The Neurodivergent Woman

For our final episode of the season we welcome Sonny Jane Wise to the podcast, to share their wisdom on all things neurodivergence. This is a fabulous ep to start with if you’re new to the neurodiversity affirming model, and also if you’ve been here a while!   Sonny Jane is a trans, multiply neurodivergent & disabled public speaker, advocate and author. Sonny was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as a child and grew up only hearing a deficit narrative about their neurodivergence. Since then, they have gone on to build an audience of over 100, 000 people online, have written The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills and We’re All Neurodiverse and has worked with organisations and services around Australia and the world to help change the narrative around neurodivergence and create a more neurodiversity affirming society.   In this episode we cover: Key definitions of neurodiversity affirming practice, including the difference between ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergence’ and between the pathologising / medical model of practice and the neurodiversity affirming model. Sonny Jane’s experience of being early diagnosed under a pathologising model and the lifechanging impact of discovering neurokin and the neurodiversity affirming community. Disability and ableism and neuronormativity (oh my!) The intersectional impact of different aspects of Sonny Jane’s identity, their neurodivergences, and their disabilities, and how this intersectionality impacts their access to services. The future of neurodiversity affirming practice.     You can find out more about Sonny Jane and access their content through their website.    Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are thrilled to have Rosemary Richings on the podcast today, to chat with us about her experience of dyspraxia. Rosemary is a writer, editor, and public speaker specialising in disability and neurodiversity, and she is the author of Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia. Rosemary is on the board of trustees of Dyspraxic Me, a charity for dyspraxic young adults.   In this episode we cover: What is dyspraxia? How is dyspraxia diagnosed? Rosemary’s experience of dyspraxia from childhood to adulthood. The mental load of neurodivergence. What has been helpful in accommodating and supporting dyspraxia for Rosemary.   You can find Rosemary through her socials here, and through her website.   You can access more information on dyspraxia through the Developmental Coordination Disorder Australia website.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode we chat about compassionate practice. We have both been super keen to do an episode on compassion for a while now, given compassion is a core tenant of our practice. In this ep we went through some of the core features of compassion, how this can be used therapeutically, and developing self-compassion. We loved putting this episode together for you!   We cover: What is compassion and what are the benefits of compassionate practice? What does it mean to be in an active state of compassion. How compassion fits into the ‘haunted house’ of our brain. Working with the inner critic. Compassionate practice and neurodivergence. Strategies for compassionate practice and for activating a state of ‘rest’ in our nervous system.   Resources on compassionate practice: The Compassionate Mind – by Paul Gilbert Fierce Self Compassion – by Kristen Neff Online compassion quiz  Preorder Monique’s book - The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate.  Access Michelle’s three part course on compassionate practice exclusively through our Patreon (‘Buy us a Wine’ tier). Check out the study Monique mentioned mentioned on Autism and self compassion.    Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the show Monique interviews Rebecca Gannon. Rebecca is a Neurodivergent Psychologist with a Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology. Their clinical work focuses on Autism and ADHD assessment for adults as well as supervising other Psychologists and allied health professionals in neuroaffirming practice skills. Rebecca is Aboriginal, a parent, a partner, and their long-standing special interest just happens to be Autism.   On this episode Monique and Rebecca cover: Rebecca’s experience of her own neurodivergence, including the pivotal role of community as part of a healthy self-identity + the importance of understanding all aspects of your neurodivergent identity. The importance of advocacy based on lived experience and community consultation when providing support services to people with a minority identity. The Minority Stress Model. Rebecca’s experience of having both Aboriginal and neurodivergent minority identities. Ways to psychological safety for minority group members in health care settings. Rebecca’s experience navigating the health care system as an ND parent of a child with complex health needs. Heavy Metal Music (it’s relevant, we promise!).     Things we mentioned: Literature on ABA  The Australian Indigenous Psychology Association.   Another Day in the Colony – book by Chelsea Watego Find out more about Dr Tracey Westerman here.    You can contact Rebecca through her website, Kaleidoscope Assessment or on Instagram @kaleidoscopeassessment.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode we are thrilled to chat to Michelle Marques about her experience with depression and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, plus a million other things. Michelle is an Autistic and ADHD writer with a background in journalism and a Master’s in African American studies. Her writing and research focuses on gender, sexuality, race, neurodiversity, and pop culture.    We chat about:   Michelle’s experience of learning about her neurodivergence and the hidden cost of ADHD for high achievers. Codeswitching, the privilege of authenticity, and intersecting identities as an Autistic person and as a cultural minority. Michelle’s experience of depression and how she differentiates between depression and burnout as a neurodivergent person. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. Things Michelle has found helpful for managing her mental health.   You can find Michelle’s writing on her Substack “Neurodivergent Black Girl” and you can follow her on Instagram @michellemar.ques.    Update! An American psychologist has reached out and let us know that TMS can be covered by Medicare in some cases in the USA. Here's some more information on that.    Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the podcast Monique interviews the incredible Associate Professor Josephine Barbaro. Josie is a late identified Autistic ADHDer. She is a Principal Research Fellow and Psychologist at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne. She is the Research Director of Identification and Diagnosis of Autism, and Clinical Director of the Victorian Early Assessment Clinic, providing neuro-affirming, transdisciplinary assessments for neurodivergence in children under 3 years. Josie’s research interests are in the early identification and diagnosis of Autism, family health and well-being following a diagnosis, and Neurodiversity Affirming research and practice.   In this episode Monique and Josie cover:   Josie’s path to understanding her own neurodivergence. The heritability of neurodivergence and the importance of taking a whole-family approach to supporting neurodivergent kids. Josie’s work on early identification of Autism and the development of the SACS early identification screening tool and the ASDectect app. Josie’s research and work into closing the gender gap in early diagnosis of Autism. Why early identification is so important and addressing concerns parents can have around ‘labelling’. How to share a diagnosis of Autism with your child. Debunking the myths around overdiagnosis of Autism.   Things we mentioned:   The Victorian Early Assessment Clinic. The SACS early identification screening tool training The ASDectect app Conversation article co-written by Josie and Marie Camin on talking to your child about their diagnosis.  Conversation article co-written by Josie and Dr Nancy Sadka debunking the myth around overdiagnosis of Autism.  Books to use as a conversation starter to introduce neurodivergence to a child include The Brain Forest and The Rainbow Brain, both by Sandyha Menon, and Round World Square Me by Chelsea Luker.    You can contact Josie via email at veac@latrobe.edu.au or find her on her socials here.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A note to our listeners: In this episode we chat about self-harm. Some of our listeners may prefer to skip this one.   Happy Monday! In today’s episode Monique interviews Joanne Seymon; AuDHDer Occupational Therapist, and co-founder of Kaiko Fidgets. Jo is passionate about developing appropriate sensory tools for teens and adults, with a focus on harm minimisation and emotional regulation. She uses both her lived experience and her background in occupational therapy to match sensory needs to the right sensory support. In this episode Jo shares some personal details about her son Kai’s mental health journey, and Kai has given his consent for these details to be shared.   In this episode Monique and Jo cover:   How Kaiko Fidgets came to be and Jo’s path to diagnosis and understanding her own neurodivergence. What actually is ‘Occupational Therapy’ (OT) and how can OTs work with neurodivergent folk? Different sensory needs and ideas around supporting sensory regulation. When pain is used as a regulator – Jo’s approach to this and some options for harm minimisation. Understanding and managing the cumulative effect of sensory load.     Find Jo on her website (www.kaikofidgets.com), through her socials (@kaikofidgets), or reach out to her via email (jo@kaikofigets.com)     Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode Monique interviews Marie Camin about stimming. Marie is a multiply neurodivergent clinical psychologist, researcher, and a neurodiversity advocate. Marie is currently completing her PhD on Autistic stimming at La Trobe University and she is a Founding Committee Member of the OTARC Autistic Advisory Group; she believes strongly in contributing to a more accurate and affirming understanding of Autistic experiences through co-production with the community. She loves animals, pop culture, and anything creative.   This episode is jam packed with goodies! Monique and Marie cover:   Community as a key part of the neurodivergent identity. Marie’s experience as a neurodivergent clinical psychologist and her path to discovering her own neurodivergence. A side quest on special interests. Everything stimming – what is it, how is it understood (both from a community perspective and based on the DSM), and many examples of what stimming can look like. The evolution of thinking in the psychological field around the purpose of stimming and responses to stimming. Harm minimisation approaches for stimming that is harmful to self or others (please be aware that self-harm is mentioned here, and so some listeners may decide to skip this). Marie’s advice for other neurodivergent folks trying to function in a neuro-normative way.     Want to learn more about Marie or get in touch with her? You can find her through her website here, or on Instagram @mariecamin.   Check out her digital downloads and ND Pride stickers here!   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the podcast we interview ADHDer and physiotherapist Shan Morrison. Shan is a Specialist Women’s, Men’s & Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. She has practiced exclusively in pelvic health for 30 years, and is the director of Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy: a private practice based in Melbourne that exists to restore pelvic health and empower every person to live their best life. Shan’s clinical passion is being part of a like-minded multi-disciplinary team that takes a whole person approach to supporting those experiencing persistent pelvic and sexual pain.   In this episode we cover:   Shan’s experience of neurodivergence, particularly as an ND physiotherapist, and her path to discovering her own neurodivergence. The role of a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist in general, and we learn all about Shan’s specialty of pelvic pain, including the causes of persistent pelvic pain, some common pelvic pain conditions, and factors that contribute to persistent pelvic pain. Shan’s approach to treating persistent pelvic pain wholistically – what does this involve and how does she do this in her practice. The overlap of neurodivergence and persistent pain conditions. Why is it so important to screen for multiple aspects of an individual’s mental and physical health as a health professional, regardless of your specific speciality. What to do if you are experiencing persistent pelvic pain.     You can connect with Shan via her practice website – www.wmhp.com.au –  or by email: shan@wmhp.com.au     Shan recommends the following resources:   This simple pain education website (general not pelvic pain). The book ‘Healing Pelvic Pain’ by Dr Peta Wright and Dr Wright’s website which has a number of resources.      Things we mentioned:   Michelle’s on-demand webinar that Shan mentioned, for allied health professionals on Identifying Neurodivergence, can be accessed directly here or through our website.  You can access the study Shan mentioned on psychoeducational needs around persistent pelvic pain in women here. The qualitative study on heterosexual sexual satisfaction that Michelle mentioned is in ‘Girls & Sex’ by Peggy Orenstein     Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is ADHDer psychologist Dr. Celia Falchi. Celia works in private practice in Wellington, New Zealand. She works with predominantly neurodivergent clients across the lifespan, specialising in trauma work, and she engages in advocacy work within the profession, including being on the Education Committee for AADPA. Celia is also mum to two AuDHDer neurodivergent kids, who are 10 and 13 years old. In this episode Celia shares some personal details about her kids, and Celia’s kids have given their consent for these details to be shared.   In this episode we cover:   Celia’s personal journey with discovering her own neurodivergence in adulthood, and how her ADHD has affected different areas of her personal and professional life. Juggling the emotions and needs of multiple different family members (including her own!). The importance of “modelling humanity” as a parent, and showing that it’s OK to make mistakes. The central importance of relationship and joyful connection when parenting, and approaching behavioural challenges with curiosity. Supporting ND kids’ mental health as a parent, and the importance of belonging. Advocating for and supporting your kids in the school system.     The book that Celia mentions is ‘Relationship Based Treatment of Children and their Parents; an integrative guide to neurobiology, attachment, regulation, and discipline’ by Elizabeth Sylvester and Kat Scherer.   Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A note to our listeners – this episode briefly mentions suicide, so some of our listeners may decide to skip this one.   This week on the podcast Monique interviews Jodie Wilson, who is an AuDHDer veterinarian, researcher, author, and mum (not necessarily in that order!). Jodie advocates for diversity inclusion within the veterinary industry through her work with the Veterinary Kaleidoscope and she also works as a researcher at the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University. Jodie is currently in the middle of her second Masters degree, which looks at the intersection of autism and wellbeing, and she is about to launch her first non-fiction book: A Guide for Autistic Professionals Considering Disclosing their Diagnoses at Work.   In this episode Monique and Jodie cover:   Jodie’s experience of late diagnosis and what identification of her neurodivergence meant for her in both her personal and professional life. How Jodie dealt with autistic burnout, managed a sudden loss in her physical mobility, and how she has tailored her working life to accommodate her needs. Key take homes from Jodie’s research into the experience of autistic folk interacting with mental health systems. The strengths that neurodivergent vets bring to the industry and the challenges that neurodivergent folk may face in this industry. Jodie’s advocacy work with the Veterinary Kaleidoscope. Jodie’s top tips for other adult diagnosed neurodivergent folk     For those wondering, Jodie’s research on the experience of autistic adults interacting with mental health care (and the associated resource to come out of this) is not currently publicly available, but we will share it when it is!   You can find the study that Monique mentioned on autistic folks with chronic pain interacting with the healthcare system here.   You can find Jodie here: www.disrupt.vet and sign up to get an alert when her book is out here: www.disrupt.vet/books    Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Menopause! It happens to roughly half of the human race, but it continues to be shrouded in mystery for many people. In today’s episode we discuss this very important transition. We cover: Why are we doing an episode on menopause? The social aspect of the menopause transition. An overview of our sex hormones and how these change during the menopause transition. Early and premature menopause. Common signs and symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause. The effect of peri-menopause on our mood, cognition, and physical functioning. The research on peri-menopause and menopause in neurodivergent folk. Strategies for managing the menopause transition.     Things we mentioned: ADDitude Survey on ADHD and menopause. When My Autism Broke, Autism research ‘is all about the blokes and the kids’, and Period of Importance – studies on autism and menopause. Australasian Menopause Society     Resources on Menopause: Menopausing: The Positive Roadmap to Your Second Spring Hardcover by Davina McCall & Dr Naomi Potter. Dr Naomi Potter is a UK GP and British Menopause Society accredited specialist doctor. Hormone Repair Manual: Every woman's guide to healthy hormones after 40 by Lara Briden Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez The Feel Good Guide to Menopause by Dr Nicola Gates https://reframingautism.org.au/menopausal-and-melting-down-an-autistic-tale-of-sensory-survival/ https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/physical-health/menopause https://henpicked.net/menopause-hub/     Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.    Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On our final episode for season 4 we welcome Claire Johnston to the podcast. Claire is a citizen of the Red River Métis Nation, who lives on the land of their ancestors in Treaty 1 Territory, also known as Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They are a Métis beadwork artist and are currently mentoring under Métis artist and Knowledge Keeper Jennine Krauchi.   Claire is a proud autistic person who finds immense joy in working with their hands. They believe their ability to work intricately and precisely with their hands is a gift from their ancestors, meant to be shared with the world. Claire is a founding member of a grassroots Métis collective called Red River Echoes, which works towards reclaiming sovereignty, land, culture, and kinship across the Métis Homeland.   Claire is also a member of the Two-Spirit Michif local and is a team member of the Re*Storying Autism project out of Brandon University, which works toward a liberated future for neurodivergent people through art, and challenges western, capitalist, biomedical, and colonial understandings of people who think differently.    This episode was such a joy to record. We chat about the intersection of indigenous and neurodivergent identity, the impact of colonisation on identity formation for neurodivergent indigenous peoples, and how we can join the work of decolonising indigenous neurodivergent identity. We chat about claiming your identity through connection to culture and ancestral knowledge, and the vital importance of recognizing your gifts.   Claire shares their experience as both a research participant and a collaborator with the Re*Storying Autism project and speaks to the importance of having their experiences and the experiences of other indigenous autistic folk be ‘witnessed’. Claire shares their experience of neurodivergence, including the social justice drive, their work as a beadwork artist, and the strengths and challenges of their neurotype.   Things we mentioned: Check out Claire’s short video for the Re*Storying Autism project here. Find out more about the Re*Storying Autism project here (information about the the Critical Autism Summit 2024 will be oosted here, and the neurodiversity module for teachers will also be published here). Re*Storying Autism Instragram  Get in contact with Claire by email clairenancyjohnston5@gmail.com or Instagram!      Want polished copies of our episodes in pdf article format? Grab them here.    Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we chat with Jennifer Kemp about perfectionism. Jennifer is a Clinical Psychologist based in Adelaide, Australia. She is the author of ‘The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism: Build Your Best (Imperfect) Life Using Powerful Acceptance & Commitment Therapy and Self-Compassion Skills’ as well as several e-books, which are linked below. Monique and Jennifer are currently co-writing a book on Neurodivergence and Self-Compassion, which is due to be released in 2024.   In her private practice Jennifer uses acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion-focused approaches with adults experiencing perfectionism, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and chronic illness, as well as many late-diagnosed neurodivergent adults. Jennifer balances this quite imperfectly with writing, presenting, and providing consultations to professionals seeking to deepen their therapeutic practice.   On this episode Jennifer shares her personal experience of neurodivergence and perfectionism. She explains what is perfectionism, how perfectionism interacts with neurodivergence, and what can cause perfectionism. Jennifer shares with us what can perfectionism look like, for kids, teens, and adults. Throughout the episode we chat about strategies to work with perfectionism, and Jennifer also shares her top tips for managing perfectionism, including the ‘passengers on the bus’ metaphor.   You can find more of Jennifer’s work here:   Her website: https://jenniferkemp.com.au/ The ACT Workbook for Perfectionism Free E-books: https://jenniferkemp.com.au/publications/ - including ‘Autistic Burnout: A Brief Guide to Recovery and Prevention’, ‘More than Procrastination: Strategies for Navigating Autistic Inertia and ADHD Paralysis’, and ‘The Perfectionistic Helper: Striving to Help and Never Fail’. The Passengers on the Bus Metaphor Worksheet     Want polished copies of our episodes in pdf article format? Grab them here.   Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy Monday! This week we chat about Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). We cover what is an acquired brain injury and what can cause an ABI, how does ABI fit within the neurodivergence umbrella, and the prevalence of ABI in Australia. We explore what are some of the cognitive manifestations of ABI and what can impact how an ABI manifests, identity shifts that can occur with an ‘acquired’ neurodivergence and the role of grief and compassion, and factors to consider in recovery.   Access the nun study we mentioned here.   Want polished copies of our episode in pdf article format? Grab them here.    Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we welcome Chantell Marshall to the podcast, who some may know through the social media handle @shylittlepixie. Chantell is an autistic woman, who lives with selective mutism, severe social anxiety and c-PTSD. She spends most of her time at home with her plants and her foster kittens. Chantell shares her personal journey through autism and mental health openly on social media; Chantell says that she finds this rather bizarre because in person she often cannot speak two words to a new person. So it is for this reason that we have run this week’s episode a little differently. Because of Chantell’s selective mutism she is not able to speak with us, but she shares her experiences and answers our questions through the written word. Chantell’s words will be read by an autistic voice actor, Allison Welch.   On this episode we cover Chantell’s path to understanding her own neurodivergence and what this meant for her, what is selective mutism, language considerations and why Chantell prefers the term ‘selective’ mutism over ‘situational’ mutism, and Chantell’s experience of living with selective mutism throughout her childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. We also chat about the overlap of autism and selective mutism, how the fight flight and freeze responses play into selective mutism, and how common it is for internalised stress to be mistaken and praised for ‘compliance’, particularly in girls and afab individuals. Finally, Chantell shares what has been helpful and not helpful for her over her lifetime, her top tips for others, and some of her special interests!   Chantell would like to add the following: I would like to thank Allison for being so kind to offer to be my voice for this podcast. I am so genuinely grateful to you! I would also like to thank Michelle and Monique for being so incredibly understanding in regard to my difficulties with speaking, and for being so willing to provide accommodations to enable me to still be able to share my story here on their wonderful podcast. This is honestly all it takes! I hope others can learn from their foresight and be willing to make adjustments for other Autistic people when needed, too.    Want polished copies of our episode in pdf article format? Grab them here.   Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s guest is Adina Levy. Adina is an AuDHDer, speech therapist, professional educator, and podcaster. She runs Play. Learn. Chat., and her podcast is called The Exploring Neurodiversity podcast. Adina loves intertwining her personal and clinical experiences with the lived experiences and perspectives of other neurodivergent people. She is dedicated to helping professionals and families to better understand the unique interests, individual strengths, and support needs of neurodivergent children.    In this episode we focus on understanding language and communication differences in neurodivergence, and the role that speech therapists can play. Adina talks to us about what a speech therapist is, why she doesn’t use the term ‘speech pathologist’, and how speech therapists can work with neurodivergent folks in an affirming way. We unpack what it means to communicate and the societal bias toward speech as the only form of communication. We chat about what can be behind communication differences in neurodivergent folk, and touch on gestalt language processing, the purpose of echolalia, the importance of incorporating nonspeaking time into daily life, literal interpretation of language, and interrupting. Finally, Adina shares her own experience as a neurodivergent speech therapist and gives her top tips for others.   Things we mentioned:  Visit Adina’s website here: https://playlearnchat.com/about/ Adina’s podcast is called The Exploring Neurodiversity podcast Check her out on instagram @play.learn.chat You can access Ido Kedar’s book, ‘Ido in Autismland’ here Adina's checklist for parents looking for the right speech therapist for their child is here   Want polished copies of our episode in pdf article format? Grab them here.   Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we chat friendships – this was a huuuuuge topic! We cover understanding your friendship needs and how these might change over time, different ways of connecting and forms of friendships, maintenance and management of friendships over time, and factors specific to neurodivergent women and afab folk in friendships. We also chat through the impact of attachment and personal triggers on friendships and how to engage in healthy conflict management and boundary setting in friendships.   Want polished copies of our episode in pdf article format? Grab them here.   Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content warning: In this episode we talk explicitly and directly about sex. Please be mindful of this if you usually listen with children around.   This week we welcome Talisin Switch to the podcast. Talisin is a neurodivergent sex worker and educator, specialising in BDSM and queer exploration. They consider themself to be a person with one foot in theoretical academics and the other in practical experience and use an integrative approach to their work. They're passionate about further aiding people's knowledge of themselves in a welcoming and safe environment.    Talisin gives us a rundown on neuroqueer theory and shares their personal experience of neurodivergence. They take us through what their job entails, and we dive deep into sexual content, sex as play, disability and sex, the crucial role of sex education, and what BDSM means. Finally, we cover the overlap of neurodivergence and kink / gender-diverse / sexuality-diverse communities.     Want polished copies of our episode in pdf article format? Grab them here.   Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s episode is all about personality – what is personality, what factors impact the formation of personality, and how can we measure it? We also chat about personality disorders, unpacking what these are, how they are formed, and how personality disorders fit within the neurodiversity spectrum. We deep dive into Borderline Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as exemplifiers.   A note for astute listeners – early in the episode we are discussing temperament categories and the percentage of babies that fall into each category. These percentages don’t add up to 100% - this is because roughly 30% of kids don’t fall clearly into any category.   Michelle’s favourite book on a powerful female archetype: ‘Artemis; The Indominable Spirit in Every Woman’ by Jean Shinoda Bolen.   Want polished copies of our episodes in pdf article format? Grab them here.   Thanks for listening to the show! We will be back with Season 5 in February 2024. You can stay in touch over the season break by following us on Facebook and Instagram, or by joining our Patreon community. Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts for Season 4, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.   Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.