If your autistic child isn’t communicating clearly yet, where do you actually start?

In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers breaks down what to do first when autism and communication challenges show up after a diagnosis. Whether your child is nonverbal, using scripts, struggling to express needs, or melting down when overwhelmed, this episode gives you a clear, practical starting point.

You’ll learn why communication is more than talking, how behavior often is communication, and what actually helps kids express needs in real life—not just in therapy.

We cover:

• The difference between speech and functional communication
• Why meltdowns, shutdowns, and “behavior problems” are often communication breakdowns
• How to identify your child’s current communication style
• When and why to consider AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)
• What to do when your child has words but can’t use them under stress
• How to support echolalia and scripting instead of shutting it down
• Practical ways to build communication at home without pressure
• What good speech therapy should actually focus on

If you’ve been told to “wait and see,” push speech, or fix behavior first, this episode will help you shift your approach.

Because when communication improves, everything else gets easier.

🎧 This is part of the “Now What?” autism series for parents navigating next steps after diagnosis.

Let Us Know What You Think!

Support the show

Beneath the Behavior is an educational podcast for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent kids.

The information shared is not therapy or a substitute for working with your own provider. Episodes are intended to offer understanding, context, and language—not individual advice.

If you’re looking for ongoing support grounded in the same science-not-shame approach, check out the Neurodivergent Parenting Collective.

Autism diagnosis—now what do you actually do first?
Skip the overwhelm and start with what truly matters for your child.

In this Introductory first episode of this Beneath the Behavior miniseries: Now What? Next Steps After a Diagnosis, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers breaks down what most parents don’t get after an autism diagnosis: a clear, practical roadmap.

Instead of overwhelming you with therapies, referrals, and pressure to “do everything,” this episode shows you how to prioritize the right first step based on your child’s real needs.

You’ll learn:

• How to prioritize your first step after an autism diagnosis
  The 3-question framework clinicians use to guide next steps
  Why trying to fix everything at once often backfires
  How communication and regulation shape what your child actually needs
• Why more therapy is not always better
• How to reduce meltdowns by addressing the root cause, not just behavior

This episode is designed for parents of autistic children who feel overwhelmed, behind, or unsure where to start after an ASD diagnosis.

If you’ve asked:
“Are we doing the right things?”
“Are we already behind?”
“Where do we even begin?”

This episode lays the foundation. In the rest of the series, we’ll break down specific decisions like therapy options, school support, and communication strategies in detail.

Let Us Know What You Think!

Support the show

Beneath the Behavior is an educational podcast for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent kids.

The information shared is not therapy or a substitute for working with your own provider. Episodes are intended to offer understanding, context, and language—not individual advice.

If you’re looking for ongoing support grounded in the same science-not-shame approach, check out the Neurodivergent Parenting Collective.

OCD in children and teens is widely misunderstood.

Obsessive–compulsive disorder is not about liking things clean or organized. It’s a cycle of intrusive thoughts, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors that can quietly take over a child’s daily life.

In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers explains how OCD actually works in the brain, why intrusive thoughts can feel so frightening, and how families can begin breaking the cycle.

Many parents begin asking painful questions when OCD appears:

• Why is my child having disturbing intrusive thoughts?
• Are reassurance and checking actually making OCD worse?
• What does effective OCD treatment look like for kids and teens?

This episode explores the science and psychology behind pediatric OCD, including:

• how obsessions and compulsions form the OCD cycle
• why intrusive thoughts do NOT reflect a child’s character or desires
• common OCD themes like contamination, harm OCD, scrupulosity, and hyper-responsibility
• how reassurance and family participation can accidentally strengthen OCD
• the gold-standard treatment Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
• practical ways parents can support recovery at home

You’ll also learn how to recognize different forms of OCD, including:

• contamination OCD
• harm OCD and responsibility fears
• scrupulosity and moral OCD
• sexual-theme OCD and identity-based OCD
• reassurance-seeking and mental compulsions

Most importantly, this conversation reframes OCD for families.

Intrusive thoughts are not dangerous.

They are false alarms from a brain that struggles with uncertainty.

When children learn how to tolerate uncertainty instead of neutralizing it, the OCD cycle begins to weaken.

If you’re parenting a child with OCD, anxiety, or obsessive thoughts, this episode will help you understand what’s happening inside the brain and how evidence-based treatment can help.

Because despite how powerful OCD can feel, it is one of the most treatable anxiety disorders we know.

Let Us Know What You Think!

Support the show

Beneath the Behavior is an educational podcast for parents and caregivers of neurodivergent kids.

The information shared is not therapy or a substitute for working with your own provider. Episodes are intended to offer understanding, context, and language—not individual advice.

If you’re looking for ongoing support grounded in the same science-not-shame approach, check out the Neurodivergent Parenting Collective.