this episode is part 2 of our autistic burnout series.

dr. tay is joined by patrick casale, a neurodivergent therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur, and group practice owner, for a conversation about what autistic burnout can feel like .

patrick shares his lived experience with burnout, the overlap between autistic burnout and chronic illness, the impact of societal demands, and why recovery is rarely as simple as “just reduce demands” or “take a break.”

this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for parents who are trying to better understand their child’s burnout, support recovery, and recognize early warning signs before the nervous system fully crashes.

• what autistic burnout can feel like
• why burnout can overlap with chronic illness, sleep disruption, and mental health
• how societal demands and sensory overwhelm contribute to depletion
• why reducing demands is important, but not always simple or realistic
• how joy, meaning, autonomy, and special interests can support recovery
• what parents can look for when burnout may be approaching

00:00 introduction to autistic burnout and guest

01:28 why conversations about burnout are increasing

02:44 overlap between chronic illness and autistic burnout

05:24 what autistic burnout looks like

07:12 complexity of supporting children in burnout

10:01 restructuring life to manage burnout

12:04 the impact of society and privilege

17:02 supporting children’s interests and joy

21:10 patrick’s journey to autism diagnosis

23:48 transitioning to a therapist and entrepreneur

26:16 running a neurodivergent-led practice

33:28 recognizing and responding to burnout signs

36:04 balancing demands and building capacity

37:19 final thoughts and glimmers of hope

⚡️ patrick casale’s linktree — connect with patrick, his podcasts, social media, and clinical/business resources

⚡️ Resilient Mind Counseling — Patrick’s neurodivergent-led therapy practice serving clients in North Carolina

⚡️ episode 183 — a related episode on co-occurring health conditions that can overlap with neurodivergence, including chronic illness patterns discussed in this conversation

⚡️ listen to part 1 of this series (episode 234) and stay tuned for part 3 with amanda diekman on how to support your autistic child through burnout

⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids

⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com

⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

this episode kicks off a three-part series on autistic burnout.

dr. tay shares what she sees clinically when autistic kids are in burnout, why it can be so confusing for parents, and why traditional approaches to depression, behavior, or school refusal may not fully capture what is happening.

this is a primer episode to help you understand what autistic burnout can look like, what makes it different, and why recovery often requires time, nervous system repair, reduced demands, and support for the whole family.

• what autistic burnout can look like in kids
• the three core features of autistic burnout
• why burnout can overlap with anxiety, depression, PDA, and school refusal
• why “just getting out and doing things” may not help during burnout
• how recovery often happens slowly and incrementally
• why your child is not trying to be difficult

00:00 introducing the three-part autistic burnout series

03:25 what this series aims to offer parents

08:36 defining autistic burnout

10:20 skill regression, sensory overwhelm, and deep exhaustion

13:33 how autistic burnout can differ from depression

17:27 intro to burnout phases and what recovery can look like

21:47 recovery, lowering demands, and rebuilding capacity

26:05 closing reassurance and episode wrap-up

⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids

⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com

⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights

if your child is melting down, resisting, avoiding, running, crashing, or seeming impossible to support, sensory may be part of the story.

in this episode, dr. tay welcomes laura petix, occupational therapist and author of The Sensory Code, back to the podcast to talk about sensory regulation, sensory profiles, meltdowns, and how parents can start building sensory support into daily life in a way that actually fits their child.

• why sensory regulation can be so impactful for autistic children
• what parents may miss when they only focus on stopping the behavior
• laura’s personal experience as an OT mom navigating intense meltdowns
• why parent regulation matters, even when that advice feels frustrating
• the 8 sensory systems and how to think about sensory “cups”
• how The Sensory Code helps parents understand sensory profiles and daily supports

00:00 introduction to sensory regulation in autism

02:02 why sensory supports are crucial for children

04:56 laura's personal journey as an OT mom

09:56 understanding sensory profiles and thresholds

14:59 supporting regulation through simple strategies

20:01 the power of mindset shifts in parenting

24:57 using sensory profiles to tailor activities

29:56 overview of The Sensory Code book

34:59 case study: tactile defensiveness and behavior

40:00 building a sensory lifestyle for daily support

⚡️ The Sensory Code by laura petix — learn more about the book, sensory profiles, and pre-order bonuses

⚡️ connect with laura on Instagram @theotbutterfly and find resources on her website

⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids

⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com

⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights