Parenting with Autism: Kim van Helen on Surviving, Self-Regulation, and Why Parents Need Support Too

Send us Fan Mail (https://www.buzzsprout.com/170893/fan...) In this episode of the Make It Happen by Being You Podcast, I'm joined by Kim van Helen, holistic life coach, women's circle facilitator, and autism parent guidance coach. Kim received her son's autism diagnosis when he was five years old, and spent years in survival mode before she even realised that's what was happening. Today, she helps other parents (especially mothers) find emotional balance, develop self-awareness, and navigate the unique challenges of raising a neurodivergent child with confidence and compassion. This is a conversation that will speak directly to any parent who has been so focused on their child that they have quietly forgotten about themselves.  Kim talks about what autism actually is, how it shows up differently in every person, why parents of autistic children are operating under a level of stress equivalent to a combat soldier (without the downtime), and what practical tools can help. She also shares her broader work: conscious networking events, women's circles using shadow and belief work, and her plans to bring autism awareness into English-speaking schools on the Costa del Sol. Kim shares from a place of warmth, grounding and deeply honesty. What We Cover in This Episode • Kim's three businesses: The Aligned Network Circle, Van Helen Healing (https://www.vanhelenhealing.com) and her new autism parent guidance coaching • What autism actually is and why no two people on the spectrum are the same (including the brain scan explanation that genuinely changes how you see it) • Why Kim believes she herself may be on the spectrum, and what that realisation meant for her • The two sides of parenting an autistic child: caring for your child and (often forgotten) caring for yourself • The research showing that parents of neurodivergent children are living in a level of stress comparable to someone in active combat, without any downtime • Practical techniques Kim used with her own son, including silent presence during meltdowns and visual daily schedules • The difference between a meltdown and a tantrum (and why this matters) • How Kim communicated with her son's school, including the notebook system that made a real difference • Overcoming self-doubt when building multiple businesses and why mentorship changed everything • Her women's circles, shadow work, and why she describes the things we hide from ourselves as "gold nuggets" • The Netflix documentary Stutz (https://www.netflix.com/es-en/title/8...) (Jonah Hill and his therapist Dr Stutz) that deepened her understanding of her own work About Kim van Helen Kim van Helen is a holistic life coach, women's circle facilitator, and autism parent guidance coach based on the Costa del Sol. She is the founder of Helen Healing and The Aligned Network Circle, a conscious networking community for entrepreneurs. As an autism parent guidance coach, Kim helps parents of neurodivergent children find emotional balance and practical tools to navigate their journey with more confidence and less overwhelm. She is also a co-author in development and plans to bring autism awareness workshops to English-speaking schools across the Costa del Sol in 2026. Connect with Kim: • Facebook: Van Helen Healing (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...) / Parenting with Autism Self-Development Circle (  / 1590424825437331  ) • Website: vanhelenhealing.com (https://vanhelenhealing.com) Support the show (https://costawomen.com/help/contact) Thanks for listening to the show!  If you are a Woman in Spain, or a Woman thinking about moving to Spain join https://costawomen.com - its free to join