c2gether Podcast

Elizabeth speaks with Jody Kallay and Katy McInnes about their efforts to bring parents and their teens into deeper and more authentic connection with one another. The conversation explores common disconnectors and suggests how the simple (but hard to practice!) act of being present together can lead to new patterns within families. In collaboration with the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland, Jody and her coaching initiative Your Teen Journey are raising money to help support youth-based mental health initiatives.

Jody Kallay: Founder of Your Teen Journey Youth Coach & Psychosocial Counsellor Mindfulness & NVC Practitioner: https://www.yourteenjourney.com/neuro-affirming-teen-retreats-chamonix

Katy McInnes: Silent Sessions - Music and movement practitioner, Yoga teacherHost & facilitator of wellbeing retreats and experiences: https://www.silentsessions.fr

You can learn more about Your Teen Journey and the upcoming fundraiser here: https://www.yourteenjourney.com/nsns

Elizabeth speaks with human rights lawyer and counselor, An Cuypers, about the overlap between professional identity and well-being. She describes ways that changes to a professional role impact identity and well-being outside of work, particularly for international people living in Switzerland. She lends her experience working in human rights but retraining as a therapist in order to support others who wish to explore ways to infuse more meaning into their professional lives.

You can learn more about An's work via her website.

Elizabeth chats with therapist Fatou Diallo Roost, a Certified Paediatric Autism Communication therapist, who describes how PACT helps parents connect and communicate with their children. She explores the ways that she can help parents see what works and build on their strengths, in a parenting landscape that otherwise feels overwhelming. Fatou defines how attachment theory provides a base for this intervention, and how it can be used to heal patterns of disconnection that have evolved in family systems. To learn more about PACT and her work, you can check out her profile or schedule an appointment via her website.

Coach and trainer, Gizem Gökçimen, talks with Elizabeth about the simple but meaningful ways that employers can thoughtfully welcome the humanity of all their employees and implement reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent workers. She describes simple but effective examples of how personalized plans that account for the person, their role and the needs of the organization can reduce stress and increase well-being at work.

To learn more about organizational trainings and workplace adjustments, you can check out the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland website: https://nsns.ch

You can find Gizem on LinkedIn or book a session with her via her website.

Elizabeth speaks with An Cuypers, a human rights lawyer and psychosocial counselor who has a unique perspective on the ways that life and work can intertwine for international workers, particularly in the humanitarian field. The current crisis of funding to many international NGOs has put Switzerland's unique community of global nomads in a frightening place, where they may be questioning who they are outside of their professional role.

To learn more about An and the work that she does, you can find her via her:

email: [email protected]

website: www.ancuypers.com

Instagram: @thehumanrightstherapist

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ancuypers

Elizabeth speaks with psychosocial counselor and Support Services Coordinator at Cancer Support Switzerland, Smita Singh, about her work in counseling and supporting people affected by cancer. She discusses the various free services available, as well as what she has learned about the complex but human journey of navigating cancer, including grief, death and community.

For more information about CSS as well as their Steps for Cancer fundraiser, you can check out their website: https://www.cancersupport.ch/how-we-can-help/

or email Smita directly at [email protected]

Elizabeth speaks with AuDHD community member Agata, who discusses how their process of unmasking autism was initiated and how it progressed over the past three years. The complexities of this undertaking are explored, including the tenuous balance between safety (emotional, financial, professional, etc) and freedom. The implications of masking for mental health are outlined and taking a first step toward unmasking is encouraged.

To further explore this topic, we suggest the books "Unmasking Autism" by Devon Price, "Untypical" by Peter Wharmby, and "Unmasked: the Ultimate Guide to ADHD, autism and Neurodivergence" by Ellie Middleton.

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/