In this episode, Melissa explores how dissociation, numbing, and emotional avoidance keep ADHDers stuck in cycles of overwhelm and self-judgment. She shares personal reflections and somatic strategies to help listeners reconnect with their bodies and interrupt these patterns. Through an honest look at her own nervous system responses, Melissa introduces a powerful reparenting approach that supports deep healing from the inside out.

Covered in this episode:

• What dissociation looks like in day-to-day life for ADHDers
• Why avoidance reinforces old coping mechanisms
• The somatic practice that helps process emotions in 90 seconds
• How Melissa used reparenting tools to shift her anxiety during a triggering moment
• Why self-awareness and body-based healing are essential for transformation
• Details about Melissa’s upcoming 8-week reparenting program

This episode is packed with insight and support, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old coping loops, or ready to explore emotional healing from a root-level perspective.

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode, Melissa explores how dissociation, numbing, and emotional avoidance keep ADHDers stuck in cycles of overwhelm and self-judgment. She shares personal reflections and somatic strategies to help listeners reconnect with their bodies and interrupt these patterns. Through an honest look at her own nervous system responses, Melissa introduces a powerful reparenting approach that supports deep healing from the inside out.

Covered in this episode:

• What dissociation looks like in day-to-day life for ADHDers
• Why avoidance reinforces old coping mechanisms
• The somatic practice that helps process emotions in 90 seconds
• How Melissa used reparenting tools to shift her anxiety during a triggering moment
• Why self-awareness and body-based healing are essential for transformation
• Details about Melissa’s upcoming 8-week reparenting program

This episode is packed with insight and support, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in old coping loops, or ready to explore emotional healing from a root-level perspective.

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode, Melissa explores the deep impact that years of masking, self-doubt, and external validation-seeking can have on adults—especially those with ADHD or heightened sensitivity. She shares her own journey of reclaiming self-trust, the limiting beliefs that kept her stuck, and how reparenting herself somatically has helped her—and her clients—begin to heal from the inside out.

What you’ll learn:

• Why ADHDers often struggle to trust themselves after a lifetime of being misunderstood
• How childhood conditioning creates unconscious limiting beliefs that persist into adulthood
• The difference between intellectually knowing something and somatically believing it
• How reparenting gets to the root of self-doubt, people-pleasing, and emotional dysregulation
• How to recognize and break free from outsourcing your power to others
• Why self-trust starts with nervous system safety—not mindset work alone
• What an “evidence journal” is, and how it helps rebuild confidence
• What it means to somatically rewire old emotional wounds and beliefs
• Why external validation can never replace internal safety and self-acceptance
• How Melissa is now working with moms to reparent themselves—and why it changes everything

Join the waitlist to get access to work with me 1:1 - spots are opening soon!

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode, we reconnect with executive function coach Megan Barnett for another rich conversation about the intersection of ADHD, parenting, nervous system regulation, and real-world executive function support. We talk candidly about why so many “quick fix” tips fall flat—and how true transformation starts with grounding the whole family system. We also announce a brand-new offering for moms and families that’s launching this summer to help you move into the next school year empowered, supported, and steady

What you’ll learn:

• Why executive function coaching for kids isn’t enough without support for parents
• How regulating your own nervous system is foundational to helping your child regulate theirs
• What co-regulation really means—and why it matters so much for neurodivergent families
• How mindset work can fall short when the nervous system is in survival mode
• The missing role of “real-time” support in creating lasting behavior change
• Why so many families feel overwhelmed by scattered solutions—and what they really need instead
• How fear and overwhelm impact advocacy and decision-making in the school system
• How to build an individualized, holistic roadmap for your family
• The power of community, co-regulation, and support during high-stress parenting seasons
• Details of our new summer coaching container launching June 2025

Questions answered in this episode:

• Why do executive function strategies often fail when parents feel dysregulated?
• How do we support moms who are also living with ADHD while trying to help their children?
• What’s missing from most school-based and therapeutic interventions for neurodivergent kids?
• How can parents confidently advocate for their children’s needs in IEP/504 meetings?
• Why is nervous system regulation more foundational than mindset shifts?
• What do families really need in the early stages after a diagnosis?
• What kind of plan helps reduce parental overwhelm and increases confidence?
• How do we help parents step into leadership when they’ve been socially conditioned to doubt themselves?
• What’s the role of intuitive knowing in parenting—and how do we access it?
• What is the summer coaching program, and who is it for?

🚨Launching June 2025!

Megan and I are teaming up to support moms and kids this summer with an individualized 2-month coaching container including:

• 1:1 Zoom coaching calls
• Voxer voice note support (real-time help!)
• IEP/504 support
• Executive function planning
• Nervous system regulation tools
• Access to Megan’s 7-week ADHD parent course
• Access to my guided emotional regulation video archive

✨ Join the waitlist here to schedule your free discovery call and see if it’s a fit.

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Megan Barnett:

• Website: https://www.meganjbarnett.com
• Instagram: @meg.barnett.coaching
• ADHD Executive Function Parent Course (included in the summer program)

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode, Melissa sits down with author, scientist, and advocate Courtney Lee, the founder of Wellness Without Walls, to unpack the fascinating and critical connection between ADHD and gut health. Courtney shares her personal journey with ADHD, her extensive academic background in medical microbiology, and how she’s using science-backed, intuitive healing methods to help others reframe and heal. From understanding the gut-brain axis to actionable tips for diet and mood support, this conversation is both empowering and deeply informative.

What you'll learn:

• How gut health and ADHD are connected through the gut-brain axis
• Why supporting the microbiome can help regulate mood and focus
• Simple, science-based dietary changes that can reduce neuroinflammation
• The role of intuitive eating and personalized nutrition in ADHD management
• How to support children with ADHD using gut-friendly strategies
• Which foods and ingredients to limit or avoid to reduce brain fog and behavioral symptoms
• How early childhood development and gut microbiota affect lifelong mental health
• The link between protein intake and emotional regulation in children
• How fermented foods, prebiotics, and probiotics boost cognitive performance
• How Courtney's children’s book and programs empower families to take charge of their mental wellness

Questions answered in this episode:

• What is the gut-brain axis and how does it impact neurodivergent brains?
• Can diet really help reduce anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity in ADHD?
• What are practical, parent-friendly ways to incorporate gut-healthy foods into a busy lifestyle?
• What’s the science behind gut microbiome testing and how can it help?
• Why is protein critical for emotional regulation in ADHD children?
• How do early life eating patterns shape gut health and cognitive development?
• What is the difference between a “difference” and a “disorder” in neurodevelopmental terms?
• What are the most effective natural alternatives to ADHD medication?
• What supplements or nutrients support dopamine, serotonin, and GABA production?
• How can parents support their neurodivergent children without feeling overwhelmed?

Connect with Courtney Lee:

• Website: https://www.wellnesswithoutwalls.co
• Instagram: @wellnesswithoutwalls
• Children’s book: Mimi’s Adventures (coming Summer 2025)
• Root Cause + Gut Testing Program: available on her website

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this deeply personal episode, I dive into how our old wounds and childhood stories can hijack our present experiences — especially around authenticity and connection. I share real-time tools for healing these patterns, finding safety in our bodies, and showing up as our true selves. If you've ever struggled with feeling seen, feared rejection, or found it painful to "unmask," this conversation is for you.

What you'll learn:

• Why being authentic can feel so uncomfortable for neurodivergent people
• How early childhood wounds shape adult reactions and relationships
• The three core questions to ask yourself when you feel triggered
• How to begin reparenting your inner child to heal old wounds
• Why nervous system regulation is key to authentic living
• How to set boundaries with others — and with yourself
• The truth about rejection and what it actually means about you
• How to reframe old stories that are holding you back
• Why self-trust is foundational to freedom and joy
• Steps to build nervous system capacity for showing up as your full self

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode of Reframing Neurodiversity, Melissa explains how parents can begin shifting generational cycles through nervous system self-regulation and the powerful practice of repair. She offers insight into how even imperfect parenting moments can become healing opportunities, and how showing up differently—especially in moments of disconnection—can change everything.

What you'll learn:

• What the "gift of repair" means and why it’s vital in parenting
• How self-regulation helps interrupt inherited patterns
• Why difficult behavior in kids often signals a deeper need for connection
• How validating a child’s experience helps prevent trauma
• A real-life example of healing a strained parent-teen relationship
• Tools and resources to support emotional regulation

Questions answered in this episode:

• What do I do when I repeat the parenting patterns I swore I wouldn’t?
• Can I still be a good parent if I mess up sometimes?
• Why is it important to apologize to children?
• How can I hold space for my child when I’m triggered myself?
• What does it look like to shift cycles in real life?

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode of Reframing Neurodiversity, Melissa sits down with Anat Peri—inner child expert, emotional mastery coach, and founder of Training Camp for the Soul—to explore the root of perfectionism, emotional overwhelm, and why so many women with ADHD struggle with being truly seen. Together, they unpack Melissa’s personal breakthrough during a recent retreat, and how Anat’s methods help expand our nervous system’s capacity to handle uncomfortable emotions and heal core wounds.

What you’ll learn:

• Why many women with ADHD carry survival-based patterns from childhood
• What it really means to reparent yourself and work with your nervous system
• How your nervous system reacts to fear in 0.2 seconds—and what to do about it
• The power of inner child work and riding the 90-second emotional wave
• How to build a greater window of tolerance and feel safe being your authentic self
• Practical tools to stop self-sabotage and start embodying the life you want
• Why healing the adult supports healing the child—especially for moms

Connect with Anat:

Anat's Safety Meditation:

Instagram: @anat.peri

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode of Reframing Neurodiversity, we explore how perfectionism often develops as a coping strategy for women with ADHD—and how to begin shifting it through reparenting and nervous system regulation. Melissa vulnerably shares her own experiences and offers tools to reframe mistakes and failure as essential parts of healing and growth.

What you’ll learn:

• Why perfectionism often stems from childhood conditioning and the need to feel safe
• How to begin releasing the need to be perfect through reparenting and somatic practices
• How perfectionism and people-pleasing are linked, and how they affect women with ADHD
• Why reframing failure is critical for healing and modeling healthy behavior for your kids
• Tools to regulate your nervous system and find safety in being imperfect and authentic

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate

In this episode of Reframing Neurodiversity, we dive into my personal healing journey and explores how three core wounds—feeling unseen, misunderstood, and alone—are often at the root of masking and self-abandonment for women with ADHD. I share how facing the fear of being authentically seen helped me to begin to rewire my nervous system, expand my emotional capacity, and step more fully into my true self Hit play- It's time for you to do the same!

What you’ll learn:

• How core wounds from childhood contribute to masking and people pleasing
• Why your nervous system may perceive authenticity as a threat
• Tools and strategies to begin healing ADHD-related self-abandonment
• How to gently stretch your comfort zone and build internal safety
• The connection between emotional regulation and showing up as your true self

Take the FREE quiz: What Self-Regulation Technique do you need right now?

Join the community: https://neurodiversityadvocate.substack.com/about

Connect with Melissa:

Schedule a complimentary consultation call with me!

Instagram: @neurodiversity_advocate