https://simplecast.com Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil is a podcast about children, families, therapy, and everything that happens beyond a clinical session. Drawing from more than two decades of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist working with children and families, Chitra shares practical insights, reflections, and conversations on autism, communication, feeding, sensory processing, child development, parenting, and multidisciplinary care. en Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:06:07 +0000 Mon, 19 Oct 2026 07:09:22 +0000 https://beyond-the-therapy-room-with-chitra-thadathil-a6839c14.simplecast.com Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/7870a709-6dee-41c5-a88a-03180f07dbda/1a969e18-f073-4d03-a622-b4d0ea4fe18a/3000x3000/cropped-1790934172134.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://beyond-the-therapy-room-with-chitra-thadathil-a6839c14.simplecast.com episodic Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil is a podcast about children, families, therapy, and everything that happens beyond a clinical session. Drawing from more than two decades of experience as a Speech-Language Pathologist working with children and families, Chitra shares practical insights, reflections, and conversations on autism, communication, feeding, sensory processing, child development, parenting, and multidisciplinary care. Chitra Thadathil false https://feeds.simplecast.com/IQRof1df aac,autism,beyond the therapy room,child development,chitra thadathil,early intervention,feeding therapy,neurodiversity,parenting,pediatric slp,sensory integration,speech language pathology,speech therapy,therapy podcast Chitra Thadathil podcast@dccdglobal.com G6JW9HNY8VXC e53f924e-fe3e-4574-9dc7-675240e246af Autism Diagnosis: What Should Parents Do First? In this insightful podcast, we sit down with a Speech-Language Pathologist to answer 16 important questions every parent should know after an autism diagnosis. From understanding therapy options to managing stimming, encouraging communication, and handling family and social situations, this conversation helps parents better understand their child's needs and make informed decisions.

πŸŽ™οΈ In This Episode, We Discuss:

00:00 – Introduction: Understanding the Expert's Work
01. What should parents do first after an autism diagnosis?
02. Should therapy begin immediately after diagnosis?
03. How do parents identify the right therapies for their child?
04. How many hours of therapy does a child need?
05. How can parents choose the right therapist?
06. Three red flags to watch for in therapy centers
07. Should parents stop their child's stimming?
08. What should parents do when their child avoids eye contact?
09. How can parents communicate and engage with their child at home?
10. What if a child still isn't speaking despite therapy?
11. Should parents disclose their child's diagnosis to relatives?
12. What is the biggest mistake parents make after diagnosis?
13. How should parents handle the emotional challenges of the journey?
14. How can therapists counsel and support concerned parents?
15. How can families better understand and support their child?
16. One important thing every parent should remember

❀️ A Message to Parents
Every child is unique. Understanding your child's strengths, needs, and communication style is an important step toward providing meaningful support. This conversation aims to help parents feel more informed, supported, and confident in their journey. If you find this podcast helpful, LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more expert conversations on child development, autism awareness, speech therapy, and parenting. Question for Parents: What is the biggest challenge you have faced after your child's diagnosis? Share your thoughts in the comments.

#AutismAwareness #AutismParenting #SpeechTherapy #AutismPodcast #ChildDevelopment #ParentingSupport

πŸŽ™οΈ Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil
Conversations that go beyond therapy sessions to explore child development, autism, communication, feeding, parenting, and the everyday challenges families face.

Stay Connected

Follow the podcast for new episodes, practical insights, and meaningful conversations.

πŸ’¬ We'd Love to Hear From You!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to explore? Share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

About Your Host

Chitra Thadathil is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 23 years of experience working with children and families. She is the Founder and Director of Dimensions Centre for Child Development and Founder and CEO of Autism Synergies.

Disclaimer

This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace individualised professional assessment, diagnosis, or intervention.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Reflect. Grow.

Beyond the Therapy Room β€” because meaningful conversations shouldn't end when therapy sessions do.

]]> Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:06:07 +0000 podcast@dccdglobal.com (Chitra Thadathil) https://beyond-the-therapy-room-with-chitra-thadathil-a6839c14.simplecast.com/episodes/autism-diagnosis-what-should-parents-do-first-02OTbeYp In this insightful podcast, we sit down with a Speech-Language Pathologist to answer 16 important questions every parent should know after an autism diagnosis. From understanding therapy options to managing stimming, encouraging communication, and handling family and social situations, this conversation helps parents better understand their child's needs and make informed decisions.

πŸŽ™οΈ In This Episode, We Discuss:

00:00 – Introduction: Understanding the Expert's Work
01. What should parents do first after an autism diagnosis?
02. Should therapy begin immediately after diagnosis?
03. How do parents identify the right therapies for their child?
04. How many hours of therapy does a child need?
05. How can parents choose the right therapist?
06. Three red flags to watch for in therapy centers
07. Should parents stop their child's stimming?
08. What should parents do when their child avoids eye contact?
09. How can parents communicate and engage with their child at home?
10. What if a child still isn't speaking despite therapy?
11. Should parents disclose their child's diagnosis to relatives?
12. What is the biggest mistake parents make after diagnosis?
13. How should parents handle the emotional challenges of the journey?
14. How can therapists counsel and support concerned parents?
15. How can families better understand and support their child?
16. One important thing every parent should remember

❀️ A Message to Parents
Every child is unique. Understanding your child's strengths, needs, and communication style is an important step toward providing meaningful support. This conversation aims to help parents feel more informed, supported, and confident in their journey. If you find this podcast helpful, LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more expert conversations on child development, autism awareness, speech therapy, and parenting. Question for Parents: What is the biggest challenge you have faced after your child's diagnosis? Share your thoughts in the comments.

#AutismAwareness #AutismParenting #SpeechTherapy #AutismPodcast #ChildDevelopment #ParentingSupport

πŸŽ™οΈ Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil
Conversations that go beyond therapy sessions to explore child development, autism, communication, feeding, parenting, and the everyday challenges families face.

Stay Connected

Follow the podcast for new episodes, practical insights, and meaningful conversations.

πŸ’¬ We'd Love to Hear From You!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to explore? Share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

About Your Host

Chitra Thadathil is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 23 years of experience working with children and families. She is the Founder and Director of Dimensions Centre for Child Development and Founder and CEO of Autism Synergies.

Disclaimer

This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace individualised professional assessment, diagnosis, or intervention.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Reflect. Grow.

Beyond the Therapy Room β€” because meaningful conversations shouldn't end when therapy sessions do.

]]> Autism Diagnosis: What Should Parents Do First? Chitra Thadathil 00:38:21 What should parents do after their child is diagnosed with autism? Should therapy start immediately? How do you choose the right therapist, understand your child’s needs, and support communication at home? What should parents do after their child is diagnosed with autism? Should therapy start immediately? How do you choose the right therapist, understand your child’s needs, and support communication at home? false full 2 5ed170ae-7259-46e2-9e10-77594e35b82e Beyond the Therapy Room Introduction In the first episode of Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil, Chitra shares why she felt this was the right time to begin a podcast after more than 23 years of working with children, families and professionals.

She reflects on how her own clinical thinking has changed over the years and how experience has shaped the way she now views therapy, children and parent partnerships.

In this episode, Chitra talks about:

  • What children and families have taught her over the years
  • Moving from therapist-led therapy to a more child-centred approach
  • The importance of involving parents in clinical decision-making
  • Moving away from compliance-focused intervention
  • Understanding regulation and sensory needs
  • Why therapy should be individualised rather than rigidly protocol-driven
  • The value of multidisciplinary teamwork
  • Why knowledge and experience should be shared with other professionals
  • Concerns around force-based practices, poor clinical reasoning and weak documentation
  • The need for more conversations around ethics, quality of care and realistic expectations
  • Supporting therapists and recognising their wellbeing as part of good clinical practice

Beyond the Therapy Room is a space for honest conversations about child development, autism, communication, feeding, sensory processing, parenting and therapy.

Through this podcast, Chitra hopes to bring together real experiences, professional learning and practical conversations that can support both families and clinicians.

Host: Chitra Thadathil
Speech-Language Pathologist | Founder & Clinical Head, Dimensions Centre for Child Development | Founder & CEO, Autism Synergies

πŸŽ™οΈ Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil
Conversations that go beyond therapy sessions to explore child development, autism, communication, feeding, parenting, and the everyday challenges families face.

Stay Connected

Follow the podcast for new episodes, practical insights, and meaningful conversations.

πŸ’¬ We'd Love to Hear From You!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to explore? Share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

About Your Host

Chitra Thadathil is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 23 years of experience working with children and families. She is the Founder and Director of Dimensions Centre for Child Development and Founder and CEO of Autism Synergies.

Disclaimer

This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace individualised professional assessment, diagnosis, or intervention.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Reflect. Grow.

Beyond the Therapy Room β€” because meaningful conversations shouldn't end when therapy sessions do.

]]> Fri, 2 Oct 2026 11:44:45 +0000 podcast@dccdglobal.com (Chitra Thadathil) https://beyond-the-therapy-room-with-chitra-thadathil-a6839c14.simplecast.com/episodes/beyond-the-therapy-room-introduction-i9bsuaAX In the first episode of Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil, Chitra shares why she felt this was the right time to begin a podcast after more than 23 years of working with children, families and professionals.

She reflects on how her own clinical thinking has changed over the years and how experience has shaped the way she now views therapy, children and parent partnerships.

In this episode, Chitra talks about:

  • What children and families have taught her over the years
  • Moving from therapist-led therapy to a more child-centred approach
  • The importance of involving parents in clinical decision-making
  • Moving away from compliance-focused intervention
  • Understanding regulation and sensory needs
  • Why therapy should be individualised rather than rigidly protocol-driven
  • The value of multidisciplinary teamwork
  • Why knowledge and experience should be shared with other professionals
  • Concerns around force-based practices, poor clinical reasoning and weak documentation
  • The need for more conversations around ethics, quality of care and realistic expectations
  • Supporting therapists and recognising their wellbeing as part of good clinical practice

Beyond the Therapy Room is a space for honest conversations about child development, autism, communication, feeding, sensory processing, parenting and therapy.

Through this podcast, Chitra hopes to bring together real experiences, professional learning and practical conversations that can support both families and clinicians.

Host: Chitra Thadathil
Speech-Language Pathologist | Founder & Clinical Head, Dimensions Centre for Child Development | Founder & CEO, Autism Synergies

πŸŽ™οΈ Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil
Conversations that go beyond therapy sessions to explore child development, autism, communication, feeding, parenting, and the everyday challenges families face.

Stay Connected

Follow the podcast for new episodes, practical insights, and meaningful conversations.

πŸ’¬ We'd Love to Hear From You!

Have a question or a topic you'd like us to explore? Share your thoughts and suggestions with us.

About Your Host

Chitra Thadathil is a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 23 years of experience working with children and families. She is the Founder and Director of Dimensions Centre for Child Development and Founder and CEO of Autism Synergies.

Disclaimer

This podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace individualised professional assessment, diagnosis, or intervention.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Reflect. Grow.

Beyond the Therapy Room β€” because meaningful conversations shouldn't end when therapy sessions do.

]]> Beyond the Therapy Room Introduction Chitra Thadathil 00:03:57 Welcome to "Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil." She reflects on how her approach has changed over the years β€” from therapist-led intervention to more child-centred, collaborative and neurodiversity-affirming practice. She also talks about what children and families have taught her, the importance of parent-professional partnership, and the need for thoughtful conversations around regulation, ethics and quality in therapy. This episode sets the tone for the conversations ahead: practical, reflective and grounded in real experiences from beyond the therapy room. Welcome to "Beyond the Therapy Room with Chitra Thadathil." She reflects on how her approach has changed over the years β€” from therapist-led intervention to more child-centred, collaborative and neurodiversity-affirming practice. She also talks about what children and families have taught her, the importance of parent-professional partnership, and the need for thoughtful conversations around regulation, ethics and quality in therapy. This episode sets the tone for the conversations ahead: practical, reflective and grounded in real experiences from beyond the therapy room. false full 1