Supporting an autistic child can be challenging, especially when our own beliefs get in the way.
In this episode, Jackie Hall explores how our expectations affect understanding autism and parenting.
We cover:
• Hidden beliefs shaping our responses
• Social communication challenges
• How needs evolve over time and why we must adjust expectations
• Conflict resolution without perfection
• Why you don’t need to be a “perfect parent”
Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator, this episode offers compassionate insights to support your child, and yourself.
Subscribe to Beneath Behaviour for more in-depth conversations with parents, experts, and advocates.
For more information on the lenses and Jackie Hall's teachings, you can go to www.parentalstresscentre.com
When everything is too much, how do we meet that moment with compassion, not control?
In this episode of Beneath Behaviour, Jackie Hall guides you through what to do during a meltdown, when your child’s emotions are big, their nervous system is flooded, and everything feels chaotic.
We explore:
✨ This is part two of our series on meltdowns. If you haven’t heard “Before the Meltdown,” go back and start there.
🔗 Start from part 1:
For more information about our Parenting programs, go to www.parentalstresscentre.com
KEYWORDS: parenting meltdowns, understanding child behaviour, nervous system and parenting, emotional regulation, autism and meltdowns, highly sensitive kids, parenting overwhelm#MeltdownSupport #ParentingTools #EmotionalParenting #BeneathBehaviour #JackieHall #ParentingInTheMoment #CoRegulation #NervousSystemParenting
In this episode of Beneath Behaviour, we take a step back to understand what’s really going on before a child explodes, emotionally, neurologically, and relationally.
This isn’t about control, defiance, or “bad” behaviour. It’s about a nervous system under pressure, and the signs we often miss in the lead-up.
We explore:
✨ This is part one of a two-part series on meltdowns. In this episode, we focus on the out-of-moment insights that help us prepare. In part two, we’ll dive into what to do in the heat of it.
For more information on our Autism program or other Parenting program, you can go to www.parentalstresscentre.com
KEYWORDS: parenting meltdowns, understanding child behaviour, nervous system and parenting, emotional regulation, autism and meltdowns, highly sensitive kids, parenting overwhelm
Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you try, you’re not “getting it right” as a parent?
You're not alone. Parental guilt, perfectionism, and the constant pressure to do more are stories many of us carry, often without realising it.
In this episode, Jackie and mum Amanda explore:
- Why guilt and perfectionism show up in parenting
- How the pressure to “get it right” affects our nervous system
- How old beliefs shape our reactions — especially when raising neurodivergent kids
- Gentle ways to shift these patterns and meet ourselves with more compassion
Beneath Behaviour is the podcast where we explore what’s really going on - beneath the behaviour.
👇 Subscribe to Beneath Behaviour for more in-depth conversations with parents, experts, and advocates.
For more information about the lenses and what Jackie Hall teaches, you can go to www.parentalstresscentre.com
#ParentingPodcast #ParentalGuilt #ParentingPerfectionism #ParentingPressure #ParentingBurnout #NeurodivergentParenting #MindfulParenting #ParentingStress #BeneathBehaviour #SelfCompassion #autismmum
In this special episode of Beneath Behaviour, host Jackie Hall speaks with Nicci Smith, mother of Tanner Smith, who captured hearts worldwide on Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum.
In this deeply personal episode, Nicci shares her journey raising an autistic child, from diagnosis to life after the show. They discuss parenting challenges, nurturing independence, sibling dynamics, and how to embrace each child's unique path.
Perfect for autism parents, fans of the show, and anyone navigating parenting a neurodivergent child.
#AutismParenting #LoveOnTheSpectrum #ParentingPodcast #AutismSupport #Neurodiversity #Parenting
They’re not being defiant.
They’re not “just refusing.”
They’re overwhelmed — and their nervous system is calling the shots.
In this solo episode, Jackie Hall dives deep into the emotional and physiological roots of “school can’t” — when a child literally cannot face the school day.
We explore:
– Why school environments can feel traumatic to some children
– The 6 key stress categories that stack until they crack
– How to support safety first — not compliance
– And what to do when you’re being told to “just get them there”
For any parent or educator navigating the heartbreak of school-based anxiety and shutdowns — this episode offers clarity, validation, and a way forward.
🌿 Learn more about our Autism Parenting Program at The Parental Stress Centre
#SchoolCant #BeneathBehaviour #AutisticKids #SchoolAnxiety #NeurodivergentParenting #TraumaInformed #EmotionalSafety #ParentalBurnout #BehaviourUnderstood #ParentingSupport #JackieHall #ParentalStressCentre
What if autism wasn’t the problem — but how we’ve been taught to see it, was?
In this episode, Jackie shares a heartfelt and honest conversation about parenting autistic children through the first two lenses of her SUPER Framework: Self-Awareness and Understanding.
We explore:
What you believe about autism — and how it can shape your approach to autism
Why behaviour is communication
How to shift from the “deficit” model to a neuro-affirming approach to Autism
How executive functioning, sensory overload, and social differences show up in everyday life
Why your child’s identity doesn’t need to be reshaped — but their environment might
Whether you’re navigating meltdowns, overwhelm, or just trying to find your feet — this episode is a gentle reset.
It's not teaching you 'another new strategy.' It's giving you a new lens.
🎧 Listen now — and let’s begin with you.
Ever felt like you’re the only family not following the script?
In this episode, Jackie chats with Sarah — a mum of four neurodivergent teens — about what happens when you stop trying to parent “right” and start parenting real.
They explore the early missteps, the power of self-diagnosis, and how burnout became the wake-up call Sarah didn’t know she needed. From ADHD to autism, perfectionism to self-worth, this is one of our most honest episodes yet.
We talk about:
- Recognising your own neurodivergence through your kids
- The chaos of trying to parent like everyone else
- Why flexibility, humour, and self-compassion are essential
- Letting go of who you thought you should be
This is for every parent trying to do it differently — and wondering if they’re doing it wrong.
#BeneathBehaviour #ParentingOutsideTheBox #NeurodivergentParenting #ParentingPodcast #ADHDParent #AutismParent #RealTalkParenting #SelfCompassion #BurnoutSupport #JackieHall #GentleParentingJourney
You keep trying to manage the behaviour.
But what if the real change starts beneath it?
In this episode, I introduce the SUPER Framework — a 5-part lens that helps parents understand what’s really going on when their child is struggling.
We talk about:
The stress stories behind your reactions
Why behaviour is never random
How to support your child with insight, not just strategies
If you’ve ever thought, “Why do they keep doing this?” or “Why do I keep snapping?” — this episode is for you.
Behaviour always makes sense. You just have to know how to look.
For more information about our Autism program or other Parenting Programs please go to: www.parentalstresscentre.com
If you’ve ever had a child who struggles to get to school — or stay there — you’re not alone. In this episode, Jackie talks with Melissa, a parent of two neurodivergent kids, about what it really means when school becomes too much.
We explore the emotional and practical layers of school can’t — from sensory overwhelm and academic pressure to masking, social stress, and nervous system fatigue.
This isn’t a story of defiance. It’s a story of survival — and what happens when we meet our kids with understanding instead of urgency.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or support person, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a new way to see what's really going on beneath the behaviour.
For more ways to connect with Beneath Behaviour:
https://www.parentalstresscentre.com/beneath-behaviour-podcasts-with-jackie-hall/
Whether you're quietly struggling yourself, or supporting someone who is, this episode of the Beneath Behaviour Podcast helps you understand what depression can really look and feel like beneath the surface. Because not everyone with depression looks sad.Some keep functioning.Some keep smiling.Some just go quiet.Jackie Hall takes you beyond the surface — into the hidden inner world of depression. This conversation will help you understand what's really happening beneath the behaviour, and what to do next with clarity and compassion.We’ll explore:- The four stress lenses and how “missing out” and “worthless” shape depressive thoughts- Why people often don’t realise they’re stuck in a depression loop- The top-down and bottom-up connection (how your thoughts and body feed each other)- What subtle signs to look and listen for — in yourself or someone else- Why withdrawal makes sense — and how to gently interrupt the cycle- And how, for some people — often men — depression can show up as anger rather than sadnessThis is not about diagnosing. It’s about compassion, awareness, and practical insight.🎧 Listen to the podcast on your favourite platform:Apple: https://apple.co/3E0WH7ISpotify: https://spoti.fi/3Rn39XMAmazon: https://amzn.to/3ru2r3bGoogle: https://bit.ly/3E4LSdW🌿 Explore more at: https://www.parentalstresscentre.com💬 Follow for more daily support + insights:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentalstresscentreFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/parentalstresscentre🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. You never know who might be quietly struggling.#parentingwithdepression #depression #parentingwithmentalillness #mentalhealthsupport #parentingstruggles #parentingmindset #mentalhealthformoms #postnatnaldepression #how to cope with parenting stress
In this heartfelt episode, Jackie sits down with Francesca, a mum navigating life after her 12-year-old daughter’s recent autism diagnosis. As her daughter begins to seek more independence, Francesca finds herself caught between supporting that need and managing the emotional meltdowns that sometimes follow.Together, they explore the challenges of growing independence during the teenage years, why this push-pull dynamic makes sense for many anxious teenage children, and how parents can support these big transitions with empathy and clarity.You’ll hear five practical strategies for building confidence and autonomy in a way that respects your child’s emotional needs and unique pace.If you've ever wondered why your child both craves and resists independence, or you're looking for ways to support that journey without overwhelm, this episode of Beneath Behaviour is for you.Tags#autismfamily #independence #Supportingautisticteens, #teenagers #meltdowns #autismparenting #autisticgirl #Autismparentingstrategies #Independenceandautism #Autismtransitions #Autisticteenagers #supportingchildren #teenagers
What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan—when parenting feels overwhelming, messy, or like you’re just not measuring up?
In this heartfelt episode, Jackie Hall gently unpacks how we can shift our mindset in those hard moments—not by pretending they’re easy, but by learning how to meet them differently. With warmth, humor, and real-life examples, Jackie introduces the “upgrades”—simple but powerful mindset shifts that help you move from self-criticism to self-compassion, from frustration to clarity.
You’ll walk away with practical language you can use in your own mind (and with your kids), and a gentle reminder that even in the mud, there’s meaning.
This episode is for any parent—or any human—who’s ever wondered, “What now?” after life throws them off course. There’s no pressure here, just perspective... and maybe even peace.