Beneath the Behavior: Supporting Neurodivergent Kids With Science, Not Shame

Dr. Mark Bowers
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  • PARENTING

Beneath the Behavior is a podcast for parents of neurodivergent kids who want understanding instead of blame. Hosted by pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers, each episode explores what’s really going on beneath a child’s behavior—from a brain and nervous system perspective—so parents can respond with more clarity and less self-doubt. This podcast isn’t about quick fixes or perfect parenting. It’s about slowing things down, making sense of hard moments, and supporting neurodivergent kids with science, not shame. Episodes are short, focused, and grounded in real clinical experience. If parenting feels harder than it should, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    Meltdowns vs. Tantrums: Why the Difference Matters

    Send us a text Meltdowns and tantrums often look similar on the outside—but what’s happening underneath is very different. In this episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers explains why confusing meltdowns with tantrums leads to so much unnecessary blame, escalation, and exhaustion for parents of neurodivergent kids. We’ll talk about what regulation actually means, why punishment doesn’t work during meltdowns, and how much common parenting advice unintentionally makes things harder. You’ll also hear one mindset shift that can change how you respond in these moments—without lowering expectations or giving up boundaries. This episode isn’t about excusing behavior or finding quick fixes. It’s about understanding what your child’s nervous system is doing, so you can respond with more clarity and less self-blame. If you’ve ever been told, “That’s just a tantrum,” and felt like that explanation didn’t fit, this conversation is for you. Support the show

    11 min

  2. 1D AGO

    You’re Not Doing Anything Wrong: Understanding Neurodivergent Behavior Beneath the Surface

    Send us a text In this first episode, pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers introduces the purpose and approach of Beneath the Behavior. If parenting feels harder than you expected—confusing, exhausting, or isolating—you’re not alone. Many parents of neurodivergent kids try everything they’re told to do and still feel like they’re missing something. In this episode, we slow things down and talk about why so much parenting advice doesn’t fit neurodivergent kids, how blame quietly replaces understanding, and why behavior is best understood as communication rather than defiance. This isn’t therapy, and it isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about creating a different starting point—one rooted in safety, clarity, and compassion. If there’s one message to take away from this episode, it’s this:  You’re not failing your child. You’re learning how to understand them. And that matters. Support the show

    12 min
  • 2 Episodes

About

Beneath the Behavior is a podcast for parents of neurodivergent kids who want understanding instead of blame. Hosted by pediatric psychologist Dr. Mark Bowers, each episode explores what’s really going on beneath a child’s behavior—from a brain and nervous system perspective—so parents can respond with more clarity and less self-doubt. This podcast isn’t about quick fixes or perfect parenting. It’s about slowing things down, making sense of hard moments, and supporting neurodivergent kids with science, not shame. Episodes are short, focused, and grounded in real clinical experience. If parenting feels harder than it should, you’re not alone—and you’re in the right place.

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