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3 October 2025• by

When the Doctor Says “Let’s Wait and See…”: Practical scripts for parents and carers

At the Nurture Programme Trauma Conference, October 2025, I shared a talk called Hidden Health: How Unrecognised Needs Add to Trauma. One of the themes we...

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30 September 2025• by

Information Gathering Templates: For PANS/PANDAS Conference 2025

As part of our preparation for the conference, I also developed three information-gathering templates (a huge thank you to Helen for her feedback and...

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December 4th, 12 pm - 1.30 pm GMT Thank you for being here, Laura Hellfeld RN, MSN, PHN, CNL Connect with me on social media BlueSky, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider for personalised support and care tailored to your specific needs.

Blog

22 September 2025• by

What Is Diagnostic Overshadowing and Why Does It Matter?

Have you ever gone to the doctor with a concern, only to have it dismissed as ‘part of’ your disability, neurodivergence, or mental health diagnosis?...

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29 August 2025• by

Podcast Episode: Making Hygiene Accessible for Neurodivergent Kids

In this episode of From Burnout to Balance, Tanya is joined again by Laura Hellfeld, a neurodivergent nurse and parent educator, to explore the layered...

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Blog

25 August 2025• by

New School Year, Same Lunch Every Day

The new school year is here - new shoes, new teachers, new pencil case… and maybe, the exact same lunchbox as last year. Every. Single. Day....

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A photo of a stethoscope and medical mask laying on a very light blue background. The stethoscope is yellow and there are 2 red, heart shaped chocolates.

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22 July 2025• by

Understanding Food Choices Beyond ‘Picky Eating’: Medical Conditions and Their Impact on Eating Habits

Food choices and eating habits are often viewed through a behavioural lens, with labels like 'picky eating' commonly used to explain them. In my work, it’s...

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Blog

20 July 2025• by

‘Slow Eaters’: Understanding and Supporting Different Paces

Eating slowly can sometimes be misunderstood. We live in a culture that often values speed and efficiency, even at mealtimes.  If you or someone you care for...

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A photo of inside a classroom. There are no students or staff. There are rows of desks in a classroom with white walls and hanging lights. There is a blank chalk board at the front.

Blog

15 July 2025• by

“Who Decided This?” Listening to PDA Young People About School Disconnection

I recently spent time with a group of older primary and early secondary-aged young people and their parents. We were gathering to talk about self-care tasks in...

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A photo of toothpaste squirted out to look like a smiley face. The toothpaste is white with blue and green streaks

Blog

10 July 2025• by

Play First, Hygiene Later: Getting Comfortable with Washing

Let’s be honest: hygiene products can be weird. They bubble. They squirt. They smell like ‘mountain rain or ‘moonflower’. Some of them fizz, foam, or...

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Blog

3 July 2025• by

Inside and Out: Rethinking Hygiene, Autonomy and Expression

In my work supporting parents and carers of young people with hygiene, I’ve noticed something that keeps coming up. It's something that sits under the...

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A photo taken looking down at a desk. The desk has a white notebook with 'information' written on a page, multi-coloured pens and thumbtacks, green highlighter and an orange juice.

Blog

28 June 2025• by

Finding the Balance: Supporting PDAers Without Overloading Our Young People

We know that step-by-step charts, checklists and routines can feel especially tough for PDAers. These kinds of supports can come across as boring, overly rigid...

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A photo of a young person with cat face painting. They have shoulder-length, light brown hair, are pale skinned and are smiling at the camera.

Blog

24 June 2025• by

PDA and Play: Power, Pretend, and Pushing Back Against Norms

Play for PDAers is a powerful, meaningful way to connect with the world on their own terms. It's a space where demands reduce, control returns to them, and...

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A round shaped, pale pink alarm clock is to the right of the photo and at a tilted angle. The alarm clock is against a pink background.

Blog

11 June 2025• by

Waking Up Can Be Hard: Understanding Sleep Inertia and Easing Into the Day

Waking up sounds like it should be simple. You just open your eyes and start the day, right? But for many people, especially those with specific sleep...

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Blog

5 June 2025• by

How do I get my young person not to hold their bladder? with downloadable guide

Wee withholding, when someone avoids or delays urinating, can feel puzzling and frustrating. This is especially true if it starts after what has been toileting...

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Blog

4 June 2025• by

What is Same Food? Why Familiar Foods Matter

Being Autistic is an all-encompassing experience and way of being. This means that we bring our ways of thinking, needs and abilities to all activities that we...

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A photo of inside a classroom with no people. There are rows of blue seats with wooden top desks all facing the same direction. There are windows in the back that look onto greenery.

Blog

28 May 2025• by

Demanding Respect from PDAers in the School Setting: Why Hierarchy Backfires & What Builds True Connection Instead

It’s a phrase many of us have heard, or even said in the school setting: "They need to learn to respect adults." "They have to follow instructions, it’s...

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A photo of a silver fork and butter knife at an angle to a white plate. All are on a pink background.

Blog

26 May 2025• by

Hypermobility & Ehlers Danlos & How They Affect Food & Eating

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) is a group of genetic connective tissue disorders that affect the body’s ability to produce or process collagen, a protein...

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A photo of multiple rows of matchsticks and one match has been burned. The matchsticks have red tops and are lined up on a pink ground.

Blog

12 May 2025• by

Believing Teens: What We Say Matters, A blog inspired by the 2025 Autistic Burnout Conference

As part of my presentation at the 2025 Autistic Burnout Conference, titled Believing Teens: Beyond Exhaustion, I’ve been exploring how the words we use when...

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A photo of a shower head with running water. The shower head is silver in colour and water is coming out quickly. There are blue tiles in the shower.

Blog

10 May 2025• by

“How Do I Get Them to Shower?” Rethinking Hygiene Support in Care Roles

After running workshops in various care settings with staff who support disabled young people and adults, I noticed a common theme emerging - questions about...

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Photo of a jam sandwich. The sandwich has white bread and the strawberry jam is coming down the sides of the crust.

Blog

27 April 2025• by

‘Same Food’ or ‘Safe Food’ and When Our Language Matters

When people use terms like same food or safe food, they’re often referring to someone’s favourite food—a food they have a strong emotional or sensory...

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