Cristina Murariu

My name is Murariu Cristina and I am a psychologist specialized in Special Psychopedagogy within Help Autism Association since February 2024. I graduated the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences in Iasi, my major being in Psychology and the Master's Degree in Evaluation, Training and Psychological Counseling of the Staff, but I quickly understood that I do not find myself in this field. Since the first year of college, I have volunteered at a school with students from disadvantaged backgrounds, where I worked with the children in the fields of personal development, combating bullying and other topics adapted to their age and interests. It was the first contact with children and the first attempt to work with them. I participated in the course “ABA techniques in autism spectrum disorders” supported by Autism Voice and the course “Applied Behavior Therapy for children with ASD”, supported by Help Autism. I am a calm and confident person, conscientious and involved in everything I do. For me, working with children is a passion, not just a job, that's why I give 100% during the entire therapeutic process, in order to help the child reach its maximum potential.

Presentation: From diagnosis to adaptation - The family journey with an autistic child

Abstract:

Having a child with autism can put a lot of pressure on the family. This has an impact on various aspects of family life, affecting finances, emotional and mental health of parents, marital relationships, physical health of all family members. At the same time, there is a limitation of the response to the needs of other children, a shaky relationship between siblings and difficulties in maintaining relationships with friends and neighbors, but also with the extended family. Also, children with autism face a variety of challenges that can have a significant negative impact on parenting and family functioning and can create significant stress for all members.