SEND Parenting Podcast

The teenage years can feel particularly intense when you are parenting a child with ADHD.

Many parents expect things to get easier as children grow older — yet for many families, adolescence brings new challenges: emotional outbursts, school struggles, growing independence, and the feeling that your once-connected child is suddenly pushing you away.

In this episode of the SEND Parenting Podcast, I am joined by therapist and ADHD specialist Jheri South, who works closely with teenagers and their families. Together we explore what is really happening in the ADHD teenage brain and why this stage can be so complex — not just for teenagers, but for parents too. 

Jerry shares both professional insight and personal experience as a neurodivergent parent raising seven neurodivergent children. Her work focuses on helping families understand behaviour through the lens of brain development, emotional regulation, and the unique wiring of the ADHD brain.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why ADHD teenagers often seem three years behind in executive functioning
• The impact of constant criticism on self-esteem in ADHD children
• Why traditional parenting approaches based on punishment often backfire
• How rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) drives emotional reactions and meltdowns
• Why connection matters more than control during the teenage years
• Practical strategies parents can use to support independence without losing connection

We also talk honestly about the emotional side of parenting ADHD teens — the fear that your child may struggle in life and the worry that you are somehow getting it wrong.

Jheri reminds us of something many parents need to hear:

ADHD teenagers are not broken. They are developing differently — and with the right understanding and support, they can thrive.

If you are navigating the teenage years with an ADHD child and wondering whether things will ever get easier, this episode offers reassurance, insight, and practical tools to help you support your child through this stage.

 Learn more about Jheri South and her work

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
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Deciding whether to try ADHD medication can feel overwhelming for many parents.
 There is a huge amount of misinformation online, and the decision can feel heavy, emotional, and confusing.

In this episode, I sit down with Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Giovanni Giaroli to break down what ADHD medication actually does in the brain — in clear, parent-friendly language.

We explore:

• How ADHD medication works in the prefrontal cortex and executive brain
• The difference between stimulant and non-stimulant medications
• Why finding the right medication is often a journey of careful titration
• Common side effects and what parents should realistically expect
• How medication interacts with autism, anxiety, OCD and PDA profiles
• Why medication alone is not the whole picture — and how sleep, exercise, nutrition and support work alongside it

Dr Giaroli also explains why ADHD medication has one of the strongest evidence bases in child psychiatry, while still requiring a personalised approach for every child.

If you are navigating this decision for your child, this conversation will help bring clarity, reassurance, and science to the discussion.

Giaroli Clinic

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

Why does everything suddenly feel harder when puberty begins?

In this powerful and honest conversation, I am joined by Dr Jess Morgan — former NHS paediatrician and now educator — to unpack what is really happening in the brain and body when puberty meets neurodivergence.

We explore:

• Why emotional outbursts are developmental, not defiance
• How hormonal changes amplify ADHD and sensory sensitivities
• The brain science behind mood swings and impulsivity
• Why masking becomes more exhausting in adolescence
• The hidden mental health toll of “trying to fit in”
• Practical ways to support regulation without escalating conflict
• What happens when puberty collides with parental menopause

If you have felt blindsided by the intensity of adolescence — particularly with a neurodivergent child — this episode will help you understand the why behind the behaviour, and offer compassionate, practical ways to respond.

Because this is not about bad parenting.
 It is about brain development, hormones, and learning to tread gently — with our children and ourselves.

The survive and thrive collective

Dr Jess Morgan TedX on reconnecting with your inner child

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

In this powerful and honest conversation, Dr Olivia Kessel is joined by parenting coach Alison Solomon to explore one uncomfortable truth: what if the biggest shift in our child’s behaviour has nothing to do with them and everything to do with us?

Alison shares the moment she calls the “arrow through the heart,” when she realised her child was not the problem, her reaction was. From that moment, everything changed.

In this episode, we explore:

• What actually happens in the brain when a child is dysregulated
 • Why adding logic to an emotional brain makes things worse
 • The power of silence and when to stop talking
 • How to create emotional safety at home
 • Why oppositional traits may be future strengths
 • The “golden apology” and how modelling accountability builds resilience

This is not about blame. It is about empowerment.

Because when we regulate first, everything else begins to shift.

If you have ever found yourself talking more and getting nowhere, this episode will land.

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

This week is a short solo half-term check-in.

It is GCSE options time in our house, and I know many of you are feeling the same fear.

In this episode, I talk about:

• The 30% executive function delay in ADHD and what that really means
 • Why GCSE choices can feel overwhelming for neurodivergent teens
 • How to choose subjects based on interest, not pressure
 • The bigger life picture beyond exams
 • Successful neurodivergent entrepreneurs including Jo Malone, Richard Branson and Ingvar Kamprad

GCSEs matter — but they are not destiny.

If you are sitting at the kitchen table staring at options forms, this episode is for you.

A calm reset for half term. 💛

Register for the ADHD Medications Unmasked Masterclass with Dr Giovani on Tuesday, February 17th @ 8 PM

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

Choosing how to get an ADHD or autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming — and confusing. But the pathway you choose does not just affect how long you wait. It affects your child's support, medication access, and long-term outcomes.

In this episode, Dr Olivia Kessel is joined by Reemz — a member of the SEND Parenting community with direct experience working inside NHS CAMHS and supporting a family member through Right to Choose.

Together, they break down:

• The NHS CAMHS diagnostic pathway
• The Right to Choose pathway — what it really offers and where families get stuck
• Private assessments — benefits, risks, and hidden costs
• Why diagnosis is not a “label,” but a tool for understanding and support
• What parents need to know before starting any pathway

This episode is for parents who are:

• Unsure which route to take
• Already on a waiting list
• Worried about making the “wrong” decision
• Seeking clarity, not opinions

You are not failing.
 You are navigating a complex system — and knowledge changes everything.

🔗 Helpful Resources & Guidelines

As mentioned on Podcast Reemz has kindly shared two worksheets that you can print and use at home:

ASD Diagnostic criteria worksheet

ADHD Diagnostic criteria worksheet

Right to Choose (England)

Clear explanations of the process, providers, and current waiting times:
 👉 ADHD UK – Right to Choose Guide

📘 DSM Diagnostic Criteria

Understanding what clinicians are actually assessing can help you advocate more effectively.

• 👉ADHD Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)
   
  
  
• 👉Autism Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)
   

(These criteria explain why traits must be present across settings and over time.)

If this episode helped you, please share it with another parent who might be quietly stuck.
 And stay tuned — next week’s episode, “Shut the Fluff Up,” dives into how parent regulation changes everything when our children are dysregulated.

You are not alone. 

 You are doing the hardest job  ❤️ Dr Olivia

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

Sleep problems are one of the most overlooked — and misunderstood — parts of ADHD.

In this episode of the SEND Parenting Podcast, Dr Olivia Kessel breaks down the science behind ADHD and sleep, explaining why up to 70% of children with ADHD struggle with sleep, and why this is not behavioural, it is biological.

Drawing on research and lived experience, Dr Olivia explains how delayed melatonin release and circadian rhythm disruption affect the ADHD brain, and why many children are simply not biologically ready for sleep at conventional bedtimes.

This episode was created after a conversation inside the ADHD Warrior Mum community, where a mum shared that her child was still full of energy at bedtime — and that her doctor questioned the evidence behind melatonin. That question prompted a deep dive into what the research actually shows.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why sleep difficulties are so common in ADHD
• How melatonin works (and what it does not do)
• What the research says about safety and effectiveness
• Why addressing sleep can transform emotional regulation, focus, and family life

Dr. Olivia also shares her personal journey navigating over a decade of severe sleep disruption with her daughter — and how understanding the biology changed everything.

🎧 Recommended resource:
Dr. Olivia references research and clinical insights from Dr Russell Barkley, including his YouTube talk on ADHD and sleep.
👉 Link to Dr Russell Barkley’s YouTube video on ADHD and sleep

📘 Free resource:
Download the free 30-Day Sleep Guide at
www.SENDParenting.com/Sleep

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

Why do children with ADHD seem exhausted by the end of the day?
 Why do meltdowns often hit after school?
 And why does it feel like they are constantly craving sugar?

In this episode, adapted from a live masterclass inside the ADHD Warrior Mum community, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by Lucinda Miller, founder of NatureDoc and author of Brain Brilliance, to explore how brain fuel affects energy, focus, emotional regulation, and behaviour in children with ADHD.

We discuss:

• Why the ADHD brain uses more energy than a neurotypical brain
• How blood sugar crashes drive dysregulation and meltdowns
• Why breakfast matters more than most parents realise
• How nutrition can support ADHD medication and sleep
• Practical, low-pressure strategies that work in real families

This is not about perfect diets or restriction.
 It is about understanding your child’s brain and supporting steadier days.

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

Applying for an EHCP can feel overwhelming, intimidating, and emotionally draining — especially when your child is already struggling.

In this episode, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by Dr Abigail Fisher and Eliza Fricker, co-authors of The Essential EHCP Guide for Parents and Carers, to gently demystify the EHCP process and remind parents of one crucial truth:

You are not failing. The system is hard.

Together, we break down what an EHCP really is, when to apply, and the common myths that delay support — including the belief that you need a diagnosis before starting. We explore how to advocate for your child without burning out, what makes an EHCP meaningful (and what makes it ineffective), and how parents can protect their own mental health while navigating a deeply flawed system.

This is not just a conversation about paperwork and plans.
 It is about trust, instinct, advocacy, and hope.

If EHCPs are part of your life — or you are wondering if they should be — this episode will help you feel less alone, more informed, and more empowered.

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...

In this powerful and honest conversation, I am joined by Michael McLeod, internationally recognised ADHD and executive function specialist and founder of GrowNOW ADHD, to unpack what ADHD really is and why so many children and families are being failed by outdated models of support.

We explore why ADHD is best understood as a developmental executive function disorder, with emotional regulation at its core — not laziness, defiance, or lack of willpower. Michael explains why traditional approaches like talk therapy, worksheets, and constant verbal prompting often make things worse, and what actually helps children build the skills they need for life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why emotional dysregulation is one of the most overlooked signs of ADHD
• The four pillars of executive function and how delays show up at home, school, and socially
• Why screens are so dysregulating for the ADHD brain — and why “balance” is often unrealistic
• How parenting language, structure, and boundaries can either escalate or reduce meltdowns
• Why executive function predicts long-term success more than grades or academic performance
• Practical strategies parents can use immediately, including reducing verbal prompts and creating more structure at home

This is a deeply validating episode for parents who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning whether they are doing something wrong. It reframes ADHD with clarity, compassion, and evidence — and offers a way forward that feels realistic rather than punitive.

 📘 Michael’s book The Executive Function Playbook

 🌍 Grow Now ADHD Website

  ▶️ Russell Barkley YouTube

📚 New Book — Out Now  👉 Order your copy
Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls
A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.

⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.

📩 Contact Me
If you wou...