Atypical Children – Extraordinary Parenting

Theory of Mind

Mentalizing and Neurodivergence

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 18, 2026

Mentalizing is the ability to see others from the inside and see ourselves from the outside. Learning to mentalize well can be a useful goal for neurodivergent people.

Mentalizing is the ability to see others from the inside and see ourselves from the outside. Learning to mentalize well can be a useful goal for neurodivergent people.

Autism

How Solution-Focused Therapy Can Help Autism

David Krauss Ph.D. on November 9, 2025

Solution-focused therapists highlight strengths, client values and goals, and exceptions to problems, not problems. These approaches are a good fit for neurodivergent people.

Solution-focused therapists highlight strengths, client values and goals, and exceptions to problems, not problems. These approaches are a good fit for neurodivergent people.

Evolutionary Psychology

Could Retaliation and Revenge Be Adaptive 'Superpowers'?

David Krauss Ph.D. on August 18, 2025

Many "antisocial" behaviors can be seen as evolved and adaptive. Revenge is a good example. This framing facilitates clinical work with overly aggressive children and teens.

Many "antisocial" behaviors can be seen as evolved and adaptive. Revenge is a good example. This framing facilitates clinical work with overly aggressive children and teens.

Autism

Autistic Intelligences as Evolutionary Adaptations

David Krauss Ph.D. on May 26, 2025

Some evolutionary psychologists propose that some Autistic traits were selected because they were advantageous in early environments and can still be strengths in the modern world.

Some evolutionary psychologists propose that some Autistic traits were selected because they were advantageous in early environments and can still be strengths in the modern world.

Neurodiversity

A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach for Professionals

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 19, 2025

Neurodivergent brains and people are unique and awesome. It is recommended to take a neurodiversity affirmative approach and be awed, humble, and respectful toward them.

Neurodivergent brains and people are unique and awesome. It is recommended to take a neurodiversity affirmative approach and be awed, humble, and respectful toward them.

Resilience

Identifying, Amplifying, and Using Strengths and Resources

David Krauss Ph.D. on November 25, 2024

Solution-focused therapists focus on identifying and utilizing clients' strengths, resources, and exceptions. Solution-focused therapies fit well with neuroaffirmative approaches.

Solution-focused therapists focus on identifying and utilizing clients' strengths, resources, and exceptions. Solution-focused therapies fit well with neuroaffirmative approaches.

Autism

Atypical Sensory Processing, Neurodivergence, and Autism

David Krauss Ph.D. on September 17, 2024

All of us have unique sensory profiles. When our sensory systems do not fit a particular setting or environment, support, accommodations and coping strategies can help.

All of us have unique sensory profiles. When our sensory systems do not fit a particular setting or environment, support, accommodations and coping strategies can help.

Autism

Sensory Profiles, Person-Environment ‘Fit,' and Autism

David Krauss Ph.D. on August 10, 2024

Each of us has a unique sensory profile that "fits" some situations better than others. Autistic sensory profiles tend to "fit" less often, but accommodations and adaptations help.

Each of us has a unique sensory profile that "fits" some situations better than others. Autistic sensory profiles tend to "fit" less often, but accommodations and adaptations help.

Embarrassment

Humiliations Galore: Surviving, Perhaps Thriving?

David Krauss Ph.D. on May 6, 2024

Neurodivergent people may have many humiliation experiences. An essay on humiliation, and some cognitive therapy, can help us understand and help people coping with humiliation.

Neurodivergent people may have many humiliation experiences. An essay on humiliation, and some cognitive therapy, can help us understand and help people coping with humiliation.

Self-Control

The "Cyberball" Approach to Promoting Self-Regulation

David Krauss Ph.D. on April 8, 2024

"Cyberball" experiments can help children and parents better understand and utilize cognitive-behavior therapy focused on promoting emotional self-regulation.

"Cyberball" experiments can help children and parents better understand and utilize cognitive-behavior therapy focused on promoting emotional self-regulation.

Autism

Closeness and Status Are Keys to Pragmatic Communication

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 11, 2024

People diagnosed with Autism may struggle to track and respond to relationship closeness and status hierarchies. Keeping this in mind can prompt patience and guide interventions.

People diagnosed with Autism may struggle to track and respond to relationship closeness and status hierarchies. Keeping this in mind can prompt patience and guide interventions.

Autism

It’s Possible to Be Diagnosed With Autism as an Adult

David Krauss Ph.D. on January 24, 2024

More adults think they may have autism. Practitioners might assume this is a social-media-driven diagnosis.

More adults think they may have autism. Practitioners might assume this is a social-media-driven diagnosis.

Parenting

When Parenting Atypical Children, Adversity Can Prompt Growth

David Krauss Ph.D. on December 23, 2023

Parents raising atypical children face much adversity. Adversity can have significant adverse effects. Adversity can also prompt personal development and growth, even thriving.

Parents raising atypical children face much adversity. Adversity can have significant adverse effects. Adversity can also prompt personal development and growth, even thriving.

Autism

Recognizing and Expressing Emotions: It's Complicated

David Krauss Ph.D. on August 20, 2023

We express and read emotions using nonverbal cues. People diagnosed with autism may use these kinds of cues slowly and deliberately and experience emotion processing as exhausting.

We express and read emotions using nonverbal cues. People diagnosed with autism may use these kinds of cues slowly and deliberately and experience emotion processing as exhausting.

Internet Addiction

Healthy Internet Use and Gaming: Strategies for Parents

David Krauss Ph.D. on June 26, 2023

Most parents strive to promote healthy internet use and limit gaming. Here are six ways of thinking about screens and devices—and seven practical recommendations—that can help.

Most parents strive to promote healthy internet use and limit gaming. Here are six ways of thinking about screens and devices—and seven practical recommendations—that can help.

Autism

Privileging Positive Emotions Promotes Children's Connection

David Krauss Ph.D. on May 24, 2023

Looking to promote your neurodivergent child's abilities to connect with others? Highlighting and processing positive interpersonal connection emotions can help.

Looking to promote your neurodivergent child's abilities to connect with others? Highlighting and processing positive interpersonal connection emotions can help.

Intelligence

Embracing Uncommon Minds and Multiple Intelligences

David Krauss Ph.D. on April 30, 2023

Eccentric and out of sync? Or unique and unprecedented? Atypical minds and intelligence can be gifts. Embrace and nurture them.

Eccentric and out of sync? Or unique and unprecedented? Atypical minds and intelligence can be gifts. Embrace and nurture them.

Priming

Priming Persistent Patience: Strategies for Parents

David Krauss Ph.D. on March 28, 2023

Striving to respond to your child's or adolescent's behavior problems with more patience and care and less anger? Some social psychology strategies can help.

Striving to respond to your child's or adolescent's behavior problems with more patience and care and less anger? Some social psychology strategies can help.

Autism

De-Pathologizing the ‘Intense Special Interests’ of Autism

David Krauss Ph.D. on February 19, 2023

Intense special interests, a hallmark of Autism, can be celebrated rather than pathologized and be reframed as strengths and opportunities for connection and well-being.

Intense special interests, a hallmark of Autism, can be celebrated rather than pathologized and be reframed as strengths and opportunities for connection and well-being.

Autism

The "Uncanny Valley" Is a Lonely Place

David Krauss Ph.D. on November 29, 2022

The "uncanny valley" effect can help people diagnosed with autism better understand people's reactions to their atypical behaviors and what to do in response.

The "uncanny valley" effect can help people diagnosed with autism better understand people's reactions to their atypical behaviors and what to do in response.