Breaking the Cycle of Guilt and Finding Strength with Natalie Karras

Send us Fan MailMeet Natalie Karras, who is a passionate advocate for children on the spectrum and their families. With 24 years of experience across industries like travel, recruitment, and marketing, she holds a Master Practitioner of Coaching and is the CEO and founder of You Are Seen. Natalie’s personal journey began when her son was diagnosed with autism at age 2, and she now dedicates herself to guiding mums through the challenges of autism, helping them move from feeling helpless to empowered. Fun fact: She's also an avid baker, creating gluten, dairy, and sugar-free treats! Natalie also introduces her SING method, a powerful tool she created to help moms break free from negative thought patterns. This episode offers valuable insights, strategies, and hope for moms walking the challenging, yet beautiful, journey of raising children with special needs.Key Takeaways:The pressure moms feel to "do it all" and appear as though they have everything under control is real, but we don’t have to shoulder it alone.It’s important to ask for help and to share with others how they can support us—people want to help but often don’t know how.We don’t need to apologize for our children’s behaviors. Let's celebrate who they are instead of conforming to societal expectations.The SING Method (Stop, Inhale, Notice your thoughts, and Gain clarity) helps moms break out of negative thought loops and be more present with their children.We must distinguish between fear-based thoughts and reality, and not let anxiety drive how we advocate for or view our child’s future.Moms of children with special needs are not alone, and reaching out for support can make a world of difference. Connect with Natalie Karras:Website: www.youareseen.com.auFacebook: You Are SeenInstagram: You_Are_Seen_LinkedIn: Natalie Karras Free Resource from Natalie:Download Natalie’s free guide: My Child Was Diagnosed with Autism: Hop over to Natalie’s website to accessWords of Encouragement from Natalie: "I know that you feel like you’re in a dark place right now, and that this isn't what you signed up for. But your child will teach you so many lessons along the way, and you will emerge wiser and stronger. It’s okay to cry, curse, and get angry—but don’t walk this journey alone. There are people and resources ready to help; you just have to reach out."Connect with me:Valerie's Links: https://bit.ly/3RL0da2Music Acknowledgement: Audio Coffee - Denys KyshchukEditor: Scott ArbeauLink for book: The S.H.I.N.E. Principle: The special needs mom's path to strength, hope and happiness by Valerie Arbeauhttps://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CW18ZXGX (Canada)https://a.co/d/03hFdZI4 (US) Learn more about your host at:https://coachingwithvalerieanne.com/