

Neurodiverse Love with Mona Kay
Neurodiverse Love with Mona Kay
Join Mona Kay as she focuses on increasing understanding of the strengths, differences, and challenges in mixed neurotype relationships. Whether you're autistic, neurotypical or allistic, this podcast is for you! Knowing how your neurology may impact your communication style, emotional and social needs, processing speeds, sensory needs and sexual and physical intimacy desires is critical, especially in your romantic relationships. Listen in and learn about other's lived experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for understanding how neurological differences can impact your relationship.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 13, 2024 • 23min
Values-Driven Couples and Families-Thomas Lucking
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.________________________________________________
Do you or have you ever, as a couple or family really thought about your values and what's important to you? What gives you purpose and meaning in life? How do you want to deal with conflict and disagreement? What is your belief system and how does it guide your decisions and behavior? Where are you going as an individual and as a team-what is your destiny? Diving into your values in a meaningful and regular way indicates that you are an intentional couple or family. It is only the intentional couple or family that sustains the storm winds of life. Stressors will come and those that are unprepared are the least likely to withstand the challenges that they bring. In this session, Dr. Lucking will discuss the XYZ system of creating values that drive behavior. This system can be used with couples or families. It's great for parenting as it's simple enough for children but practical enough for adults. Love requires effort and neurodiverse love sometimes requries even more effort. Your effort can be reduced with the right tools and theory. As Mahatma Gandhi said: "Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny."
You can contact Dr. Lucking at: www.SiliconValleyTherapy.co

Aug 6, 2024 • 30min
What Successful Neurodiverse Couples Know and Do: Key Ingredients-Stephanie and Dan Holmes
Join Stephanie Holmes, a certified autism and neurodiverse marriage specialist, and her husband Dan, a certified master life coach, as they delve into the intricate dynamics of neurodiverse relationships. They discuss the vital distinction between 'wanting to' and 'wanting to want to,' highlighting the need for concrete actions to match intentions. The couple shares insights on navigating expectations for neurotypical and autistic partners, emphasizing humility, teachability, and open communication as keys to growth and healthy connections.

Jul 30, 2024 • 47min
Reactivity in Neurodiverse Relationships-Jill Corvelli
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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Reactivity wreaks havoc in Neurodiverse partnerships. It is implicated in the breakdown of connection, communication and skillful conflict and gets in the way of efforts to recover despite both partner's desires and intentions. Jill discusses the role of reactivity and pathways to change your relationship with it.
You can learn more about Jill's work at:
www.jillcorvelli.com or www.ndpartnerscompass.com

Jul 23, 2024 • 41min
Crack the Communication Code: The World's First Relationship Rescue Method Specifically Designed for Mixed Neurotype Couples-Jodi Carlton
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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Discover the 4 stage communication method that provides neurodiverse couples with the insights and tools to bridge the communication gap that exists in mixed neurotype relationships. This solution-focused method provides what traditional therapies have never done. Designed specifically to help partners understand the root causes of their misunderstanding and confusion, this method provides implementable tools for clarification of meaning and for updating relationship narratives while attending to each partner/s unique preferences and needs.
To learn about the services and resources Jodi Carlton provides you can check out her website at: www.jodicarlton.com

Jul 16, 2024 • 21min
Look Under the Hood of a Neurodiverse Relationship Using IFS-Kim Bolling
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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Through the lens of neurodiversity, a movement to de-pathologize atypical neurological wiring, we will look at the application of IFS (Internal Family Systems therapy) to working with mixed neurology couples-effectively "looking under the hood" of what is happening for couples when they don't get along. A case example is discussed.
You can contact Kim at: www.kimbolling.com

Jul 9, 2024 • 51min
Neurologically Mixed Relationships: The Crash Course-Joe Biel and Faith Harper
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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Just about everyone in a neurologically mixed relationship is confused about their partner's behavior and is often quick to assign motive. Instead, Joe Biel and Faith Harper offer tools to step back, listen, take care of yourself, and learn how to attack challenges as a team.
You can learn more about Joe at: joebiel.net
You can contact Dr. Faith at: www.faithharper.com

Jul 2, 2024 • 36min
Do You Feel Like No One Understands You or Your Relationship?-Margot Alexis and Chelle
To learn more about the Neurodiverse Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
If you would like register for the 4 week workshop series that Mona Kay, MSW, Ph.D. and Sarah Swenson, LMHC will be co-facilitating titled " How Can I Love My Partner and Still Struggle to Imagine a Healthy Future Together" that begins on July 9th, 2024 at 7:30pm EST click here.
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During this episode, Margot Alexis and Chelle share information about the long-term effects of Cassandra syndrome. Many NT women endure chronic isolation, anxiety and depression. Others have difficulty sleeping, digestive disorders and serious autoimmune diseases. Some exhibit persistent anger, severe resentment and feel helpless to change the situation. Almost all will experience a loss of self.
In this episode, Margot and Chelle discuss what Cassandra Syndrome is, it’s effects and how you can heal from it. They also share information on the following topics:
Why NT women have a difficult time getting support from friends and family?
The first step in recovery.
What healthy emotional detachment looks like.
How letting go is different than giving up.
The support that is available,
To learn more about Margot and Chelle please check out:
www.healingcassandra.com

Jun 25, 2024 • 32min
The Four Communication Styles-Ali Arena Perkinson
If you would like to register for the 4 week workshop series titled " "How Can I Love My Partner and Still Struggle to Imagine a Healthy Future Together", with Sarah Swenson, LMHC and Mona Kay, MSW, Ph.D. click here.
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.__________________________________________________________________
During this episode, Dr. Ali Arena Perkinson shares information about the 4 communication styles she has identified to help individuals and couples better understand themselves and each other. The goal is for you and your partner to learn more about your different styles and how you can better understand each other and communicate more effectively.
The 4 communication styles are:
Purposeful
Captivator
Listener
Facter
To learn more about Ali and the work she does, please check out her website at: https://www.connection-squared.com/

Jun 18, 2024 • 27min
Do You Want to Better Understand the Health and Mental Health Challenges That You Are Having?-Pnina Arad
If you would like to register for the 4 week workshop series titled " "How Can I Love My Partner and Still Struggle to Imagine a Healthy Future Together", with Sarah Swenson, LMHC and Mona Kay, MSW, Ph.D. click here.
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships click here.
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Although the global awareness of autism continues to show signs of growth, little empirical research has been done on the way in which neurodiversity impacts romantic relationships. The existing body of knowledge points at a severe state of distress in women who are in couple relationships with men on the autism spectrum. However, the literature is mainly based on personal accounts of these women, in many cases, without their partner being formally diagnosed. Most professionals aren’t trained or lack the experience to recognize or diagnose ASD in adults. Hence, they fail to provide efficient help for neurodiverse couples and women in neurodiverse relationships. Aiming to raise the awareness, change the existing situation and help these women and couples, Dr. Pnina Arad conducted an extensive quantitative study about the physical and mental well-being of women in neurodiverse relationships. During this episode she describes her research, shares the findings, and discusses the conclusions and implications of her study results.
To learn more about Dr. Pnina Arad, please check out her website.

Jun 11, 2024 • 30min
Being an Autistic Female Partner-Tony Attwood and Michelle Garnett
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships click here.
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Professor Tony Attwood and Dr, Michelle Garnett have learned through their many years of clinical experience that there are some unique challenges to being in a love relationship as a female autistic partner, and yet much of the literature on relationships where one partner is autistic focuses on the male autistic/female neurotypical experience. In this session, they both describe some of the experiences they have discovered to be challenging for autistic women in love relationships, and give some ideas about how to manage these challenges. This session will be helpful to both autistic women and their partners.
If you would like to learn more about the workshops and resources that Tony and Michelle have available, please check out their website.