a different way of thinking, processing, feeling, and moving through the world. when giftedness overlaps with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, or other developmental differences, children may have areas of incredible strength alongside areas where they need significant support.
this conversation explores why 2e autistic children may be missed, how they use strengths to compensate, why school performance does not always tell the full story, and how parents can better understand and support their child’s unique brain.
in this episode, you'll hear:
what 2e, or twice exceptional, means
how giftedness and autism can overlap
why 2e autistic children are often missed or misunderstood
how high intelligence can mask support needs
why overall IQ scores may not capture the full picture
what “subtle but significant autism” can look like
how 2e kids may use compensation strategies in social situations
why hard things may feel easy and “easy” things may feel hard
the importance of including children in the feedback and diagnostic process
how to support 2e kids through strengths, accommodations, interests, and belonging
why parents of 2e children deserve compassion and grace

timestamps
00:00 introduction to 2e and guest background
01:47 dr. megan helmen's journey into neuropsychology
03:36 the shift towards neurodiversity affirming practices
07:12 what is 2e and how does it relate to autism
11:52 subtle presentations of autism in gifted children
16:09 compensation strategies in 2e autistic kids
22:32 IQ and the profile of 2e individuals
26:24 differentiating giftedness from autism
35:36 supporting 2e children in navigating the world
42:36 parenting tips and final thoughts
resources
⚡️ Developmental Discoveries — learn more about dr. megan helmen’s neuropsychological assessment practice as well as resources for 2e kids. also follow on Instagram and Facebook
⚡️ Autism Traits Guide — a $7 parent-friendly resource that breaks down autism diagnostic criteria, including subtle profiles, and shares examples of how traits can show up across ages, support needs, and presentations
⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — includes the “talking to your kid about their diagnosis” masterclass, along with monthly trainings, weekly Q+A episodes, and ongoing support for parents of autistic kids
⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com
⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education and parenting insights