Elizabeth talks with her colleague, Anca Siminea, a psychologist specializing in diagnostic assessment and trauma . She discusses how the process of assessment and the diagnosis impact the way that clients think about themselves and understand their struggles and strengths. Anca describes the symbiotic relationship between assessment and treatment, particularly for working therapeutically with neurodivergent people. Elizabeth and Anca discuss how clients can inform themselves about what a valid assessment includes, and inquire thoughtfully about how testing can help them to build on their available resources.

You can learn more about Anca and her work via her website: https://ancasiminea.ch/

You can learn more about the assessment process and inquire about having the testing done via the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland website: https://nsns.ch/en/assessment/

Elizabeth speaks with driving instructor and driving expert, Stefan Plüss, about how his industry is an example of how simple relationship-based adaptations and accommodations can improve road safety and mental health. He describes the vision that he has for industy standards based on meeting the needs of all driving students, including neurodivergent students or those with driving anxiety. Stefan advocates for inclusion using intuition, experience and self-reflection, and demonstrates how instuctors can use their own individual experiences to better relate to and connect with their students.

To learn more about Stefan, you can check out his website: https://drivingschoolstefan.ch/en

Or follow him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drivingschoolstefan/

Or via Instgram: https://www.instagram.com/driving_school_stefan?igsh=cmpmODRqc2V1Yzd6

Elizabeth chats with fellow mental health advocate, Martin Coul, about ways to get men to "cross the threshold" to take care of themselves and to join evolving conversations related to masculinity, cancer and suicide. He reflects on the recent Movember events he organized across Switzerland and the ways that he cares well for himself in spite of the frustration of fighting against continued mental health stigma.

Martin has recently launched his own podcast called The Hushed®, which you can listen to on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/show/2lafkvylgOMopNoj79uFRp?si=0jztlILaSxGx1yPZQWv-OQ

or Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hushed/id1846522160

You can learn more about Martin and his efforts via LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coulmc/

Samantha Ayers chats with Elizabeth about what she does as a neurodiversity coach and how her work differs from therapy or counseling. She describes the ways that clients connect to strengths and resources to deal with everyday challenges, and ultimately, learn to accept (and even celebrate) their unique wiring.

To learn more about Sam and her way of working as a coach, you can check out her website: https://www.samanthaadhdcoach.com/

or email her directly at [email protected]

You can also read more about her through the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland directory: https://nsns.ch/language/en/coach/samantha-ayers/

Susan Mackay talks with Elizabeth about her experience with "career crash" and burnout, and describes the ways that she recovered by connecting with meaning and value in her new career as a coach. Susan describes how she learned that failure was an opportunity for growth, and that allowing herself to receive support from her "Thunderbirds" changed her perspective on the importance of human connection. The importance of Lego in her recovery was part of the inspiration that she uses in her work with clients.

To learn more about Susan, you can check out her profile on the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland (nsns):

https://nsns.ch/language/en/coach/susan-mackay/

Susan Mackay, Founder,  Create Connection and The Neurodiversity CoachLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanrmackay

Website: https://theneurodiversitycoach.ch/

Email: [email protected] 

References:   

05.53. Edmondson, Amy C. Right Kind of Wrong: Why Learning to Fail Can Teach Us to Thrive. London: Penguin, 2024. 

08.36. Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: Changing The Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential. London: Little, Brown / Hachette UK, 2017 (Updated Edition).09.35The Balcony and the Ballroom concept from Heifetz, R. A., & Linsky, M. (2002). Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive Through the Dangers of Leading. Harvard Business School Press.

18.15. Mackay, S. The power of believing in others. ION Neurodiversity. Retrieved 04.10.25, from https://ioneurodiversity.org/the-power-of-believing-in-others/ 

34.15. Mackay, S. Moving from IQ to WEQ: A new form of intelligence. ION Neurodiversity. Retreived 04.10.25, from https://ioneurodiversity.org/moving-from-iq-to-weq-a-new-form-of-intelligence/

36.07. Giwerc, D. (2011). Permission to Proceed: The Keys to Creating a Life of Passion, Purpose and Possibility for Adults with ADHD. Vervante.  

Escalante, A. (2024, May 16). We’ve got depression all wrong. It’s trying to save us. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shouldstorm/202012/weve-got-depression-all-wrong-its-trying-to-save-us
18.54 The Cyber Ball ExperimentJournal article:Williams, K. D., & Jarvis, B. (2006). Cyberball: A program for use in research on interpersonal ostracism and acceptance. Behavior Research Methods, 38(1), 174–180. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03192765

YouTube video:Psychology and ELT. Social exclusion [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/goK2rivxTqQ?si=LBXKJXRtRl-6ALVs
28.34  Angie’s Comedy Courses - Comedy as Therapy: Comedy on referral - healing by feeling funny https://www.angiescomedycourses.com/comedy-as-therapy/

36.27 Hallowell, E. M. (2012, October). Ferrari Engines, Bicycle Brakes. Educational Leadership, 70(2), 36-38.  
39.19 Zander, B. (2023, April). Life lessons from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_life_lessons_from_beethoven_s_symphony_no_9

Chantal San Miguel joins Elizabeth to discuss her journey towards accepting her brain's unique wiring, and how she helps others- especially mothers- to learn how to connect with their most authentic self. Chantal describes how she works as a neurodiversity coach and the ways that coaching can help people to process a diagnosis of ADHD or autism. As part of the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland, she works to create systemic change in Switzerland so that more people can access supportive care and ultimately let their brains sparkle.

To learn more about Chantal or to work with her, you can check out her website: https://chantalsanmiguel.ch/

She also is active on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurosparkle.ch/

Elizabeth talks with Shelly Sharon, a trauma-informed Hakomi therapist with a specialization in the Mother Wound. Shelly describes what the Mother Wound is, and how it can affect people's decisions, relationships, and beliefs about themselves and the world. They talk about the power in understanding and working on the Mother Wound in therapy, and how these themes can resonate through generations and society.

To learn more about Shelly's work, you can check out her website: https://www.shellysharon.com

To contact her directly, you can send her an email at [email protected]

Elizabeth speaks with Bindu O. Fernandes about the Heart2Heart english support hotline. She shares her experience working with the organization and the possible usefulness of the service for english-speakers looking for support during tough and lonely times. Bindu notes that Switzerland can be a lonely place for migrants and this phone line is one way to feel connected to others.

You can learn more at https://www.143.ch/en/

To contact Bindu for more information, you can email her at [email protected]

Elizabeth and Zurich-based counselor Krish Phua discuss the complex interplay between sexuality and mental health. Their conversation explores how well-being can be benefitted from self-awareness, confidence and intimacy that grows in the realm of embracing and exploring one's sexuality. Krish suggests that working with clients can be enhanced by inviting them to discuss their sexual lives and identity, either in an individual or couples context.

To learn more about how Krish works and to check out his upcoming events, you can visit his website: https://mindinsights.ch/

or on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishphua/

The decision to separate or divorce is a huge point of stress for many immigrants, and a stressor that often shows up in the therapy room. The lack of familiarity with the legal system can be one of many barriers to taking the next step to leaving a relationship that is no longer working. Our interview with Frau Sabine Renker reveals important information about common areas of confusion and about the different resources that are available to those in challenging financial situations.

You can learn more about Frau Renker via her website :

https://advokatur1.ch

You can check with your canton's lawyer registry for more information and resources :

For example, in Bern: https://www.bav-aab.ch/de/

or the Federal Registry:

https://www.sav-fsa.ch/en/anwaltsregister

To learn more about your rights, you can look on your canton's legal information website, for example in Vaud:

https://www.vd.ch/etat-droit-finances/egalite-entre-les-femmes-et-les-hommes/violence-domestique

or for example in Bern:

https://www.zsg.justice.be.ch/fr/start/themen/zivilrecht/familienrecht.html

You can contact c2 for more information and resources:

contact @ c2gether.ch