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

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if you've ever found yourself researching, planning, making lists... but still feeling stuck, this episode is for you. whether it's making changes to screen time, starting therapy, sending the email you've been avoiding, or finally taking the first step toward a recommendation, the hardest part of behavior change is almost always getting started. in t...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if summer has already felt harder than you expected, you're not alone. many parents assume the solution is more structure, a better schedule, or keeping their child busier. but what if the real challenge isn't the schedule at all? in this episode, dr. tay explores why summer often feels so dysregulating for autistic kids and their families, how to ide...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is a little different... but if you're parenting an autistic child, it may be one of the more important conversations we can have. your health is part of the foundation that supports your family, and that includes your hormonal health. using her own health journey as a starting point, dr. tay explores why understanding your cycle, hormone...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 your child is in therapy. you trust the therapist. you're showing up consistently. you're investing time, energy, and money. so why does it feel like nothing is changing at home? in this episode, dr. tay discusses one of the most common frustrations families experience: seeing progress in the therapy room but struggling to see those same skills transf...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 it's pride month, and if you're parenting an autistic child, this conversation matters. whether your child has expressed anything about their identity or not, understanding the overlap between autism and LGBTQIA+ identities is important. it's about creating a home where your child knows they can come to you with questions, curiosity, and self-discover...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 communication is not only about spoken words. and for many autistic individuals, especially non-speaking or minimally speaking individuals, the challenge is not a lack of thoughts, understanding, or desire to communicate. it may be that their body does not reliably do what their brain wants it to do. in this episode, dr. tay shares reflections after o...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 traveling with an autistic child can feel overwhelming to even imagine. what if they struggle with the routine change? what if the flight is hard? what if the unpredictability feels too overwhelming for everyone? in this episode, dr. tay reflects on her recent european trip and her thoughts on traveling with autistic children. this episode is a conver...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 one reason autism can be missed in children is the belief that kids “can’t mask.” but they absolutely can. in this episode, dr. tay breaks down what masking can look like in autistic children, including why a child may seem “fine” at school but completely fall apart at home. you’ll learn how masking can be conscious or unconscious, how culture and rei...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 parents of autistic kids are often told, “you need your own support too.” but what happens when traditional talk therapy doesn’t feel like enough or a good fit? or hasn't historically worked? in this episode, dr. tay is joined by dr. carolyn solo, a therapist specializing in EMDR, IFS, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, and intensive therapy models. tog...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 one of the biggest misconceptions parents hear is: “they’re too young to diagnose autism.” but research tells us something very different. in this episode, dr. tay breaks down what we actually know about early autism diagnosis, including how autism can present in toddlers, why early signs are often missed or explained away, and what parents should be...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 for a lot of parents, the autism journey doesn’t stop with their child’s diagnosis. at some point… it starts to feel personal. you hear the questions during an evaluation, you start learning more about autism, and suddenly you’re thinking: “this sounds like me…” in this episode, dr. tay walks through what this process actually looks like — why it’s so...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if you’ve ever found yourself googling late at night… “is this autism?” and somehow ended up more confused than when you started — you’re not alone. there’s a lot of information out there. and many time it doesn’t help you actually make sense of what you’re seeing in your child. in this episode, dr. tay breaks down the most common questions parents ar...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if your child is a selective eater… you’ve probably wondered: are they getting the nutrients they actually need? and if not, what are you supposed to do about it? in this episode, Dr. Tay welcomes back registered dietitian Brittyn Coleman to break down one of the most common (and confusing) questions parents have: when to consider supplements, what ac...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 feeling confused about what to do next with your child? most parents assume that means they need more information. more strategies. more answers. but what if that’s actually the thing keeping you stuck? in this episode, we’re talking about why confusion isn’t a problem to fix and how constantly searching for more information can actually create more o...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 April is "autism month" and with it comes more conversations, more content, and more opinions. and while that can be incredibly valuable… it can also feel overwhelming. for many parents, this month brings up a mix of emotions: gratitude, frustration, confusion, and sometimes even pressure to feel a certain way about your child’s diagnosis. in this epi...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 you started this journey trying to understand your child… and somewhere along the way, you started to notice traits yourself in it too. for many parents, this moment is both clarifying and confusing. you recognize the patterns. but then the question becomes: what do I actually do? in this episode, dr. tay walks through what it looks like to explore yo...

about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 do you ever feel like there are a million things going on with your child and no clear place to start? maybe you’re wondering if it’s autism. or anxiety. or adhd. or something else entirely. and every time you try to figure it out, it just feels more tangled. in this episode, dr. tay walks you through how to untangle the overwhelm, without needing all...

is an autism diagnosis actually helpful for your child — or could it hurt them? many parents hesitate to pursue an evaluation because they worry about labels, stigma, or putting their child “in a box.” but avoiding the diagnosis doesn’t change whether your child is autistic. what it changes is how clearly you understand your child and how effectively you can support them. in this episode of EVOLVE...

when should medication be part of your child’s support plan? for many parents of autistic kids, medication feels heavy. scary. final. like something you only consider when everything else has failed. but what if medication isn’t a cure-all or a last resort — what if it’s simply one tool in the toolkit? in this episode, Dr. Tay breaks down the nuanced role medication can play in supporting autistic...

are you constantly wondering if you’re doing too much… or not enough… for your autistic child? in autism parenting, it can feel like every decision is high stakes. you hear “lower demands.” you hear “do exposure.” you hear “presume competence.” you hear autistic voices sharing lived experience. and somehow, you’re still left wondering what actually applies to your child. this episode won’t give yo...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 screen time doesn’t have to be all or nothing. in this episode, Dr. Tay sits down with Ash Brandin, @thegamereducator and author of P ower On, to talk about balancing technology in a way that feels realistic, empowering, and aligned with your child’s brain, especially in neurodivergent children. this conversation moves beyond fear-based messaging and...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 in this special episode, Dr. Tay shares a live coaching session with Winter, a mom of a 6-year-old autistic boy. listeners are invited inside a real, unscripted coaching conversation — one that mirrors the questions, emotions, and uncertainty so many parents carry quietly. together, Dr. Tay and Winter explore what it’s like to sit with grief and accep...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if you’ve recently received an autism diagnosis — or you’re pretty sure one is coming — this episode is for you. many parents expect to feel relief after a diagnosis. sometimes that happens briefly. but more often, things actually feel heavier, more confusing, and more urgent. in this episode, Dr. Tay breaks down why that happens, names the “trap of u...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode marks a big milestone — 200 episodes — and a very human return after an unplanned pause. Dr. Tay shares openly about what led to stepping back, including grief, perfectionism, and the pressure she felt to make the “right” episode for this moment. from there, the conversation widens into something deeper: how personal values, neurodiversit...

this week’s episode was inspired directly by a diagnostic feedback session inside dr. tay’s clinical practice. one parent asked a question that so many others wonder:   “should i be teaching social skills to my autistic child… and if so, how?”   in this episode, dr. tay breaks down why traditional social skills approaches often miss the mark, how they can unintentionally promote masking,...