Episode 290: Executive Functioning with Fizzah Zaidi

Dec 1, 2025

Fizzah Zaidi, a Chicago-based psychotherapist and ADHD advocate, dives into the fascinating world of executive functioning and neurodiversity. She highlights how neurodivergent brains, often seen as struggling, actually operate differently, making them unique problem solvers. Fizzah discusses the connection between executive dysfunction and rejection sensitivity, offers insights on effective task management for big-picture thinkers, and emphasizes that not all rest has to be still. Her empowering approach encourages understanding one's brain to leverage strengths.

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ANECDOTE

ADHD Diagnosis Sparked A Professional Shift

Fizzah Zaidi describes being diagnosed with ADHD right before graduate school and diving into education and conferences to fill gaps in knowledge.
She found she naturally connected with neurodiverse clients in tech, medicine, and law which shaped her clinical focus.

INSIGHT

Emotion Compensates For Executive Gaps

Fizzah explains that executive dysfunction often reflects prefrontal cortex differences with the limbic system compensating emotionally.
This neural compensation explains why neurodivergent people experience amplified emotional reactions like rejection sensitivity.

INSIGHT

Complex Tasks Can Fit Neurodivergent Strengths

Complex, pattern-based tasks can feel easier because they match a person's strengths in pattern recognition and quantitative thinking.
Communicating those skills verbally is harder due to cross-hemisphere processing and language translation demands.

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Episode 290: Executive Functioning with Fizzah Zaidi

In this powerful episode of Embracing Intensity, I'm joined by the insightful and compassionate Fizzah Zaidi, a psychotherapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent individuals. We explore the complexities of executive functioning, and how understanding our brain's unique operating system can transform how we show up for ourselves and others.

Fizzah brings deep experience from her work with high-achieving neurodivergent clients in the tech, medical, and legal fields. Together, we discuss how neurodivergent brains often struggle not because they're broken, but because they're functioning differently—and those differences can also be sources of strength.

About Fizzah Zaidi

Fizzah Zaidi is a Chicago-based psychotherapist with a passion for working with neurodivergent adults. Her practice supports many twice-exceptional individuals in high-demand professions, and her work includes educating organizations on how to better support neurodiverse teams. Diagnosed with ADHD just before entering graduate school, she dove deep into understanding the brain and executive functioning through continuing education and real-world application.

In This Episode:

Why rest isn't always about being still—and how energizing activities can also be restorative.
The link between executive dysfunction and rejection sensitivity.
How big-picture thinkers can better support task initiation and follow-through.
Understanding the role of the prefrontal cortex and limbic system in executive functioning.
Why complex tasks might be easier than basic ones for some neurodivergent folks.
The importance of personalized strategies over one-size-fits-all "fixes."
Using self-regulation instead of self-control to support executive function.
Shifting the mindset from "fixing" to understanding your operating system.

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