36 | Autism, Mental Health & the Calm Compass | Mitch Leppicello

Mental health is an important part of supporting neurodivergent children, yet it is often overlooked in the larger autism conversation. In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene talks with social worker and certified autism specialist Mitch Leppicello about the emotional lives of autistic children and why families need practical tools to support regulation, communication, and connection. Mitch brings more than 30 years of experience working with autistic individuals and their families. He shares how the field has changed over time, why anxiety and other mental health challenges often overlap with autism, and how parents can better understand what their child is trying to communicate during emotionally intense moments. He also introduces his Calm Compass framework, which helps families focus on connection, communication, encouragement, and movement as ways to support children through stress and dysregulation. This episode is especially helpful for parents, caregivers, therapists, and educators who want a more compassionate and practical understanding of how mental health and autism can intersect in everyday family life. Topics Covered How Mitch found his way into autism and neurodiversity work Why mental health challenges often overlap with autism Common emotional struggles autistic children may experience Why communication breakdowns can fuel emotional dysregulation Mitch's Calm Compass framework: Connect, Articulate, Lift, and Move How parents can help children better express what they are feeling Why connection and co-regulation matter during hard moments The value of collaboration between families and therapists Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:27 Mitch's path into autism and mental health work 07:17 How autism and mental health challenges overlap 11:31 What the Calm Compass is 13:53 Using "Articulate" to help children express feelings 20:46 Why connection and regulation strategies matter most Memorable Quote "Autism is not an excuse. It's an explanation." About the Guest Mitch Lepicello is a social worker, certified autism specialist, and mental health professional with more than 30 years of experience working with autistic children, teens, adults, and families. He created the Calm Compass framework to help families strengthen connection, communication, and emotional regulation. Resources Mentioned The Calm Compass ASD Parenting Journey Mitch Lepicello's social media resources Stress management tools and visual supports for autistic children About the Host Brian Keene is the host of the Autism Family Resource Podcast and the founder of Pure Hearts Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming pediatric therapy practice that supports children and families through compassionate, practical care. Subscribe & Connect If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with another parent who might benefit from this conversation. Listen and subscribe to the Autism Family Resource Podcast: https://pod.link/1591840956 Explore more resources for families at: https://pureheartstherapy.com