Kim Starr-Shutter

As the parent of a grown man with severe autism, I had some emotional responses to this book. It felt so affirming to read of someone else who's child would have violent outbursts during which they didn't seem to be themselves. Yet I felt awkward at most of the techniques the author was taught for "healing" her daughter. I wanted to find something I could use, yet as I read I kept expecting to hear how the author had been misled & the healers she consulted were really taking advantage of her willingness to believe what she was told. That didn't seem to happen.
How I finally got a handle on it, is that when you are dealing with unknowns, there can be many different ways to explain them, all of which can be valid on some level, but not all of which will resonate with all listeners. So I'm still looking for the answer to my son. I'm very happy that the author has found a good place for her daughter, but am more aware that I need to work with my own strengths, capabilities, and circumstances.
I have met the author, who leads parent support circles near hear rural home.… (más)