Divergent Conversations

Two AuDHD mental health professionals, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Neff, dive into the nuances of autism, exploring social interactions, communication forms, and the impact of autistic culture. They discuss the challenges of social motivation, the unique ways care can be expressed for Autistic people, and how language choices can influence self-perception. The episode offers insights into the transforming neurodiversity landscape and encourages a shift away from deficit-focused narratives.

Two AuDHD mental health professionals, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Ann Neff, discuss the nuances of burnout, seasonal depression, and strategic withdrawal. They explore how burnout can be related to other health conditions, the importance of honoring limitations, and tailored strategies for addressing burnout in neurodivergent individuals. The conversation sheds light on internalized ableism, grief, and the significance of communication in protecting one's energy.

Navigating neurodiversity in the workplace is crucial to creating inclusive spaces. Learn how to reframe workplace cultures to embrace neurodivergent strengths. Explore challenges faced by adults with later-in-life neurodivergent discovery. Implement neurodivergent-friendly practices for open communication and growth in the workplace.

Explore the intersection of autism and creativity with guest Bret Malley, focusing on advocacy and the power of art. Learn about the importance of creating designated creative spaces. Discover the unexpected creative synergies that emerged during the pandemic.

Experts discuss sensory meltdowns and shutdowns, sharing personal experiences and coping strategies. They explore triggers, self-care, and navigating overwhelming environments for a harmonious interaction with the world.

Explore the relief and grief of later-in-life neurodivergent diagnoses with therapist Jamie Roberts. Discover the nuances of neurodivergent identities, unmasking, and setting boundaries for authenticity. Dive into the emotional complexities and balance of relief and grief post-diagnosis. Embrace self-discovery and liberation, finding community and normalizing experiences within the autistic culture. Unveil dyslexia normalization and therapeutic practices for personal growth and acceptance.

Join Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff as they chat with Tiffany Hammond about the intricate landscape of autism advocacy. Explore the debate over autism symbols, dive into diverse Autistic experiences, and learn about Tiffany's journey through advocacy bridging storytelling and education for genuine societal change.

Explore the connection between neurodivergence and addiction, challenging clean recovery narratives. Discover strategies for coping with emotional avoidance and regulating emotions. Learn about harm reduction, community, and the importance of connection in addiction recovery.

Many neurodivergent people grew up with the feeling of being different, not belonging, and some even feeling like the world was against them. They may have also received painful labels like, “challenging,” “too much,” and “not enough,” among others.In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, talk with Dayna Abraham, ADHDer, national board educator, author, and parenting specialist for neurodivergent children, about how to bridge the gap between parents and children who don’t yet understand neurodivergence by meeting parents where they are with language and narrative so that they can access the information they need to start to see their kids for who they are.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Understand the importance of bridging gaps in awareness and education, as well as the need for compassion, understanding, and advocacy for neurodivergent individuals to challenge and change conventional attitudes and systems.Learn how to shift from fault to needs and values when parenting a neurodivergent child so that parents can recognize and understand children's needs, as well as foster a support-based approach instead of fault-based parenting.Hear the personal experiences of Patrick, Dr. Neff, and Dayna as they highlight their own experiences as children who were given the label of “challenging,” as well as the perspective of Dayna and Dr. Neff who now fill the role of the parent.It’s only in more recent years that people have started to talk about and explore neurodiversity, so the gap that we now have to bridge to educate and advocate is still large. It’s important to offer parents of neurodivergent children the resources they need to challenge themselves to view and approach their children differently.Pre-Order Self-Care For Autistic People: Dr. Neff is running a promotional this month. If you pre-order Self-Care for Autistic People you will also get a free digital workbook through Neurodivergent Insights. To learn more about this sign up here: newsletter.neurodivergentinsights.com/self-care————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————✨ Neurodivergent Insights Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources————————————————————————————————💬 Join Divergent Conversations UndergroundDivergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————Mentioned in this episode:Neurodivergent Insights' Autistic Burnout ResourcesIf you’d like to supplement your learning on burnout, you can check out Neurodivergent Insights' resources on burnout. We have articles, an Autistic Burnout course, workbooks, and print books! Visit: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/burnout-resources

Learn about the importance of reflection and intention setting, understanding workaholism and boundaries. Discover how to evaluate areas of your life that fill or drain your cup, and hear the hosts' plans for 2024. Reflect on what to include or remove from your life for better balance.