From Burnout to Balance - Helping Parents of Find Balance in the Long Middle of Burnout Recovery

After a quiet season of listening to my own nervous system, this episode is a gentle update from me to you. Toward the end of last year, I began to feel myself nearing burnout again. The end of the year can be a tender, intense time in our family, and I knew I needed to step back and honour what I teach so many parents inside From Burnout to Balance : safety first, capacity second, everything else...

In this special episode of From Burnout to Balance , I sit down with my son Theo for an honest conversation about one of the biggest parenting stressors of our time: screen time . Together, they reflect on their family’s journey from strict screen limits to a more relaxed, trust-based approach, and Theo shares candid insights about what life online is really like for young people today. From gamin...

Hygiene can feel simple to some, but for many neurodivergent children and teens, especially those in burnout, it can be one of the hardest daily tasks. In this episode of From Burnout to Balance , Tanya is joined again by Laura Hellfeld, a neurodivergent nurse and parent educator , to explore the layered challenges of hygiene and how parents can support their children with compassion, creativity,...

In this heartfelt episode of From Burnout to Balance , I sit down with Jade Thompson, an everyday Australian mum with an extraordinary story. Jade opens up about her family’s journey through her son’s autistic burnout, the heartbreak of early school trauma, and the heavy weight of navigating broken systems. Instead of following conventional advice, Jade chose something different: to trust her intu...

In this raw and deeply validating episode, I’m joined by Emma Gilmour, coach, counsellor, parent of two neurodivergent teens, and founder of Hope Rising Coaching. Together, we explore the invisible intersections between neurodivergence, alcohol, trauma, unmasking, and parenting through burnout. Emma shares her powerful journey of redefining her relationship with alcohol, discovering her own late-d...

In this rich and affirming conversation, Tanya sits down with UK-based neurodivergent therapist and community builder Jade Farrington to explore what truly neuroaffirming support looks like. Together, they unpack the harms of the pathology-based model still dominant in therapy and education, and how shifting toward a neurodiversity paradigm can transform identity, healing, and parenting. You'l...

In this episode of From Burnout to Balance , family coach Tanya Valentin dives deep into one of the most distressing experiences parents of neurodivergent children face: hearing their child say things like “I hate you,” “I hate myself,” or “I want to die” during meltdowns. These moments can feel shocking, hurtful, or even terrifying. But they’re not personal attacks—they're distress signals fr...

In this tender and validating episode of From Burnout to Balance , host Tanya Valentin shares eight powerful, research-backed protective factors that support parent mental health, especially for those parenting neurodivergent children and teens in burnout. Drawing from lived experience and a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed lens, Tanya explores what helps and why these supports can feel complicate...

In this episode, Tanya chats with Teo Byrne from SENDwise Hub. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of navigating neurodiversity as parents. Teo shares her personal journey as a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD parent, emphasising the importance of creating safe spaces for neurodivergent individuals. They explore the significance of self-care for parents, the need for community support, and th...

What if the well-meaning wish, “I just want my child to be happy”, is quietly fuelling shame, disconnection, and burnout? In this heartfelt episode of From Burnout to Balance , Tanya unpacks how emotional suppression, rooted in generational trauma and cultural expectations, gets stored in the body, passed through parenting, and misunderstood as failure. You’ll explore: Why the nervous system react...

In this episode, Tanya shares her journey of parenting through burnout, focusing on the challenges faced by neurodivergent children and the lessons learned along the way. She introduces the seven pillars that form the foundation of her work, emphasising the importance of nervous system safety, low-demand parenting, community support, reparenting, practical resources, repairing connections, and sou...

In this episode of From Burnout to Balance , Tanya explores the often overlooked inner work of parenting, particularly in the context of children experiencing burnout. She emphasises the importance of emotional healing, reparenting, and understanding the resistance many parents feel towards addressing their own emotions. Tanya discusses how childhood experiences shape our responses to our children...

In this episode, Tanya explores the profound impact of burnout on both children and parents, emphasising the spiritual awakening that often accompanies such experiences. She discusses the importance of soul care, the challenges of navigating identity and beliefs during difficult times, and the need for creating sacred spaces for healing and connection. Tanya shares her personal journey and insight...

In this episode of 'From Burnout to Balance', we explore the challenges faced by neurodivergent children regarding everyday demands and how these can feel overwhelming or unsafe. Tanya discusses the importance of understanding the nervous system's role in these experiences, the distinction between demand avoidance and pathological demand avoidance (PDA), and offers strategies for paren...

In this episode, Tanya explores the metaphor of gardener versus mechanic parenting, emphasising the importance of creating a supportive environment for children experiencing burnout. She discusses the pressures parents face in a behaviourist society that prioritises compliance over connection, and how this can lead to harmful parenting practices. Tanya advocates for a gardener approach, focusing o...

In this podcast episode, Tanya discusses the challenges and emotional discomfort that arise when parents attempt to change their parenting approaches. She shares personal experiences and insights into how our past experiences and emotional responses, influenced by neurotags, affect our parenting styles. Tanya emphasises the importance of understanding these dynamics, particularly in the context of...

In this episode, Tanya discusses the dark thoughts and complex emotions parents face when navigating their child's burnout. She addresses feelings of guilt, grief, jealousy, fear, and isolation, emphasising the importance of self-compassion and acceptance. Tanya provides insights into the healing journey for both parents and children, encouraging listeners to embrace their struggles and seek c...

In this conversation, Tanya discusses the Burnout Recovery Roadmap, emphasizing the importance of awareness in understanding the stages of burnout recovery for children, particularly those who are neurodivergent. She outlines the five distinct stages of burnout recovery, from daily burnout to the new normal, and highlights the emotional and practical challenges parents face during this journey. Ta...

Summary: This episode delves into the complexities of parenting autistic children, particularly focusing on the challenges of burnout, the emotional toll on parents, and the need for greater awareness and understanding within the community. Tanya shares her personal experiences, highlighting the importance of recognizing burnout, navigating feelings of guilt and shame, and advocating for systemic...

This conversation delves into the complexities of burnout in parenting, exploring the hidden barriers to recovery, the impact of parental pressure, and the importance of emotional health. Tanya emphasizes the need for self-care and compassion, providing practical strategies for parents to support both themselves and their children in the recovery process. Join our parent community: ⁠ From Burnout...

In this episode, Tanya discusses the often-overlooked issue of parent burnout, emphasizing the importance of self-care and mental health for parents. She introduces the concept of low-demand parenting, which involves reducing both parental and child demands to foster a healthier family dynamic. Tanya also explores the metaphor of juggling responsibilities, categorizing tasks into 'glass balls&...

In this short episode, I share the new direction of this show and talk about why I decided to take this next step in the evolution of the podcast. Join our parent community: ⁠ From Burnout to Balance ⁠

In this episode, Tanya speaks with Carrie Meadows, a swim instructor specializing in teaching neurodivergent children to swim. They discuss the importance of water acclimation, the unique needs of neurodivergent kids in swimming lessons, and the alarming statistics regarding drowning risks for these children. Carrie emphasizes the importance of finding the right swim instructor who is experienced...

In this solo episode of Parenting Neurodivergent Kids Together, Tanya discusses the challenges of parenting neurodivergent children, particularly focusing on the concept of burnout. She shares her personal experiences and insights on how burnout affects both parents and children, the emotional journey involved, and the importance of community support. Tanya emphasizes the need for parents to prior...

In this conversation, Tanya and Elen delve into the concepts of interoception and neuroception, exploring how these senses impact our understanding of bodily signals and emotional responses. They discuss the importance of recognizing and responding to internal cues for self-regulation, particularly in neurodivergent individuals. The conversation also highlights the significance of creating safe en...