26/04/2026
I was honoured to moderate a meaningful panel discussion at the Autism Community Summit in Hong Kong this weekend. As a couples counsellor, I regularly support couples navigating all kinds of life challenges, including the unique pressures that come with raising neurodiverse children.
The panel, titled “Weathering the Storm Together,” brought together three courageous couples who openly shared how autism has shaped their relationship, not just their parenting. They spoke with honesty and vulnerability about:
• How the demands of neurodiverse parenting can strain connection and intimacy
• Strategies for maintaining a strong partnership amid exhaustion, grief, and daily realities
• The importance of turning towards each other with mutual support and better communication
• Finding moments of joy and closeness even in difficult seasons
Raising an autistic child can test a relationship deeply, yet it can also strengthen it when couples intentionally invest in their bond.
In my practice, I help couples across a wide range of situations — from everyday conflicts to major life transitions. For those with neurodiverse children, this often includes creating space to process the emotional impact on their partnership, rebuilding connection that can get lost in the daily demands, and developing practical tools for communication and mutual support that honour the realities of their family life.
Prioritising the couple relationship isn’t selfish, it’s one of the most important things parents can do for their children and themselves. . Amber Perymon - Evans, Psy.D. Community Summit Children’s Institute Of Hong Kong, Inc. Official CouplesCounselling AutismAwareness NeurodiverseParenting RelationshipSupport MarriageAndParenting HongKong AutismSummitHKCounsellor Reshma Chugh Tourani
