Intro

On Wednesday, September 13, 2023, from 7:30-9:00pm EST, Mona Kay and Sarah Swenson will be co-facilitating a workshop on Zoom titled: "What Can You Live "With"...or "Without", in Your Neurodiverse Relationship". The cost is $25 per individual or couple.

If you would like to join us for this important workshop, please click here. The workshop will "NOT" be recorded, so participants can discuss the issues that are most important to them. However, if there is enough interest, we may be offer the workshop again.

During this episode with coach and licensed therapist Sarah Swenson, LMHC, we discuss many of the critical issues that a lot of neurodiverse couples may be dealing with on a regular basis. We talk about the importance of both partners being validated, so that each feels heard and seen. We also address the importance of being respectful of each other's differences and knowing what each partner is able to accommodate, and the importance of having grace for each other. Sarah talks about the value of understanding that some things can be changed and some can't, and knowing the difference. She also addresses some of the common challenges that neurodiverse couples have, which include: communication differences, not understanding why one partner is so angry at the other, loneliness in the relationship, and challenges with the extended family.

Other topics that are discussed include:

• The critical importance of working with a therapist or coach who has expertise in working with neurodiverse couples.
• The Tragic Dance-when love exists, but may not be enough.
• Understanding the weight of history and the predictive value it has had in the past.
• Remembering history is history and it is not predictive of your future relationship.
• Breaking old communication habits.
• The importance of starting with a "beginners mind".
• Making the choice and commitment to acknowledge that each partner is acting in "good faith".
• Slowing down when processing information or emotions.
• Pausing and giving each other space in conversations.
• Understanding the meaning and nuance of different emotions.
• Intuitive or non-intuitive processing of emotions and how we revert to "our type" during duress.
• The value of communicating in writing.
• Understanding that saying "I don't know" is a statement of fact.
• Ways to reduce loneliness in a relationship.
• Why one partner may often respond with a "no" when you bump into their "rules" or "rubrik".
• Understanding your partner's "singular focus" and how that might be impacting your relationship.
• Differences in "non-verbal" communication.




If you want to connect with more of Sarah's work, you can subscribe to her Substack at: sarahswensonlmhc.substack.com or check out her website at: www.theneurodiversecouple.com

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• If you are interested in learning more about the support groups that Mona offers for neurotypical/allistic partners or neurodiverse couples, please send her an email at: neurodiverselove4u@gmail.com. or visit her website at: www.neurodiverselove.com
• Follow Mona on Instagram @neurodiverse_love or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to sign up for the Neurodiverse Love Newsletter.
• Also, if you would like to buy a deck of the Neurodiverse Love Conversation Cards, the digital deck is available for $11.  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to buy your deck today.
• Lastly, if you missed the 2023 Neurodiverse Love Conference you can buy unlimited access to the 27 AMAZING pre-recorded sessions for only ⁠⁠⁠$98⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
• Thank you for being a part of the Neurodiverse Love Community!