BEING A PARENT IS A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
Every parent at some point will experience a diverse range of emotions. This can be magnified when raising a child, teenager, or adult with autism. Even when experiencing the joys and triumphs of parenting, stressful experiences can grow to be overwhelming.
Left unchecked, these feelings can take over the family dynamics and affect your child’s progress.
Periods of sadness, frustration, anger, and nervousness can creep in, and at times are healthy and normal. However, left unchecked over time, these emotions can grow to be exhausting.
The good news:
It does not have to be like that.
You and your child can grow together. You can develop a positive, happier, and productive life for every member of the family. What is the key ingredient to this successful family recipe: Psychological flexibility.
Take the PSYCHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY QuizWhat is psychological flexibility?
Picture a professional boxing fight. When in the fight, the boxer never stays in one place too long. Boxers are expected to constantly adjust, working to avoid punches and knowing when to throw punches. Sometimes, they may even accept a small punch as part of a larger strategy to gain an advantage. But you never see them standing still, without moving, waiting for punches to land. That’s a good thing, or else they would get knocked out quick!
This is the same dynamic in psychological flexibility, except it is your mind instead of your body that will be smoothly adjusting and adapting.
Psychological flexibility is an experience of being fully in contact with the present, of experiencing pleasant and difficult situations without avoiding them, but rather recognizing what they are and accepting them.
Psychological flexibility helps you as a parent to recognize when something is out of alignment with your personal values and empower you to change it and accept help from others.. This flexibility is crucial- allowing people to adapt in the healthiest way to expected and unexpected events, take on challenges, and recognize that everything is part of the life experience.
Psychological flexibility is your surfboard lifeline to swim through the ocean of overwhelming parenting experiences, navigating the chaotic waters of getting your child what they need and deserve.
With this cognitive and emotional thinking style, you adapt the way you relate to the world and your child. Learning this method helps you decrease avoidant and negative feelings and confront reality with realism and hope. You expand your coping skills and adjust to daily life with your loved one with autism, at any age.
Training psychological flexibility requires a multifaceted approach of skills and techniques. As a child psychiatrist specializing in autism mental health and parenting support, I've developed this unique complimentary assessment tool so you can identify your exact level of psychological flexibility, with a custom set of highlighted areas to grow. Before we can train, we must know our starting point.
"You can't change the waves, but you can learn to surf, and I'll add; you may even enjoy it!"
—Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn
Mindfulness Expert
This quiz is for you if you seek to:
- Discover and embrace the depth of emotions experienced with raising a loved one with autism, including ones that have been repressed for a long time.
- Radically accept the unique difficulties that arise in the parenting process from childhood to adulthood.
- Broaden your perspective to the unique strengths and exceptional qualities of your child, opening your heart to create new opportunities to thrive.
- Recognize that unpleasant emotions are valid and do not have to be denied or overwhelming, but can be worked through with support.
- Develop into a stronger and more effective listener and advocate for your child.
Complete the quiz provided below to receive a personalized assessment of your current level of psychological flexibility, and prepare yourself for growth as you join us in this journey.
About Dr. Arielle Rubin
As a child psychiatrist, trained autism specialist, and sibling of autism, my mission is to provide clarity, confidence, and calm to families navigating life with autism.
One of the tools I offer is autism parenting specific, psychological flexibility training.
I help parents of autistic individuals create sustainable systems that allow them and their families to thrive by providing evidence-based, comprehensive, and strengths-based education and tools without placing guilt or blame on parents, or leaving parents unsure of what to believe, or grouping together all autistic individuals.
Take Dr. Arielle's Psychological Flexibility QuizDISCLAIMER:
Please note that the Services page you are currently viewing is an informational page about Dr. Rubin and her services and does not provide medical advice or diagnosis. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Dr. Arielle Rubin or her services, please feel free to contact her directly. The content of this page is not to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. By accessing and using this page, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this disclaimer and agree to its terms.
