IMPORTANT: Watch this episode first as it's the introductory episode for Divergent Dialogues which will help to provide context for all the following episodes.

Caitlin and Teena, both Accredited Mental Health Social Workers in private practice in Brisbane, shared their experiences as Autistic/ADHDers and how these have influenced their therapeutic approaches. They also discussed their current roles as academic tutors and their upcoming PhDs. Caitlin's research will focus on autistic mental health, while Teena's will explore women's experiences in accessing assessment and diagnosis of neurodiversity in adulthood.

During their conversation, Caitlin and Teena delved into the multidimensional approach to human development (Harms, 2021), which encompasses the inner dimensions of biopsychosocial and spiritual aspects, as well as the outer dimensions of relationships and environment. They underscored the importance of acknowledging the intricacy and diversity of Autism and ADHD, which can be influenced by cultural and familial factors. As social workers, Caitlin and Teena shared their approach to working with Autistic folks and ADHDers, emphasising their dedication to social justice, human rights, and empowering individuals. They also revealed their plans to launch a fortnightly podcast to further delve into these topics.

Here is a link to the diagram of the multidimensional approach to human development (Harms, 2021) discussed during the episode: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oFrnuLZby5EZRNT_XXF1Il7weRKUpiLX/view?usp=drive_link

For more information about our podcast hosts check out the links below:

Caitlin Hughes

Cathartic Collaborations

https://catharticcollaborations.com.au/

Social media: @cathartic.collaborations

Teena Mogler

Balance Centre for Mental Health

https://www.balancecentreformentalhealth.com.au/

Social media: @balancecentreformentalhealth