Sometimes the journey to well-being feels overwhelming. But you don’t have to walk it alone. Welcome to the peer network, where connection meets compassion through telehealth peer support. At the peer network, their certified peer support specialists are more than just trained professionals. They are individuals who have walked their own path of recovery and resilience. They understand, because they’ve been there.

Imagine having someone who listens relates and supports you through your unique challenges whether it’s managing stress, navigating life, transitions, or fostering mental wellness. Their peer support is here for you accessible from the comfort of your home their telehealth platform brings you a personalized support experience it’s confidential, flexible and centered around your needs and schedule.

It’s time to embrace a new kind of support; One that’s rooted in empathy and shared experiences and the belief that everyone deserves to be heard and understood.

Visit the peer network.com today and begin your journey with a companion who truly gets it.

The Peer Network: where every step forward is a step together.

We’re in the therapy office today talking with Kurt Schmidt, founder of The Peer Network. We’ll be diving into how addiction and substance misuse are difficult issues particularly for spectrum and neurodivergent families, as well as how to get affordable, convenient support.

• What is Peer Support and how it helps.
• The risk factors for addiction and substance misuse
• How peer support differs from traditional therapy

• Get started with Peer Support from the comfort of your home: ThePeerNetwork.com offers services that are easily accessible online. There is no requirement for app downloads. All that is needed is an internet connection.
  

Kurt, the innovative creator of ThePeerNetwork.com, passionately focuses on improving peer support for those tackling mental health and substance use issues. With an MBA, MSW, and LMSW certification, he brings a rich blend of academic expertise and real-world experience as a Certified Peer Support Specialist. His commitment to enhancing community wellness is evident.

Residing in Missouri with his wife Melinda and their two daughters, Kurt is deeply involved in enriching mental health support networks, making a significant difference in many lives.

The post Substance Use & Addiction In Neurdivergent Families | A conversation with Kurt Schmidt of The Peer Network appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the workplace today talking with cofounder and COO, Tom D’Eri.  Tom shares his experience growing up with an autistic brother and helping to create a sustainable employment opportunity for him and so many others.

Tom D’Eri has dedicated his career to unleashing human potential by creating organizational systems and culture that empower people to grow. Tom is the Co-Founder and COO of Rising Tide Car Wash, an organization that employs over 90 individuals with autism in a successful car wash business. Tom is a Forbes 30 Under 30 social entrepreneur and is the author of The Power of Potential: How a Non-Traditional Workforce Can Lead You to Run Your Business Better.

The post Autism and Employment | How one family created a successful business model that employs individuals on the spectrum appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the home library today talking with author and public speaker, Ron Sandison. Ron shares his experience growing up autistic and has some fantastic advice for parents, professionals and churches who help people on the autism spectrum.

Ron Sandison works full time in the medical field and is a professor of theology at Destiny School of Ministry. He is an advisory board member of the Art of Autism and the Els Center of Excellence. Sandison has a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University and is the author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism published by Charisma House, Thought, Choice, Action and Views

The post A View From the Spectrum | A conversation with Ron Sandison about his experience growing up autistic appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the TV room/home theater today talking with Angie Harrington of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. Angie’s son was diagnosed with autism last year, and she shares how she is navigating her new normal.

photo credit:          MANICPROJECT

Angie Harrington is a Utah based mom of three, stepmom of three and co-star on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, who just publicly shared for the first time, the news of her youngest son, Hart’s autism diagnosis and how she hopes that bringing awareness to autism might just help other families going through a similar experience.

In addition to being a mother of a toddler with autism and two teenagers with ADHD, Angie also lives with

As a woman with ADHD raising children with ADHD, Angie looks at the condition as a superpower, rather than a disability and intends to use her voice and platform to shine a light on being a parent of neurodivergent children.

Angie with her son, Hart              photo credit: MANICPROJECT

The post The New Normal | Adjusting to Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis | A conversation with Angie Harrington appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the therapy office today chatting with Whitney Owens about her autism motherhood journey. Whitney shares her experiences as a mom, private practice owner and entrepreneur.

Whitney Owens is a licensed professional counselor, group practice owner, and faith-based private practice consultant. She is located in Savannah, Georgia, where she manages a private pay group practice with 10 plus clinicians. Along with running her practice, she consults practice owners around the country on how to start and grow a successful faith-based practice. She hosts summits, a weekly podcast, and a membership community for faith-based practice owners called Wise Practice. She has spoken at numerous events such as both the Georgia and Maryland annual professional counselors conferences as well as trainings for Florida’s Counseling Association. In 2023 she spoke at Meet you in Kentucky, which is for group practice owners, as well as hosting her own summit in Savannah. In her free time, Whitney enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls, running, reading, and relaxing in the backyard.

The post Wise Motherhood | How one autism mom balances parenting and her private practice | A Conversation with Whitney Owens, LPC appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the family room today chatting with Brigitte Shipman about helping our autistic kids become independent adults. Brigitte shares her experiences as a mom and coach, including her experience of writing a book with her son.

Website: https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXQyjSe-muw

Brigitte M. Volltrauer Shipman is an author, life coach, speaker, and teacher. She has thrived with her passion of coaching clients, and finding her best self through her life tsunamis. She specializes in coaching mothers who have children that are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) She has thrived as an educator for more than twenty years. She holds a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. She has two grown sons. Being a mom is by far her greatest passion.

The post Autism and Adulthood: A Conversation With Brigitte Shipman appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re out of the house today, talking about travel. If you’ve ever tried to travel with your neurodivergent kiddos, you know it can be quite a challenge at times. Getting there is not always half the fun. So we’re chatting today with Dawn M. Barclay about her new book, “Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible and the Neurodiverse,” about how to make the travel experience as painless as possible.

Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. After spending ten years working in sales and marketing for her parents’ two firms, Barclay Travel Ltd and Barclay International Group Short-Term Apartment Rentals, she branched out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report. She is a mother of two and resides in New York’s scenic Hudson Valley. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Family Travel Association (FTA), she also writes fiction as D.M. Barr and holds leadership roles in several writer organizations.

The post Travel Tips For Neurodivergent Families | A conversation with Dawn M. Barclay appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the library today talking with marriage and family therapist, Katherine Scott, about her new book, “The Tail Of A Trio.” We’ll be chatting about how the book can be used by parents, therapists and teachers to help kids of all ages and abilities work through socializing, adjusting to new situations and the healing power of friendships.

Katherine Scott, M.Ed/Ed.S, LMFT

Katherine received her B.S. degree in Psychology in 2014 from the University of Florida. She then worked as a Language Therapy Technician during her gap year, discovering her passion for being apart of others’ journeys toward growth and healing. Shortly after, she completed her M.Ed/ Ed.S dual Masters degrees at the University of Florida in Marriage and Family Therapy. From there, this double Gator worked in community mental health for a short stent, before finding her calling at a private practice lovingly known as Puzzle Peace Counseling in NE Florida. She is the Assistant Clinical Director and lead LMFT at the practice.

Although she works with those in all walks of life, Katherine’s niche is working with kiddos and young adults on the Autism Spectrum and their families, as well as broad Neurodiversity. She utilizes an experiential approach with clients in their pursuit of healing.

​She enjoys her downtime immersed in the outdoors, adventuring with her husband, competing with her horse, Pearl, engaging in educational advocacy, writing, and looking for beauty in all the unusual places!

The post Telling ‘Tails’: How Stories Can Help Kids Adjust To New Situations | A Conversation With Katherine Scott, LMFT appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

Today we’re in the family room talking about support from extended family and friends. It’s not an easy task for autism families to get the support we need from the people we love. This episode is designed to share with them and make it a bit easier. 

• What inhibits family and friends from reaching out.
• How you can address difficult conversations.
• How autism can affect a family and why we need support.
• Some helpful guidelines for family and friends.

• National Autism Association
• Barry Prizant’s Podcast
• Uniquely Human Book
• Naoki Higashida
• Stephen Shore
• Temple Grandin

The post What Autism Parents Wish You Knew | An Episode To Share With Extended Family & Friends appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.

We’re in the girls’ room today chatting with Dr. Wendela Whitcomb Marsh about why it’s so difficult for girls to get diagnosed with autism. Her most recent book, “Recognizing Autism In Women and Girls,” was just released this week and is a must-read for every clinician and woman on the spectrum.

• Dr. Wendy’s story and how she can relate to both the autism parenting journey as well as a diagnostician.
• Why so many girls on the autism spectrum go undiagnosed for so long.
• What Dr. Wendy looks for when diagnosing women and how it differs from boys in presentation.
• Why accommodations are so crucial in getting and keeping a job.
• Why self-diagnosis is valid for women.
• The link between autistic women and the LGBTQIA community.

Wendela Whitcomb Marsh

Dr. Wendy has been a special ed teacher, school psychologist, licensed educational psychologist, and board certified behavior analyst, but her favorite job has been spouse and parent of awesome autistic people. After taking early retirement, she moved to Oregon to write books about autism and start a private practice for adult autism assessment. She is an award-winning author, and adult autism assessment professional specializing in women, trans, and nonbinary folk. Neurodivergent people, and those who love them, live with them, and support them, are among her favorite people in the world.

• Dr. Wendy’s websites:

The post Autism In Women & Girls: Why it’s so difficult to get a diagnosis | ABP Episode 105 appeared first on Puzzle Peace Counseling.