Prioritizing Self-Care While Parenting a Child with Autism with an Online Therapist in Kansas
Event Description:
Raising a child with autism can involve coordinating support from many different people—teachers, medical professionals, speech and occupational therapists, behavioral specialists, and others. Parents and caregivers are often the ones bringing all of these pieces together while also providing the day-to-day care, encouragement, and advocacy their child needs.
Yet caregivers need support, too.
Parents Need A Herd Too is an online support group for parents and caregivers of children with autism who want a place to connect with people who truly understand their experiences. The group provides an opportunity to talk openly about the emotional ups and downs of parenting, discover ways to care for yourself while caring for your child, and develop supportive relationships with other parents navigating similar experiences.
Target Audience:
Parents or couples who are the primary caregivers of a child between the ages of 2 and 18 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder are welcome to participate.
Dates & Times:
Week 1: Wednesday, October 14th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 2: Wednesday, October 21st, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 3: Wednesday, October 28th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 4: Wednesday, November 4th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 5: Wednesday, November 11th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 6: Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 7: Wednesday, December 2nd, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Week 8: Wednesday, December 9th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Location:
Online via HIPAA Compliant Platform
Pricing:
$30 per family for the entire 8 week series, due upon registration
Facilitator Information:
This group will be led by Maiya Strain, a student therapist at MidAmerica Nazarene University and Tawna Cuzzort, student therapist from Capella Univeristy.
Week 6:
Session Focus
Reframing self-care as an essential part of caring for yourself and your family, rather than something to feel guilty about.
Session Purpose
When so much attention is devoted to a child’s needs, parents and caregivers can easily put their own well-being last. Taking time for rest, connection, hobbies, or personal needs may even bring feelings of guilt or the belief that they should always be doing something for their child instead.
This session invites parents to reconsider those beliefs and recognize that caring for themselves is not selfish or indulgent. Participants will explore how their own well-being affects their ability to remain present, patient, and emotionally available as caregivers. A child therapist in Overland Park, KS or other supportive professional can also be part of a family's larger network of care when additional resources are needed.
Session Objectives
By the end of the session, parents will identify some of the personal, practical, or emotional barriers that make self-care difficult, including feelings of guilt. Participants will explore realistic self-care practices that fit into their lives and identify at least a few ways they can begin making their own well-being a more consistent part of their routine.