My experience as a behaviour and attachment interventionist was a huge learning curve, both professionally and personally. Professionally I learned skills to help engage with and regulate clients with sensory disregulation. I also was helping children build early social referencing skills and foundational language and communication skills. I was learning as much about strategies to help children with autism as I was about my own capacity to connect with others. I had to find a balance where I was protecting my own well-being, I started by implementing boundaries regarding outside of work communication.
I also worked privately with about five families, supporting their child/children by engaging in behaviour intervention techniques or providing respite services. I was connected to these families through the Richmond Autism Parent Support group that I had built a relationship with as a gymnastics instructor. Each family that I supported needed something different, and so I became highly skilled at recognizing and meeting the unique needs of each child and their family. It was fun taking children out into the community and creating positive experiences by finding activities that they enjoy!
