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Hey! I'm Lindsay
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A therapist of over 10 years, a neurodivergent mom to a (seemingly) neurotypical 7-year-old and a PDA 9-year-old, and the wife to a late-diagnosed PDA husband.
I spent years trying to get professionals to listen to me and understand that something was different about our son. He was irritable and inflexible in a way I'd never seen in other kids. It didn't matter how much I incentivized him or held boundaries. He would never comply with even simple requests. I honestly wondered how I could have wanted to be a mom so badly and be so terrible at it.
It wasn't until our son was diagnosed as autistic at age 7, and then we stumbled across PDA, that things started to make sense.
My kid wasn't a bad kid. I wasn't a bad mom. He had an incredibly vulnerable nervous system that was sent into fight or flight anytime he felt below other people or like his freedom was in jeopardy. It also explains why traditional parenting often leaves PDA parents feeling hopeless and like they're a failure.
As with most things in life, there’s no magic wand. But I know there is peace, joy, and happiness on the other side of supporting our unique kids in a way that honors them as humans and says to them that we love them... just as they are.
I can’t tell you enough how validating & comforting it is to have someone else put into words what my family lives every day. Just because I live it doesn’t mean I can understand and put all the pieces of it together.Â
-Â Madeleine
 My Approach
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I love mixing my training and background in mental health with my personal experience as a mom and wife to PDA autistic individuals.
I use an eclectic approach of attachment theory, polyvagal theory, relational neuroscience, and my own practical framework for supporting PDA autistic kids.
I truly believe in meeting you where you're at.
→ Do you want all the education and info plus some tools to keep in your back pocket?
→ Do you want to figure out how to make space for yourself when it feels like there's zero time or energy?
→ Do you need space to talk and get support from someone who's been there and understands?
→ Do you need some help in figuring out how to talk to other people in your life about your kid and their needs?
I'm here for it all.
Credentials & Training
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→ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - ColoradoÂ
→ Master's of Social Work (University of Wyoming)
→ Bachelor's of Psychology (University of Wyoming)
→ Level II Certification - Supporting Children, Teens, and Young Adults with Pathological Demand Avoidance - Positive Autism and Support (PAST)
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Why the name Hive Parents?
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Well... a couple of reasons.
When bees swarm, they seem imposing and a little scary. In reality, this is when they are at their most vulnerable and in need of support and containment.
Bees need their keepers to have a calm demeanor, relaxed body language, and gentle nature. Sound familiar?
Bees are also social creatures who need each other to survive, and I've never found that concept more fitting since I've become a parent.Â
