Laura Kerbey: The hidden costs of masking

Oct 6, 2025

01:02:12

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Episode 202 with Laura Kerbey.

“Masking is bloody exhausting. Then again, not masking is scary because we worry people won’t like us or accept us.”

Laura is an educator, consultant, and author who has been working with autistic children and young people for nearly 25 years. Laura is the founder of PAST, which stands for Positive Assessments Support and Training, and co-founder of KITE Therapeutic Learning Services, and she’s known internationally for her expertise in autism, PDA (Persistent Drive for Autonomy), and neurodivergent education.

She’s also the author of several books, including the newly released “The Kids’ Simple Guide to PDA” and “The Parents’ and Professionals’ Simple Guide to PDA” as well as The (Slightly Distracted) Woman’s Guide to Living with an Adult ADHD Diagnosis, which was released this past summer. Laura brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work — she was diagnosed with ADHD in her forties and self-identifies as autistic.

In this episode, Laura and I discuss:

Laura’s personal journey to her ADHD diagnosis in her forties, and her self-identification as autistic
Why so many women are overlooked or misdiagnosed until adulthood
The physical and mental impacts of masking and “seeming fine”
Strategies for unmasking and advocating for oneself
The power of reframing ADHD from “deficit” to difference

Laura is also offering a 6-week course in January for late-diagnosed and late-identifying women with ADHD, which is based on her book. For information or to register for the course: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FFKX

Website: www.p-ast.co.uk

Instagram: @laura_kerbey

Facebook: @LauraKerbeyPast

Links & Resources:

The (Slightly Distracted) Woman’s Guide to Living with an Adult ADHD Diagnosis by Laura Kerbey

KITE Therapeutic Learning Services

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Women & ADHD coaching: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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