c2gether Podcast

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

Elizabeth discusses the inspiration for the Neurodiversity Support Network of Switzerland with the co-founder, Rachael Camp. Nsns strives to connect clients with better support options for understanding and navigating the particular challenges a neurodivergent person might encounter working and living in Switzerland.

For more information, you can check out the nsns website: https://nsns.ch/about/

or contact Elizabeth at [email protected]

Elizabeth speaks with coach Tessa Richter about her personal journey to understand the relationship between her high creativity and neurodivergence. She reflects on the ways in which creativity is commonly misunderstood and how the potential inherent to connecting actively to creativity can be better accessed.

Tessa sees neurodivergent traits as an expression of our intrinsic human genius and that we lose through a mechanistic world view and educational system. In her work, she helps clients use these traits as strengths to lead a self determined life based on knowing themselves and loving who they are. Tessa wants to raise awareness that understanding this secret potential that all humans possess could prove vital in a world increasingly ruled by the use of AI.

To learn more about Tessa's coaching work, you can join one of her webinars, coaching programs or contact her directly for a conversation. Her website is https://www.oursecretpotential.com and she speaks works in English, German and French.

Elizabeth is joined by artist and therapist, Cristina Szemere, who describes a novel intervention for increasing acceptance of somatic experiences. She describes how externalising traumatic or painful events onto paper can make the experiences easier to process, and can be a way to honour the resilience of the human condition while creating a sense of being witnessed. Cristina explores how Somatic Body Mapping could be expanded to help other populations navigate illness, accidents, and trauma.

To learn more about Cristina's work, you can email her at [email protected]

To learn more about the services that she offers, you can check out her website at https://www.dein-werk.ch

To read more about Somatic Body-Mapping, you can visit the website of its founder, Annette Schwalbe at https://www.annetteschwalbe.co.uk