In this episode Monique and Michelle discuss the overlap between neurodivergence, chronic pain, and autoimmune conditions. We review information on the prevalence of chronic pain and autoimmune conditions in neurodivergent women and discuss what can contribute to these conditions in neurodivergent women. Finally, we go through some strategies on how to manage the ‘boom and bust’ of chronic health conditions.
 
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Chronic pain and autoimmune conditions

A podcast for neurodivergent women, hosted by clinical psychologist Monique Mitchelson and clinical neuropsychologist Michelle Livock. Covering Autism to ADHD and everything in between, we aim to educate and inspire women who think differently.

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For our final episode of the season we welcome Sonny Jane Wise to the podcast, to share their wisdom on all things neurodivergence. This is a fabulous ep to start with if you’re new to the neurodiversity affirming model, and also if you’ve been here a while!
 
Sonny Jane is a trans, multiply neurodivergent & disabled public speaker, advocate and author. Sonny was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as a child and grew up only hearing a deficit narrative about their neurodivergence. Since then, they have gone on to build an audience of over 100, 000 people online, have written The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills and We’re All Neurodiverse and has worked with organisations and services around Australia and the world to help change the narrative around neurodivergence and create a more neurodiversity affirming society.
 
In this episode we cover:

Key definitions of neurodiversity affirming practice, including the difference between ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergence’ and between the pathologising / medical model of practice and the neurodiversity affirming model.
Sonny Jane’s experience of being early diagnosed under a pathologising model and the lifechanging impact of discovering neurokin and the neurodiversity affirming community.
Disability and ableism and neuronormativity (oh my!)
The intersectional impact of different aspects of Sonny Jane’s identity, their neurodivergences, and their disabilities, and how this intersectionality impacts their access to services.
The future of neurodiversity affirming practice.

 
 
You can find out more about Sonny Jane and access their content through their website. 
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Future of Neurodiversity Affirming Practice with Sonny Jane Wise

We are thrilled to have Rosemary Richings on the podcast today, to chat with us about her experience of dyspraxia. Rosemary is a writer, editor, and public speaker specialising in disability and neurodiversity, and she is the author of Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia. Rosemary is on the board of trustees of Dyspraxic Me, a charity for dyspraxic young adults.
 
In this episode we cover:

What is dyspraxia?
How is dyspraxia diagnosed?
Rosemary’s experience of dyspraxia from childhood to adulthood.
The mental load of neurodivergence.
What has been helpful in accommodating and supporting dyspraxia for Rosemary.

 
You can find Rosemary through her socials here, and through her website.
 
You can access more information on dyspraxia through the Developmental Coordination Disorder Australia website.
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dyspraxia with Rosemary Richings

In this week's episode we chat about compassionate practice. We have both been super keen to do an episode on compassion for a while now, given compassion is a core tenant of our practice. In this ep we went through some of the core features of compassion, how this can be used therapeutically, and developing self-compassion. We loved putting this episode together for you!
 
We cover:

What is compassion and what are the benefits of compassionate practice?
What does it mean to be in an active state of compassion.
How compassion fits into the ‘haunted house’ of our brain.
Working with the inner critic.
Compassionate practice and neurodivergence.
Strategies for compassionate practice and for activating a state of ‘rest’ in our nervous system.

 
Resources on compassionate practice:

The Compassionate Mind – by Paul Gilbert
Fierce Self Compassion – by Kristen Neff
Online compassion quiz 
Preorder Monique’s book - The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate. 
Access Michelle’s three part course on compassionate practice exclusively through our Patreon (‘Buy us a Wine’ tier).
Check out the study Monique mentioned mentioned on Autism and self compassion. 

 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Compassionate Practice

Today on the show Monique interviews Rebecca Gannon. Rebecca is a Neurodivergent Psychologist with a Masters in Educational and Developmental Psychology. Their clinical work focuses on Autism and ADHD assessment for adults as well as supervising other Psychologists and allied health professionals in neuroaffirming practice skills. Rebecca is Aboriginal, a parent, a partner, and their long-standing special interest just happens to be Autism.
 
On this episode Monique and Rebecca cover:

Rebecca’s experience of her own neurodivergence, including the pivotal role of community as part of a healthy self-identity + the importance of understanding all aspects of your neurodivergent identity.
The importance of advocacy based on lived experience and community consultation when providing support services to people with a minority identity.
The Minority Stress Model.
Rebecca’s experience of having both Aboriginal and neurodivergent minority identities.
Ways to psychological safety for minority group members in health care settings.
Rebecca’s experience navigating the health care system as an ND parent of a child with complex health needs.
Heavy Metal Music (it’s relevant, we promise!).

 
 
Things we mentioned:

Literature on ABA 
The Australian Indigenous Psychology Association.  
Another Day in the Colony – book by Chelsea Watego
Find out more about Dr Tracey Westerman here. 

 
You can contact Rebecca through her website, Kaleidoscope Assessment or on Instagram @kaleidoscopeassessment.
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minority Stress with Rebecca Gannon

In this week’s episode we are thrilled to chat to Michelle Marques about her experience with depression and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, plus a million other things. Michelle is an Autistic and ADHD writer with a background in journalism and a Master’s in African American studies. Her writing and research focuses on gender, sexuality, race, neurodiversity, and pop culture. 
 
We chat about:
 

Michelle’s experience of learning about her neurodivergence and the hidden cost of ADHD for high achievers.
Codeswitching, the privilege of authenticity, and intersecting identities as an Autistic person and as a cultural minority.
Michelle’s experience of depression and how she differentiates between depression and burnout as a neurodivergent person.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation.
Things Michelle has found helpful for managing her mental health.

 
You can find Michelle’s writing on her Substack “Neurodivergent Black Girl” and you can follow her on Instagram @michellemar.ques. 
 
Update! An American psychologist has reached out and let us know that TMS can be covered by Medicare in some cases in the USA. Here's some more information on that. 
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chronic pain and autoimmune conditions

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