A parent sits across from you and asks, "Why can't my child just take the same anxiety medicine that helps me?” Sounds reasonable, but the evidence tells a very different story.

Custody disputes involving autistic children often pull clinicians into unfamiliar legal terrain. This interview clarifies your role in court and mediation, explains how judges use clinical input, and offers guidance on maintaining ethical boundaries while keeping the child’s developmental and emotional needs at the center.

The shift from school-based services to adult systems can feel like a cliff for autistic youth. Dr. Baker-Ericzen explains how to strengthen executive functioning, promote supported decision-making, and address anxiety early—helping young people build autonomy, confidence, and meaningful adult outcomes.

Today’s episode is one we’ve been sitting with for a long time. We’re talking about how to survive psychologically in a world where hatred is persistent, not abstract, not metaphorical but recurring, and sometimes lethal.