🎧 Episode 168 – The Meltdown Action Plan

Download it Here: https://theautismmomcoach.com/autism-meltdown-action-plan-2/

Podcast: The Autism Mom Coach

Hosted by: Lisa Candera, Life Coach for Autism Moms

Autism meltdowns are intense, overwhelming, and often misunderstood—not just for the child, but for the parent as well. In Episode 168 of The Autism Mom Coach Podcast, Lisa Candera shares a groundbreaking, trauma-informed tool designed specifically for autism moms who feel frozen, reactive, or helpless during their child’s dysregulation.

Introducing the Meltdown Action Plan—a step-by-step, easy-to-follow framework that gives parents the tools and structure they need to stay calm and take purposeful action during meltdowns.

Drawing on her personal experience as a solo parent to a teen with autism and her work with hundreds of coaching clients, Lisa explains how to shift from crisis-driven reactions to empowered parenting with her signature MAP Method:

• Meltdown Prep
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• Action During
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• Post-Meltdown Recovery
• 
  

This episode is a must-listen for any parent who’s ever thought:

“I don’t know what to do during a meltdown.”

“I freeze, I yell, or I shut down.”

“Why is this still happening?”

Lisa answers those questions—and more—while offering hope, clarity, and a plan.

Lisa’s new resource includes:

✅ The 3 phases of the MAP Method

✅ Fill-in-the-blank worksheets

✅ Real-life examples from autism moms

✅ Guided prompts to help you regulate yourself before, during, and after a meltdown

👉 Get it here: [Insert direct download link]

📅 Ready for personal support? Book a free consultation with Lisa here:

https://talkwiththeautismmomcoach.as.me/

00:00 – Introduction to Episode 168

00:23 – Why Lisa Created the Meltdown Action Plan

01:35 – The Real Problem With Meltdowns (Hint: It’s Not Just the Behavior)

03:27 – What Is the MAP Method?

03:55 – Phase One: Meltdown Preparation

04:28 – Phase Two: Action During a Meltdown

05:07 – Phase Three: Post-Meltdown Recovery

06:01 – What’s Inside the Free Download

06:30 – Final Thoughts and Invitation to Work With Lisa

• Why trying to “fix” meltdowns often makes them worse
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• The difference between reacting vs. responding
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• What meltdowns signal about your child’s nervous system
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• How to stay grounded even when your child is screaming, hitting, or shutting down
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• Why your own recovery matters as much as your child’s
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• The single shift that helped Lisa stop dreading meltdowns and start preparing for them
• 
  
• How Lisa helps clients create personalized meltdown action plans that actually work
• 
  

• Autism moms dealing with frequent or intense meltdowns
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• Parents who feel overwhelmed, ashamed, or alone
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• Moms who want a clear, repeatable plan they can use during high-stress situations
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• Listeners who value trauma-informed, compassionate, and experience-backed guidance
• 
  

autism meltdown plan, autism meltdown help for parents, what to do during autism...

In Episode 167 of The Autism Mom Coach Podcast, Lisa Candera—a lawyer, life coach, and solo mom to a teenager with autism—tackles one of the most emotionally loaded questions for autism parents: Should I push my child out of their comfort zone or give them more support?

Using a real-life story from a coaching client, Lisa explains:

✅ Why there's no perfect moment to act

✅ How to treat parenting decisions like experiments

✅ What “friction” actually means in your child’s growth

✅ How to move forward even when things don’t go perfectly

✅ And why sometimes... you have to break some chairs

🎧 This episode is a must-listen if you're stuck in second-guessing or afraid of doing too much (or too little) for your child.

🕒 Timestamps / Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

00:38 – Follow-up from Last Week

01:13 – Real-Life Moments That Raise the Question

02:20 – The Goldilocks Myth of “Perfect Timing”

03:35 – Coaching Story: Rachel’s School Bus Decision

05:08 – Reframing the Outcome

06:00 – Growth = Try, Monitor, Evaluate, Calibrate

06:52 – Final Thoughts + Coaching Invitation

In this episode, autism coach and solo parent Lisa Candera—also known as The Autism Mom Coach—breaks down a question nearly every autism parent wrestles with:

Am I expecting too much or not enough from my child with autism?

Through a real-life story from one of her private coaching clients, Lisa illustrates the emotional push-pull autism moms face when deciding whether to stretch their child or simply let them enjoy the moment. She explores the hidden fear that often drives the urge to do more, and how that fear can overshadow meaningful progress.

Whether you’re feeling pressure to push your child, second-guessing your parenting, or simply wondering what the right amount of expectation looks like—this episode will help you slow down, reflect, and lead with confidence.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why “Am I doing too much or not enough?” is the wrong question
• How fear of falling behind drives panic parenting
• Why your child’s success doesn’t mean it’s time to push harder
• The power of parenting from curiosity instead of fear
• Why every win doesn’t need to become a stepping stone

✨ About Lisa Candera:

Lisa Candera is a solo mom, attorney, and certified life coach for autism moms. Through 1:1 coaching, she helps parents regulate their emotions, reduce stress, and support their children with clarity and confidence—even during meltdowns.

🔗 Learn More & Connect:

📅 Book a free consultation with Lisa:

https://talkwiththeautismmomcoach.as.me/

🌐 Website:

https://theautismmomcoach.com

🎙 Listen to the podcast:

https://theautismmomcoach.com/podcast

📸 Follow Lisa on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/theautismmomcoach