A Neurodiversity-Affirming Family Program for Families with Autistic, ADHD or PDA Members

FAQs

• Who is this program for?

  This program is for parents and caregivers in families with autistic, ADHD or PDA (extremely anxious) members, where at least one adult in the household feels increasingly overwhelmed by the demands of everyday family life. The program focuses on examining the home environment and family system, and on developing practical strategies that reduce instructional load and support more workable, functional home lives. It is designed for families navigating recurring patterns and dynamics within a neurodivergent home, including blended or split households, where similar challenges persist across contexts and developmental stages.

• Who is this program not for?

  This program may not be the right fit if you are: looking for a child-focused intervention or behaviour-based program, seeking crisis, emergency, or acute mental health support, or wanting quick fixes, prescriptive parenting rules, or compliance-based strategies or expecting a drop-in or informal support group. This is a structured, facilitated program that supports adults to examine the home environment and family system over time. It is not designed to replace individual therapy or crisis services.

• Do I need a formal diagnosis to take part?

  No. A formal diagnosis is not required to participate in this program. Many families join because the language of autism, ADHD or PDA helps them make sense of their experiences at home, regardless of whether a formal assessment has been completed. The program focuses on family dynamics, environmental fit, and everyday patterns, rather than diagnosis status.

• Will my child attend the sessions?

  No. This program is designed primarily for parents and caregivers. However, other adult family members such as older teens, grandparents, or aunts and uncles may attend where this supports shared understanding and day-to-day family functioning. Attendance is intended for adults and/or older adolescents who play an active role in family life. The focus remains on examining the home environment and family system, and on developing practical strategies that support more workable, functional family life.

• Is this a therapy group?

  No. This is a professionally facilitated family program informed by family therapy, neurodiversity-affirming practice, and systems thinking. The program is structured and time-limited, with a focus on examining the home environment and family patterns over time (it is not a crisis service, individual therapy, or a drop-in support group).

• How is the program delivered?

  The program is delivered online via Zoom in a small, facilitated group. Sessions run weekly over six weeks and are designed to be structured and low-load. Cameras are optional, and participants are encouraged to engage in ways that feel manageable for them. Participants may ask questions or raise topics verbally during sessions or in writing between sessions, depending on their preference. Questions may be addressed during weekly Q&A time, and information shared is treated as confidential. The program includes two individual sessions with the facilitator that are specifically focused on your family. The initial session creates space to understand your household, clarify what matters most right now, and shape how the group work can best support your family at home. The concluding session offers time to reflect on changes you’ve noticed, integrate learning within your family context, and consider next steps or additional supports if helpful. These sessions are embedded within the group program and are designed to support your family’s work rather than ongoing individual therapy.

• Do I need to attend every session?

  No. You can share the role and have another family member step in if you are unable to make it. This is a structured 6-week program, and participants enrol in the full series. Each session builds on the previous weeks, and continuity supports both individual learning and shared understanding within the group. If you miss a session, you are still able to continue with the program, but regular attendance is strongly recommended.

• Who facilitates this program?

  Justine is the founder of The Quirky Therapist and works from a systems-based, human rights–informed framework that integrates family therapy and environmental approaches to change. Justine is a qualified family therapist and social worker with over 28 years’ experience working with families, teenagers, and young people across clinical, home, and school settings. Justine’s work is grounded in neurodiversity-affirming practice, family systems thinking, and an environmental lens, with a focus on reducing instructional load and supporting more workable, functional family life. She has worked across Australia and internationally, including in Bangladesh, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and is known for her practical, context-sensitive approach to supporting sustainable family change.

• What to Expect Over the 6 Weeks

  Expect change. Each family has two individual sessions with Justine - one before the program begins and one follow up session two weeks after the program. The program runs over six weekly sessions, each following a consistent and predictable structure. Sessions combine guided discussion, practical examples of strategies, and time for questions, with a focus on everyday family life rather than abstract theory. Across the six weeks, the work centres on: examining the home environment and family system, noticing repeated patterns and points of friction reducing reliance on constant instruction and prompting, thinking beyond familiar or habitual solutions when current approaches are no longer working. Participants are supported to explore alternative ways of organising routines, expectations, and communication. The program is designed to be structured and low-load. There is no expectation to share personal details beyond what feels appropriate, and participants are encouraged to engage in ways that suit their capacity at the time. Each week builds on the previous sessions, supporting gradual shifts in how families understand and respond to everyday challenges, rather than quick fixes or one-off solutions