Changing Your Communication Patterns to Transform Your Relationship (The Birth of the Neurotranslator)-Michael and Elise

Apr 15, 2025

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ANECDOTE

Michael's Autism Discovery Journey

Michael was unaware he was autistic until reading about it, triggered by his daughter's similar behaviors.
Discovering his autism after decades of masking reshaped his self-understanding and his relationship with Elise.

INSIGHT

Masking Causes Communication Gaps

Michael masked by agreeing and not sharing his true feelings, fearing social consequences.
His neurodivergence caused communication gaps with Elise, who struggled to get authentic responses.

ANECDOTE

The Unmasking Communication Shift

After diagnosis, Michael stopped carefully choosing words and spoke bluntly, which initially hurt Elise.
This shift was a difficult phase but part of their unmasking and adaptation process.

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If you would like to learn more about the resources Mona offers you can click here. In addition, if you would like to join the new community that Mona is creating for non-autistic/neurotypical partners called "Neurodiverse Love Conversations" click here to register for the 4 week series that will be held every Thursday from June 5th-June 26th from 7-8:30-pm EST (US). The cost is ONLY $149 and each participant will get the Neurodiverse Love Conversation Cards and Workbook and lifetime access to the 2023 and 2025 Neurodiverse Love Conference sessions.

If you are trying to make sense of how two people could love each other yet repeatedly misunderstand and hurt each other, then this community is for you. If you are repeatedly confused and don't understand why conflict, contempt or stonewalling have become more the norm than the type of connection and attunement you are looking for then this community is where you will find understanding, tools and strategies that can help you work towards achieving more peace and joy in your relationship and life!

Spaces are limited, so if you feel called to join this supportive community I hope you will register today!

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This podcast episode was originally published on Jodi Carlton’s podcast called “YOUR Neurodiverse Relationship” and is a conversation between Jodi Carlton, Mona Kay and Michael Daniel, the developer of the "Neurotranslator" and his wife Elise.

The goal for sharing this episode on the "Neurodiverse Love" podcast is to spread information about the life-changing Neurotranslator app and to highlight the story behind its creator and the challenges he and his wife had been experiencing before learning he was neurodivergent.

The topics addressed in this episode include:

How having children changed everything
Learning about neurodivergence through a child’s diagnosis
Communication challenges
Being high masking in life and marriage
How misunderstandings contributed to conflict
Unmasking
Understanding your identity after learning you are neurodivergent
Reliving trauma through a neurodiverse lens
How ability to function can change after diagnosis
Autistic burnout
Situational mutism
Ableism
Wishing you could have a husband with a NT brain
How the “NeuroTranslator” was born
Both partners need to work to understand each other

You can learn more about the Neurotranslator app here