In this episode of EveryDay ABA, hosts Paola (BCBA) and Leslie (RBT) talk with special guest BCBA, Kassandra, author, and founder of The Guiding Circle. Kassandra shares how she helps parents of neurodivergent children shift from survival mode to thriving by embracing the radical idea that self-care is not optional. You’ll learn why focusing on the family system creates sustainable change, how to anchor emotional regulation in daily routines, and how to navigate guilt and social pressure. The conversation dives into cross-cultural research on spanking, co-parenting strategies, and practical ABA hacks to transform your family dynamic. Listeners will leave with real-life strategies, research-backed insights, and a renewed commitment to caring for themselves — because when parents are supported, the entire family thrives.

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By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to:

• Define the distinction between traditional ABA parent training and parent-focused coaching models.
• Describe the impact of parent emotional regulation on child behavior and family dynamics.
• Apply the concept of “anchors” to help parents generalize self-regulation skills.
• Analyze how social and generational expectations influence parental guilt and behavior.

References:

Bearss, K., Johnson, C., Smith, T., & Lecavalier, L. (2015). Effect of parent training vs parent education on behavioral problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Medical Association, 313(15), 1524–1533.

Deater-Deckard, K., & Dodge, K. A. (1997). Externalizing behavior problems and discipline revisited: Nonlinear effects and variation by culture, context, and gender. Psychological Inquiry, 8(3), 161–175.

Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting stress: A meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(3), 629–642.

Lorber, M. F. (2012). The role of maternal emotion regulation in overreactive and lax discipline. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(4), 642–647.

👤 Guest Expert:

Kassandra is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), author, and founder of The Guiding Circle — a leading coaching community dedicated to supporting parents of autistic children. With over five years of experience in applied behavior analysis and a career that began as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), Kassandra has empowered more than 100 families to move beyond survival mode toward lasting connection, calm, and confidence. Her autism coaching approach combines clinical expertise with empathy-driven strategies designed to help parents feel supported, reduce stress, and improve family well-being.

Follow Her on IG @PromptPath

Sign up for Consulting https://www.promptpathconsulting.com/guiding-circle