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 transfer into everyday life.

you'll learn why this happens, the role of generalization, how family dynamics and nervous systems impact change, and the one thing that can help therapists better support your family when things feel stuck.

if you've ever found yourself wondering, "why isn't therapy working?" this episode is for you.

• why therapy progress doesn't always transfer into daily life
• the difference between learning a skill and generalizing a skill
• how the home environment differs from the therapy room
• the role of parent regulation and the family ecosystem
• common reasons families get stuck despite having a great therapist
• practical ways to collaborate more effectively with your child's therapist
• a behind-the-scenes look at a new intensive support model dr. tay is exploring

00:00 why therapy can feel stuck, even with a great therapist

04:41 the hidden challenge: skills aren't transferring home

08:40 nervous systems, co-regulation, and the realities of parenting

12:33 why changing behavior is harder than most people realize

13:39 identifying what's different between therapy and home

14:50 the family ecosystem and why supporting parents matters

18:34 radical honesty: the secret sauce for getting unstuck

25:48 a new vision for in-home intensive support

28:40 how clinical work creates more accessible resources for families

33:32 who intensive support may be right for

⚡️ want to learn more about this in-home intensive model? email me at taylor@drtaylorday.com with the word "Intensive" in the subject line

⚡️ learn more about Dr. Tay's other clinical services offered as well as her educational membership EVOLVE at drtaylorday.com

⚡️ miscellaneous resources referenced in this episode >>

-episodes 189 and 215

-couples masterclass (or included for free as part of the EVOLVE membership)

-autism traits guide

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-discovery.

in this episode, Dr. Tay explores the research behind the overlap between autism and LGBTQIA+ identities, why this matters for mental health, and what parents can do to create a safe and affirming environment.

• what the research says about the overlap between autism and LGBTQIA+ identities
• why autistic individuals are more likely to question social norms around gender and sexuality
• why acceptance at home is one of the strongest protective factors for mental health
• how autistic people often approach identity differently than neurotypical peers
• the role of authenticity, self-discovery, and questioning social norms
• why affirming your full identity is just as important as affirming your child's neurotype
• practical ways to create a safe space for conversations about identity and belonging

00:00 why this conversation matters for parents of autistic kids

02:30 understanding the overlap between autism and LGBTQIA+ identities

09:49 why younger generations are talking about identity differently

16:30 creating a safe landing place for your child

17:43 why autistic individuals may approach identity differently

24:57 what happens when only certain parts of a child feel accepted

27:23 the mental health impact of acceptance and belonging

30:15 practical ways to support your child without having all the answers

32:03 what it really means to be neurodiversity affirming

35:15 the question every parent should ask themselves

⚡️ LGBTQIA+ resources

• Twainbow — an online community and information hub created to support autistic LGBTQIA+ individuals and provide identity-affirming resources
• Autistic LGBTQIA+ | I CAN Network — peer mentoring groups for autistic teens and young adults who identify as LGBTQIA+, including age-matched peer spaces and autistic mentors
• Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN) — a nonprofit organization providing advocacy, community, and resources for autistic women, nonbinary individuals, and trans femmes
• The Trevor Project — crisis support, education, and mental health resources for LGBTQIA+ youth and their families
• PFLAG — resources, education, and support for parents and families navigating conversations around sexual orientation and gender identity

⚡️ listen to autistic LGBTQIA+ voices — seek out autistic self-advocates sharing their lived experiences with gender, sexuality, identity, and belonging

⚡️ learn more about Dr. Tay's current clinical services offered as well as her educational membership at drtaylorday.com

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 observing several Spelling to Communicate (S2C) sessions, including sessions with open spellers who were able to describe their own experiences of motor planning, communication, and brain-body disconnect.

this conversation is about more than one communication modality. it is an invitation to think differently about communication, apraxia, motor planning, autonomy, consent, and what it means to presume competence.

even if your child uses complex spoken language, this episode offers powerful insight into why communication can still break down, why behavior may not always mean what we think it means, and why giving time, space, and access matters.

a special shoutout to Olivia of Brain2Body Therapy (Instagram: @brain2bodytherapy) and the families who allowed me to observe sessions - I am SO grateful!

• why communication should not be defined only by spoken language
• how S2C supports communication through motor planning
• what apraxia and brain-body disconnect can look like in autistic individuals
• why some autistic individuals may say one thing while their body or spelling communicates something different
• how autonomy, agency, and consent can show up in communication work
• what open spellers can teach us about presuming competence
• why time, regulation, and a trusted communication partner matter
• how these lessons apply even when a child has spoken language

00:00 introduction to Spelling to Communicate (S2C) and why this topic matters

02:08 understanding communication beyond spoken language

05:49 observations from S2C sessions

12:00 autonomy, agency, and consent in communication work

18:08 motor planning, apraxia, and communication challenges

23:48 key insights from open spellers

28:05 when communication does not match what the body is doing

30:20 understanding how much effort communication can take

34:29 the brain-body disconnect and what it can teach us

39:10 navigating consent, autonomy, and “no”

46:53 the importance of time, space, and regulation in learning

51:51 reflections on communication, presuming competence, and learning differently

⚡️ listen to episode 132 for more information on S2C and episode 159 to learn more about apraxia

⚡️ learn more about Dr. Tay's current clinical services offered as well as her educational membership at drtaylorday.com