In this episode, Kari talks about PDA (pathological demand avoidance, more affirmingly known as pervasive drive for autonomy), a nervous-system based response to perceived demands. 

Kari talks about how this can look in service-based entrepreneurs wanting to sledgehammer their own goals and chosen activities, and we discuss how permission to do nothing and rest helps to reveal societal programming and give rise to finding out what really matters to us. 

Mentioned in the episode:

Grounding practices with Karyn Paige 

Connect with  Kari on Instagram and Facebook

The Community Wisdom Collective: a wisdom-sharing, community collaboration space for neurodivergent, highly sensitive creatives and entrepreneurs to take business from overwhelming to OH YES! 

In this episode, Kari and Caitlin talk about their journeys to meeting each other and the following topics:

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

Check out Caitlin’s amazing offerings:  www.learn-caitlinlizfisher.com 

Find Caitlin on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/caitlinlizfisher and check out their Youtube channel Caitlin Liz Fisher - YouTube

Join Caitlin’s group: The Creatives’ Rebellion on Facebook & Discord: The Creatives' Rebellion (askfishfisher.com)

In this episode, Kari talks with Cindy - an artist, writer, educator, speaker, entrepreneur and radical wonderer who helps people come home to themselves through art and connection.

Cindy and Kari talk about:

-Art

-Intuition and self-trust

-Community

-Neurodivergent burnout

-Neurotypical business models//structure vs. the importance of being in tune with your true feelings and intuition as a neurodivergent human

-Cindy's amazing programs

-An upcoming community program for entrepreneurs from Kari

Find more about Cindy & her programs at: www.cindyingram.com

Cindy’s book: Art Is About Being Whole: A Memoir - Kindle edition by Ingram, Cindy. Health, Fitness & Dieting Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com

Learn more about Kari’s upcoming community program at: https://kariburch.podia.com/i-m-interested-in-thriving-together

We discussed the work of art Chasm by Daniel Popper:  “Chasm” by Daniel Popper and AG PNT in Las Vegas (7 photos) | STREET ART UTOPIA

We mentioned the following books in our conversation:

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert:Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear book by Elizabeth Gilbert (thriftbooks.com)

It’s Not Your Money by Tosha Silver:It's Not Your Money: How to Live Fully... book by Tosha Silver (thriftbooks.com)

The Genius of Women: The Genius of Women: From Overlooked to Changing the World: Kaplan, Janice: 9781524744212: Amazon.com: Books

In this episode, Kari is joined by Dr. Rachel Graddy to talk about all things Disability, Accessibility, Neurodivergence, Spoon Theory, and Invisible Disabilities. Rachel shares really helpful frameworks to think about energy expenditure, disability frameworks, and empowers you to think about how to go easy on yourself while you advocate for what you may need. 

Rachels shares with us this helpful article on Spoon Theory: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

Trigger warning: This episode mentions and talks about ABA and non affirming behaviorist interventions for Autistic kids.

Kari works as a contractor in early intervention with neurodivergent children ages 0-3. In this episode she talks about the painful reality of being in the middle of a non-affirming workplace, and the need to honor your capacity and willingness to work alongside non-affirming colleagues. The field of occupational therapy is wanting to move toward being more neuro-affirming, but the reality is that many systems are not set up to be so. In this episode Kari talks about Autistic play, Autistic social skills, behavior, and other realities of what is often being targeted as ‘deficits’ in therapy and ABA settings.

Download Kari’s free e-book: Your Neurodivergent GPS System to get instant access to your intuition for next steps to take in challenging situations; full of exercises that Kari uses personally and recommends to all her clients. https://kariburch.podia.com/your-neurodivergent-gps-system 

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

In this episode Kari talks about self-diagnosis, traditional diagnosis, and various factors to consider when you’re approaching the subject; including that traditional diagnostic system is inherently ableist, white supremacist, and patriarchal.  The values of listening to others’ lived experience and reflecting on how this matches your own experience can ONLY be valuable.

Kari didn’t mention this in the episode but she recommends following the Lived Experience Educator Sonny Jane Wise: Sonny Jane Wise (@livedexperienceeducator) • Instagram photos and videos. 

Download Kari’s free e-book: Your Neurodivergent GPS System to get instant access to your intuition for next steps to take in challenging situations; full of exercises that Kari uses personally and recommends to all her clients. https://kariburch.podia.com/your-neurodivergent-gps-system 

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

In this episode Kari talks about some common pitfalls of “knowing too much” when it comes to having done a lot of therapy and/or coaching… making the mistake of not letting your emotions move through you. Kari describes some simple somatic exercises she uses and also talks about another self-compassion skill to not overlook. 

Download Kari’s free e-book: Your Neurodivergent GPS System to get instant access to your intuition for next steps to take in challenging situations; full of exercises that Kari uses personally and recommends to all her clients. https://kariburch.podia.com/your-neurodivergent-gps-system 

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

Book referenced:

Self-Compassion: Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself a book by Kristin Neff (bookshop.org)

In this episode we explore what’s possible when we respond to peoples’ message rather than their actions or “behaviors.” Society prizes teaching children (and rigorously enforcing adults’) “good behavior,” at the expense of deep connection, communication, and reinforcing individuals’ sense of agency.  Kari shares a story about a young OT client who throws toys all over the place during a session and how she responded to the message, not the action/behavior, to create a positive experience that contributes to a collaborative long-term solution. 

Download Kari’s free e-book: Your Neurodivergent GPS System to get instant access to your intuition for next steps to take in challenging situations; full of exercises that Kari uses personally and recommends to all her clients. https://kariburch.podia.com/your-neurodivergent-gps-system 

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

Kari accidentally learned about self-compassion as part of taking an anti-diet, body-image self-study course. She read the book Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristen Neff and her life changed deeply forever. Self-compassion strategies and tangible hacks to implement them are a game changer for neurodivergent humans. Listen to this episode to get the full scoop and how you can avoid unnecessary suffering by implementing self-compassion. 

Book referenced:

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to  Yourself by Dr. Kristen Neff Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself a book by Kristin Neff (bookshop.org)

Download Kari’s free e-book: Your Neurodivergent GPS System to get instant access to your intuition for next steps to take in challenging situations; full of exercises that Kari uses personally and recommends to all her clients. https://kariburch.podia.com/your-neurodivergent-gps-system 

Follow Kari on Instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook

Hold onto your pants as we take a wild ride through questions like “What is neurodivergent? Aren’t we all neurodivergent?” and explore the many iterations of Kari’s journey to understanding her neurodivergence (spoiler: from empath and HSP to ADHD and Autistic)..    We talk about things like the paradox of holding a nonpathological, accepting lens for our neurodivergence while we also often have to revert to pathologizing language to explain our experiences and needs to others. 

Books referenced:

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine Aron The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You a book by Elaine N. Aron (bookshop.org)

Unmasking Autism by Devon Price Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity a book by Devon Price (bookshop.org)

Download Kari’s free e-book: Your Neurodivergent GPS System to get instant access to your intuition for next steps to take in challenging situations; full of exercises that Kari uses personally and recommends to all her clients. https://kariburch.podia.com/your-neurodivergent-gps-system 

Follow Kari on instagram: Kari Burch (@neurodivergent.ot.kari) | Instagram profile

Follow Kari on Facebook: Facebook