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In this episode of Mother's Guide Through Autism, Brigitte speaks with Coach Lee Hopkins, a social connections coach and late-diagnosed autistic adult. 

As the founder of Patterns of Possibility, he supports individuals and organizations in creating connection through authenticity, boundaries, and conscious conversation.

Lee shares his personal journey and insights into helping neurodivergent individuals build meaningful relationships without losing themselves in the process. 

They discuss:

- different types of relationships, setting boundaries using needs, negotiables, and nevers
- the importance of parents modeling and nurturing authentic connections
- practical tools for parents to support and understand their children's unique ways of connecting with others

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
03:01 Coach Lee Hopkins' Journey
05:27 Challenges of Social Connections
07:41 Parental Support and Patience
15:24 Strategic Vulnerability Explained
23:48 Defining Friendships and Social Categories
26:02 Understanding Family and Friend Connections
27:08 Facilitating Conversations with Children
27:07 Strategic Vulnerability in Friendships
27:41 Defining Friendships and Autonomy
29:05 The Importance of Clear Definitions in Relationships
29:41 Recognizing True Connections
31:30 Needs, Negotiables, and Nevers Framework
37:13 Practical Activities for Building Social Confidence
38:13 Expressing and Understanding Emotions
41:53 Inspiring Hope and Trust in Parent-Child Connections
46:01 Final Thoughts and Resources

Enjoy!

Coach Lee's Website:
https://www.patternsofpossibility.com/

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachleehopkins/

TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@patternsofpossibility

📘 Get the book:
A Mother’s Guide Through Autism — available now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3mO1fmS

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🎵 Theme music:
“Look at the Clouds” by Tristan Lohengrin
tristanlohengrin.bandcamp.com

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