Kids & Family

Beneath the Behavior: Supporting Neurodivergent Kids With Science, Not Shame

by Dr. Mark Bowers

Share this ranking Claiming needs an RSS feed. Contact us.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Chart positions today · Brazil

Not on the Brazil charts we track today.

If you like Beneath the Behavior: Supporting…, try…

The Sensory Code Podcast

Similar topics: neurodivergent and behavior

THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST

Similar topics: neurodivergent and behavior

Thriving Kids

Latest episodes

The Myth of the Happy Kid: Why Your Child Doesn’t Need to Be Happy All the Time

July 31, 2026 · 37 min

What if trying to keep your child happy is making parenting harder? In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers challenges the myth of the “happy kid” and explains why constant happiness is not the goal of healthy childhood…
When Accommodations Become Avoidance: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Build Resilience

July 24, 2026 · 49 min

When does supporting a neurodivergent child become reinforcing avoidance? In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers explains how parents can distinguish helpful accommodations from patterns that may gradually shrink a child’s…
Parents vs. Teachers: How to Advocate for Neurodivergent Kids Without Starting a War

July 17, 2026 · 37 min

Why do conversations between parents and teachers so often feel like conflict instead of collaboration? In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers explores parent-teacher conflict, school behavior concerns, and the challenge…
The Overscheduled Child: Burnout, Anxiety, and the Loss of Free Play

July 10, 2026 · 46 min

When does a busy childhood become an overloaded one? In this episode of the Limited-Series Kids, Pressure, and the Modern Parenting Panic, Licensed Pediatric Psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers examine the rise of the overbooked child and the…
Gentle Parenting vs. Scared Parenting: Why Kids Still Need Boundaries

July 3, 2026 · 38 min

Gentle parenting was supposed to help parents raise emotionally healthy kids with empathy, connection, and respect. But somewhere along the way, many well-meaning parents became afraid to say no, afraid to upset their kids, and afraid that…

Show 7 more episodesShow fewer episodes

Boredom Is a Skill: Why Kids Need Less Screen Time and More Imagination

June 29, 2026 · 47 min

What if your child saying “I’m bored” isn’t a problem to solve, but a skill they need to build? In this first episode of Kids, Pressure, and the Modern Parenting Panic, Dr. Mark Bowers explores why boredom matters for kids, especially in a…
Autism and Anxiety: What’s Really Driving the Behavior?

June 19, 2026 · 20 min

Many autistic children struggle with anxiety, but it doesn’t always look the way parents expect. Sometimes anxiety looks like constant worrying. Sometimes it looks like school refusal, perfectionism, meltdowns, rigidity, reassurance…
Now What? Autism and Friendships: What to Do When Your Child Wants Friends

June 12, 2026 · 20 min

What should parents do when their autistic child wants friends but keeps feeling left out, misunderstood, rejected, or exhausted by social life? In this episode of Beneath the Behavior, Dr. Mark Bowers continues the “Now What?” series…
Now What? Late Autism Diagnosis: What Parents Need to Know Next

June 5, 2026 · 36 min

A later autism diagnosis can bring relief, grief, guilt, confusion, and clarity all at once. In this episode of Beneath the Behavior, Dr. Mark Bowers continues the “Now What?” series by helping parents understand what often happens when a…
Now What? Autism, IEPs, and 504 Plans: A Parent’s Guide to School Support

May 22, 2026 · 26 min

After an autism diagnosis, one of the biggest questions parents face is: what do we do about school now? In this episode of Beneath the Behavior, Dr. Mark Bowers helps parents understand why school can be so overwhelming for autistic…
Autism Diagnosis, Now What?: ABA Therapy After an Autism Diagnosis: Red Flags, Green Flags, and Parent Questions

May 15, 2026 · 28 min

After an autism diagnosis, many parents are quickly told to consider ABA therapy, but deciding what’s right for your child can feel overwhelming, confusing, and emotionally loaded. In this episode of Beneath the Behavior, Dr. Mark Bowers…
Autism Diagnosis, Now What?: What to Do When Your Autistic Child Melts Down, Shuts Down, or Gets Overwhelmed

May 8, 2026 · 36 min

Autism and regulation can be one of the most confusing parts of parenting after an autism diagnosis. Why does your child melt down over transitions, shut down before school, fall apart after holding it together all day, or react intensely…

Full episode archive on Apple Podcasts →

About the show

Beneath the Behavior is a podcast for parents of neurodivergent kids who want understanding instead of blame. Hosted by pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers, each episode explores what’s really going on beneath a child’s behavior—from a brain and nervous system perspective—so parents can respond with more clarity and less self-doubt. This podcast isn’t about quick fixes or perfect parenting. It’s about slowing things down, making sense of hard moments, and supporting neurodivergent kids with science, not shame. Episodes are short, focused, and grounded in real clinical experience. If parenting feels harder than it should, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.