ARK – PARENT SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS RAISING AUTISTIC CHILDREN

ARK – PARENT SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS RAISING AUTISTIC CHILDREN

What does an autism diagnosis actually mean? Why does my child behave the way they do? What can I do as a parent in everyday life? What support is available, and how can I navigate the often contradictory information out there?

We seek the answers to these and many other questions together in our new, small-group parent support group.

Format: Psychoeducational and support group for parents

Who it is for: We welcome parents raising autistic children who wish to gain a deeper understanding of their child's neurodevelopmental profile, the background behind everyday situations, and adopt a mindset and practical tools that support family dynamics and better align with their child's needs.

The group is interactive: brief professional overviews are complemented by shared discussions and structured explorations based on participants' questions. Our goal is not merely to convey knowledge, but to help understand autism in context, providing parents with a practical mindset and tools that can be effectively applied in daily life.

Main Topics:

• Neurodivergent and cognitive background of autism – what might lie behind behaviors manifested in autism?
• Understanding the diagnostic process – how is a diagnosis reached?
• Post-diagnostic options, forms of support, entitlements, and questions of parental advocacy.
• Modern perspectives on autism, societal questions, and commonly emerging new terms (e.g., AuDHD, PDA, masking).
• Sensory processing, communication, emotional regulation, and self-regulation profiles.
• Sleep, eating, and physical conditions associated with autism.
• Secondary psychological challenges: anxiety and mood difficulties.
• Practical parenting strategies for typical everyday scenarios.
• Peer relationships, bullying, and sibling dynamics.
• Developing independence and age-related transitions.
• Family dynamics, the situation of siblings and parents, family and parental resources.

The programme consists of three predefined thematic sessions, followed by a final supplementary session tailored to the participants' interests and needs, with content based on group questions.

Group Leaders:

• Orsolya Dancsó, Clinical Psychologist, Specialist Neuropsychologist
• Borbála Koltai, Special Educational Needs (SEN) Teacher specialising in Autism Spectrum Pedagogy, Trainee Family Therapist

Maximum group size: 6–7 participants