Parenting Unique Minds: A Panel on Neurodiversity and Teen Support

Every family is unique, and so is every adolescent. Parents and caregivers of teens—whether they are neurodivergent, navigating autism, ADHD, learning differences, mental health challenges, or simply the ups and downs of adolescence—know that there’s no single roadmap for raising a growing, young person.

Join us for a practical conversation on supporting Neurodiverse teens and families, featuring a dynamic (and fun!) panel of mental health professionals from Ryther, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of children, teens, and families. You’ll gain fresh ideas, supportive insights, and real-world strategies you can use at home. You’ll also have the chance to connect with other parents and caregivers who truly “get it,” and leave feeling encouraged and recharged on your parenting journey.

The panelists will share strategies and insights from their work with neurodivergent kids, teens, and their families, covering topics such as fostering identity, supporting independence, building coping skills, navigating peer pressure, and strengthening social connections. Attendees will also have opportunities to ask questions and participate in group discussions. We hope you’ll join us for this engaging and informative panel presentation.

Event Details:

What: An in-person community gathering featuring a panel of mental health professionals from Ryther, with extensive experience supporting neurodiverse kids, teens, and their families. The panelist will share practical strategies on helping caregivers better understand and support the unique needs of their adolescents.

Who: Caregivers of children ages 9–19, seeking guidance, insights, and real-world strategies to support adolescents with diverse needs.

Space is limited with only 50 spots available. Be sure to register and reserve your spot today!

When: Thursday, February 26, 2026, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Where: In person at Ryther 2400 NE 95th Street Seattle, WA 98115. The building has a wheelchair-accessible entrance, and free parking is available. For public transit, there’s a Metro bus stop at 1st Ave NE & NE 95th St and another stop at Sand Point Way NE & NE 95th St , it’s about a 5-to-8 minute walk from there to Ryther.

Cost: This workshop is offered at no cost to attendees thanks to our generous PEPS donors and supporters who make it possible for PEPS to offer free events like this to our community. Please consider showing your support for PEPS and make a gift online.

Health & Wellness Considerations
To help keep our community safe and comfortable, we ask that anyone who is feeling unwell—such as experiencing cold, flu, or other contagious symptoms—please stay home. Thank you for helping us create a healthy environment for all participants.

Questions? Call PEPS at (206) 547-8570 or email us at [email protected].

Interested in receiving more support? Join a PEPS Group for Parents of Adolescents and Teens (PAT)!

Subscribe to our newsletter, developed specifically for families raising adolescents! Sent every month, subscribers will receive resources, materials, and updates related to parenting adolescents and teens aged 10 - 19 years.

Our panel moderator, Ben Wahl, MSW, is the founder of Ryther’s Aspiring Youth Program and has worked with neurodiverse youth for over 20 years, specializing in working with teens and young adults. He also serves on the advisory board for the Canopy Neurodiversity Project, working to improve post-high school education and employment pathways. He’s also the parent of a neurodiverse teen.

Panelists:

Karen Pavlidis, PhD, is a psychologist with over 25 years of experience, licensed to practice in Washington State. She is the founder of Child and Teen Solutions (CATS) in Seattle, a practice devoted to providing evidence-based treatment services and neurodevelopmental assessments for children and teenagers. Karen earned her PhD in Child Clinical Psychology from the University of Washington, and she completed her predoctoral internship at Stanford University School of Medicine. In addition to running her group practice, Karen serves as a Clinical Instructor at the University of Washington’s Department of Psychology.

Dr. Katja Ermann has been serving children and families for 15 years with a focus on parenting effectiveness as well as parenting her own three young adults, two of whom are neurodiverse. She is the director of outpatient behavioral health at Ryther.

Peter Jung, M. Ed., is an autistic self-advocate with 18 years of experience working with autistic youth and teens. He has written articles and spoken nationally about how to redesign autistic social skills programming to be more neurodiversity affirming and community-centric. He is the Advocacy and Outreach specialist in Ryther’s Aspiring Youth Program.

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