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Science-backed Information for Better Care

Many families are desperate for something more helpful than “be consistent with consequences.” For autistic demand avoidance, PDA support strategies rooted in safety, autonomy, and collaboration reduce power struggles and open practical pathways to "yes" at home and school.

Many children and adults who show demand avoidance are not "oppositional" at all. For some, pathological demand avoidance—a profile linked with autism and anxiety—explains why simple requests feel like danger. This article explains pathological demand avoidance, anxiety-driven avoidance, and ODD-style "oppositional" patterns so you can recognize what’s really going on and consider next steps for support.

PDA and ADHD can look similar, but they’re not the same. When demand avoidance in ADHD is driven by overwhelm—not defiance—supports that lower perceived threat and protect autonomy work best. Learn how to tell ADHD from PDA-style demand avoidance and what actually helps.

Insomnia and neurodivergence often intertwine. This practical, science‑informed guide explains how insomnia and neurodivergence show up differently in ADHD and autism, how to tell insomnia from a late body clock, and which evidence‑based steps (like CBT‑I) can help—plus when to book a targeted consultation with Ryan Robertson at ScienceWorks.

🧠 Key takeaway:  Insomnia can improve—even with trauma, OCD, or big anxiety in the mix—when we keep the core CBT‑I steps and add a few smart tweaks. If nights have started to feel like a second job, you’re in the right place. Many people tell us they’re exhausted, wired, and worried that their history with trauma , OCD , or anxiety  means sleep is off‑limits. It isn’t. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT‑I)  is a well‑tested approach that helps your brain relearn

Insomnia vs delayed sleep phase can look the same at midnight—but the fixes are different. This quick guide shows you how to sort the pattern in minutes, read a 7‑day sleep log like a pro, and choose first‑line steps (CBT‑I vs light‑and‑timing) that actually match the problem.

Can’t sleep with CPAP? This step‑by‑step, 14‑day plan shows new CPAP users how to build simple sleep habits, troubleshoot mask comfort, and know when brief CBT‑I can help—while we coordinate with your sleep clinic.

Evidence-based insomnia treatment works best when data meets human guidance. This post explains why CBT‑I outperforms sleep apps alone, when to use digital CBT‑I, and how therapist‑guided care—like telehealth sleep therapy with Ryan Robertson—drives lasting gains.

CBT-I helps retrain the mind–body system so insomnia isn’t “stuck on.” In this post, you’ll learn how stress and conditioned arousal sustain sleeplessness—and how practical breath, light, movement, and cognitive tools (plus when to add CBT-I with ScienceWorks) can help you unlearn insomnia.

Reset a stuck sleep cycle with CBT-I for insomnia. Learn how sleeplessness becomes a learned pattern, why timing and habits matter, and the gentle, evidence-based steps—stimulus control, sleep restriction, and cognitive tools—that help your brain trust bedtime again.

CBT-I sleep therapy retrains your brain’s sleep systems—reducing hyperarousal, rebuilding healthy bed–sleep cues, and improving sleep quality that lasts. Learn how stimulus control, sleep restriction, and gentle cognitive tools work (with research citations) and how ScienceWorks applies CBT-I with circadian alignment and supportive coaching.

Seasonal stress light therapy habits can make winter easier. Learn what seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is, how circadian rhythm shifts in darker months, and which small routines—morning outdoor light, 10,000‑lux light boxes, steady sleep/wake windows, movement, and screen‑time boundaries—help you reset and feel better. Evidence‑based and practical, from ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare.

Autism masking burnout happens when long‑term camouflaging, sensory load, and social pressure outpace support. This guide explains camouflaging, sensory debt, safe‑to‑unmask spaces, and energy‑based planning—with practical steps and when to seek assessments, therapy, and coaching at ScienceWorks.

Emotion regulation tools for kids don’t have to be complicated. This guide gives parents simple co-regulation scripts, sensory ideas, and quick steps to help kids calm down, reset, and build emotional skills that last.

Child meltdown co‑regulation helps calm the amygdala–prefrontal circuit so kids can reset rather than escalate. Learn what’s happening in the brain, how co‑regulation works in practice, and ScienceWorks’ step‑by‑step plan to turn meltdowns into teachable moments—and long‑term emotion regulation skills.

ERP for OCD can be compassionate, flexible, and effective. This guide debunks common myths, explains how Exposure and Response Prevention works, and offers gentle ways to start—so you can choose an assessment, therapy, or coaching plan at ScienceWorks that matches your values and pace.

I-CBT for OCD helps people reduce obsessional doubt by correcting the reasoning that fuels intrusive thoughts—often without intensive exposure exercises. Learn how inference-based CBT works, who it helps (including “pure-O”), and what an I-CBT plan at ScienceWorks looks like, so you can choose the right path for assessment, therapy, or coaching at ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare.

Your child’s meltdowns aren’t bad behavior—they’re neurological overload. When the brain’s stress response takes over, your child isn’t being defiant—they’re overwhelmed. Your job is safety and calm, not correction. Through co-regulation, patience, and understanding triggers, you can help your child’s nervous system recover and build lasting regulation skills.

Struggling to help your ADHD or autistic child? Discover why parent training through ScienceWorks Behavioral Health is the essential foundation that works alongside therapy and other treatments—reducing stress and preventing burnout for the whole family.

ADHD in women often goes undiagnosed due to different symptom presentations like inattentiveness and emotional sensitivity rather than hyperactivity. Understanding female ADHD symptoms, recognizing misdiagnosis patterns, and accessing virtual assessment options with licensed psychologists can lead to life-changing insights and proper treatment.