Can becoming a Secret Agent help a child find their true self?

Talking about strengths-based interventions with Renae Beaumont, PhD For children with autism and other developmental differences, evidence-based interventions can make life-changing improvements—and the earlier these interventions are started, the better. And as expert clinicians are discovering, basing those interventions on the child’s interests and strengths can be quite effective. In Episode 2 of our podcast series, “In the Know,” Renae Beaumont, PhD, Clinical Psychologist at Weill-Cornell and founder of the Secret Agent Society, talks with us about the impact of early intervention and some of the concepts around which those interventions are built. “The sorts of evidence-based interventions that I’m delivering for kids are based on a couple of different theoretical frameworks,” Dr. Beaumont explains. “Part of what I do is help kids to be more self-aware of the thoughts going on in their head and how they impact on how they’re feeling and what they’re doing.” There are several types of interventions available for kids with developmental delays, such as autism. These programs not only teach skills that support kids themselves, but also help kids communicate their needs and help parents, teachers, and friends understand the child a little bit better. One program that we were eager to ask Dr. Beaumont about was the one that she founded, called the Secret Agent Society, which has been helping kids for over a decade. As their website describes the program, “Espionage-themed resources provide an evidence-based, comprehensive and captivating solution to structured social and emotional learning for children aged 8-12 years old.” “The Secret Agent Society was originally developed for children with autism, “ Dr. Beaumont tells us. “Now it’s been shown to be effective for autistic children, children with ADHD, anxiety disorders, and even neurotypical children who are struggling a bit with friendships or managing emotions. It’s a program that teaches kids skills to feel happier, calmer, and braver, and how to make and keep friends.” As Dr. Beaumont reminded us, caring for kids with autism is often just as much about teaching others around the child the “language” of autism, as it is teaching the child the “language” of the neurotypical world. In that spirit, it is encouraging to know that many autism programs are based around finding and developing the child’s strengths and interests as they are, not trying to change the child into someone they are not. To hear more of this conversation and others in the In the Know series, use the player below or find us on Apple, Podbean, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.   Our recently launched podcast series, In the Know, regularly features conversations with top experts in behavioral and developmental health to provide information and insights for clinicians and for families of children with developmental delays. Be sure to subscribe so you can be sure to catch the future episodes when they are available!  

Focusing on Child Strengths in Autism – with Renae Beaumont, PhD

When a child first gets an autism diagnosis, many parents and families immediately start thinking about deficits—that is, what the child can’t do—and how to accommodate for them. In the latest episode of the “In the Know” podcast, Renae Beaumont, PhD, Clinical Psychologist at Weill-Cornell and founder of the innovative therapeutic program Secret Agent Society, describes how focusing on a child’s strengths from an early age, rather than their deficits, can be transformative in helping them become happier, more self-aware, and more skilled in communicating their needs. “Early is everything. Those early years are so critical, and you want to make the most of those,” Dr. Beaumont says. “Helping your child learn skills and knowing the supports that are available will really help them thrive.” In this conversation, Dr. Beaumont also focuses on how families can navigate the waitlists that increase the time to diagnosis, the work that she does not only with families but also with schools and educators to create a more helpful environment for children with autism, and a few of the evidence-based interventions that are currently available. As Dr. Beaumont says, “Thinking in more helpful ways can really help children and even adults feel much better and then take actions and behaviors that are going to lead to better outcomes aligned with what matters to them.” As part of her overall advocacy for children and adults with autism, Dr. Beaumont sees many positives in the directness, creativity, and other unique characteristics that autistic people often share. As she explains, “I think it’s important we understand some of autistic cultural norms just as much as we expect autistic people to understand some of the norms for what we call neurotypical or non-autistic individuals.” Our recently launched podcast series, In the Know, regularly features conversations with top experts in behavioral and developmental health to provide information and insights for clinicians and for families of children with developmental delays. “In the Know, Presented by Cognoa” can be found on most major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and others. Be sure to subscribe so you can be sure to catch the future episodes when they are available!

“What Happens After Diagnosis?”: Making the Pediatrician an Essential Part of the Treatment Team

Have you ever wondered, “Now that a child has an autism diagnosis, now what?” In the first episode of our new podcast, experienced pediatrician and past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Colleen Kraft talks about what are the next steps that pediatricians and the families they serve should take after a child is diagnosed with autism or other developmental delay. Dr. Kraft focuses particularly on the ongoing role of the pediatrician, who is key to a child’s success, particularly in a time when there are not enough specialists to care for the millions of kids with developmental delay in the U.S. “One of the things that we’ve noticed is that there’s a lot of ‘diagnosis and adios,’ where a child is diagnosed and then the family is left asking, okay, what’s next? And that really is where primary care comes into play,” Dr. Kraft observes. This podcast episode is full of helpful information about how to work with families to make a treatment plan, to manage their developmental challenges, and how to be an essential partner with parent groups, early intervention programs, and schools in helping that child progress and more.   Our new podcast series, In the Know, regularly features conversations with top experts in behavioral and developmental health to provide information and insights for clinicians and for families of children with developmental delays. “In the Know, Presented by Cognoa” can be found on most major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and others. Be sure to subscribe so you can catch the future episodes when they are available!