Family vacations often bring up images of relaxation and bonding, but for families with neurodivergent children, they can feel stressful, frustrating, and even impossible. Many parents find themselves torn between the desire to create lasting memories and the fear of overwhelming sensory experiences or meltdowns in unfamiliar environments.

This struggle is all too real for both parents and therapists working with neurodivergent families.

On this week’s episode, we’re looking into the world of travel through a neurodivergent lens, offering a fresh perspective on how to approach family vacations. We explore the concept of "sensory cups" and how understanding this framework can transform your travel planning. From rethinking traditional vacation spots to discovering hidden gems that cater to neurodivergent needs, this episode is packed with insights that challenge conventional wisdom about family travel.

For therapists, this episode provides valuable tools to support clients in expanding their comfort zones and building confidence in new environments. And for parents, it offers a roadmap to turn potential vacation pitfalls into opportunities for growth and connection. We discuss practical strategies for advocating for accommodations, creating positive associations with travel, and celebrating small victories along the way.

Tune in to discover how reframing your approach to family vacations can lead to more joyful, less stressful experiences for everyone involved. Whether you're a parent looking to plan your next trip or a therapist seeking new ways to empower your clients, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to make travel more accessible and enjoyable for neurodivergent families.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you wont want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

Throughout your day, your invisible cup fills with sensory information, emotions, and cognitive demands. But what happens when that cup overflows? For those with Autism or ADHD, this overflow can be particularly intense and frequent—yet it's an experience we all share to varying degrees.

The energy cup framework offers a new approach to understanding our daily experiences with stress and stimulation. But this concept isn't just for those with neurodivergent traits. It’s a universal tool that can benefit everyone, providing insights into why we sometimes feel overwhelmed, unfocused, or in need of a break.

By recognizing that our energy cups naturally fill multiple times a day, we can strip away judgment about how we're wired or what we can tolerate. And this can empower us, encouraging us to take ownership of our well-being by tuning into our internal states.

But how do we effectively empty our cups when they're full? And how can this framework transform our approach to self-care, workplace productivity, and even parenting?

This week on the podcast, we explore the practical applications of the energy cup concept. We’ll talk about how this simple idea can reshape your understanding of regulation and help you or your child advocate for your needs without shame. Whether you're a therapist, a parent, or someone looking to improve your own well-being, this episode offers valuable insights into managing your energy and creating a more balanced life.

It's time to understand your cup, recognize when it's full, and find effective ways to empty it.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you won't want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.
 

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

We're constantly inundated with information, experiences, and sensory input from all directions—in school, at work, at home, and anywhere else we go throughout our day. Without time to process and absorb, how can we effectively learn, grow, or heal? Enter the concept of integration time, a powerful tool for both therapists and clients that's often overlooked in our daily lives.

Integration time allows us to digest new information and experiences without feeling overwhelmed. It's essential for enhancing our capacity to learn, adapt, and heal—whether in therapy sessions, personal growth journeys, or everyday situations. And this concept is especially important for those with neurodivergent traits or diagnoses like ADHD and Autism, who tend to get overstimulated or overwhelmed quickly.

This week, we’re exploring the significance of integration time across various aspects of therapy and life experiences. We'll look at its role in EMDR sessions, parenting neurodivergent children, acquiring new skills, and creating accommodations. You’ll learn how integration time can reshape our approach to processing and growth.

We'll share practical strategies for incorporating integration time into therapeutic practices and personal development so you can create an environment for yourself or clients that nurtures true absorption and integration of experiences.

This episode offers valuable insights for therapists aiming to refine their methods and individuals seeking to support their own growth process.

By understanding and implementing this concept, we can more effectively put our experiences to use and create lasting positive change. Which is what we’re all looking for, right?

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you won't want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey. Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

Urges drive our actions, yet we're often taught to suppress them. This constant battle against our natural inclinations can lead to frustration, shame, and a profound sense of disconnection from our authentic selves. Many of us struggle silently, believing our urges are inherently wrong or shameful, unaware of the toll this takes on our mental health and overall well-being.

Our relationship with urges shapes our experiences, behaviors, and even our mental health. The pain of misunderstood urges can manifest in various ways—from the overwhelmed child forced to sit still in class, to the adult grappling with addictive behaviors. This misunderstanding often leads to a cycle of suppression and eventual outbursts, leaving us feeling out of control and misunderstood.

In this week’s podcast episode, we confront the often-taboo topic of urges head-on. We explore how embracing our urges, rather than judging or suppressing them, can lead to personal growth and healing. And through the lens of EMDR therapy, we discover how to safely process and complete urges that may have been blocked in the past, offering a path to the calm, control, and authenticity that many desperately seek.

For parents and educators, this conversation provides a compassionate perspective on supporting neurodivergent children. We discuss the heartache of watching children struggle to mask their natural inclinations and offer hope through creating environments that celebrate their unique ways of moving, sensing, and learning.

Adults grappling with addictive behaviors or feeling alienated from themselves will find solace and guidance in examining their relationship with urges. By exploring the middle ground between harsh restriction and unbridled indulgence, we open the door to more integrated, fulfilling lives.

For therapists, this episode offers a framework and language for some of the most powerful interweaves and interventions possible in EMDR therapy.

This episode challenges listeners to reconsider societal norms around urges and offers practical, empathetic ways to incorporate urge awareness into daily life and therapy practice.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you wont want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.
 

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

As a caretaker, you've learned to put others first. But what if the greatest gift you could give others is learning to love yourself expansively?

Love and secure attachment is the foundation of every relationship we have, with others and with ourselves. But have you ever considered that the way you love might be holding you back? As an EMDR therapist with over 10,000 sessions under my belt, I've noticed a universal theme that emerges in every single session: the struggle between expansive and restrictive love.

And knowing how to navigate this struggle creates a framework that can change how you understand yourself, your relationships, and your place in the world. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, a therapist, or someone on their own journey of self-discovery, this episode is going to challenge your understanding of love and attachment, and open up new possibilities for growth.

I've seen three main groups of people grappling with this concept:

Sound familiar? This pattern is deeply ingrained in our attachment styles and blueprints for connection. It starts in childhood and shapes every relationship we form thereafter.

But here's the exciting part: we can change this programming. Through EMDR, we can reprogram our brains to implement the expansive love model. Imagine a world where you're free to follow your thoughts, feelings, and desires without restriction. Where you can trust yourself implicitly and show up authentically in every interaction.

For my neurodivergent listeners, this concept is particularly powerful. It's an invitation to honor your unique needs and challenges without masking or conforming to neurotypical expectations.

In this episode, we're looking at the difference between expansive and restrictive love, exploring how our early experiences shape our love blueprints, and examining the impact of love styles on attachment and relationships. We'll discuss practical steps to reprogram for expansive love, with special considerations for the neurodivergent community.

Are you ready to transform your relationship with yourself and others? To break free from restrictive patterns and embrace a more expansive, authentic way of loving? Then buckle up, because this episode is going to be a game-changer for all of us.

Remember, this journey toward expansive love isn't easy, but it's incredibly rewarding. By the end of this episode, you'll have a new perspective on attachment, love and practical tools to implement in your daily life.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you won't want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos! 

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

The journey of raising a child who's wired differently, with or without an official neurodivergent diagnosis, often begins with a creeping sense that something isn't quite as expected. As realization dawns, parents—often mothers—find themselves thrust into a world they never anticipated, one filled with confusing terms, endless appointments, and the crushing weight of being their child's sole advocate.

And if the other parent or family members don’t see the differences in the child, the mother can feel even more isolated.

The loneliness is palpable. It seeps into every aspect of life, from strained partnerships to awkward social gatherings. One parent, usually the mother, becomes the family's neurodiversity expert overnight, juggling research, therapies, and school meetings while their partner remains in denial or overwhelmed. The disconnect can feel like a betrayal, amplifying the isolation.

Venturing outside the home brings its own set of challenges. Simple outings become complex calculations of sensory triggers and potential meltdowns. Well-meaning friends and family offer outdated advice, failing to grasp the daily struggles. Schools push back, demanding labels before offering support. The constant battle to be heard and understood drains every ounce of energy.

In this week’s episode, we’re tackling the raw emotions of parents on the front lines of neurodiversity. We explore the gut-wrenching loneliness, the frustration of misunderstood children, and the exhaustion of constantly swimming against the tide. But amidst the struggle, we also uncover the strength that emerges—a fierce determination to create a world that embraces and celebrates our children's unique minds.

For parents feeling lost and alone, this conversation offers a lifeline of understanding and solidarity. It's time to shine a light on the hidden struggles and triumphs of raising neurodiverse children, fostering a community where no parent has to face this journey alone.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you wont want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos! 

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

Parenting can be a complex journey, especially when your child's needs differ from what you initially expected. In fact, many parents find themselves struggling with feelings of failure or inadequacy when their children don't fit into societal norms or expectations. Maybe you’ve experienced this yourself.

And who decides what “normal” is anyway?

This week, we’re looking at the challenges of parenting neurodivergent children and offering a fresh perspective on how to approach these unique situations. Because no one is alone in the challenges of parenting, and it’s time we meet every child and parent where they are.

This episode looks at the impact of societal expectations on parenting and explores the common negative beliefs parents may develop when faced with unexpected challenges. These beliefs not only affect parents but can also significantly influence their children's self-perception and behavior, which has a lifelong impact.

So what can we do about this? It’s a matter of reframing challenges and expectations and emphasizing the power of experimentation and flexibility in parenting. You’ll learn how in the episode! By adopting a more adaptable approach, parents can create a nurturing environment that celebrates their child's unique traits and supports their growth.

This episode provides insights for parents navigating raising neurodivergent children, offering a compassionate and practical approach to family dynamics. Whether you're a parent seeking guidance or a therapist working with families, let’s foster a more understanding and adaptive environment for all family members.

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting. By embracing flexibility and experimentation, you can create a family dynamic that works for everyone involved.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you won't want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

Accommodations are not just for schools or workplaces—they're about creating environments where everyone can thrive. In this week’s episode, we explore how the concept of accommodations extends far beyond traditional settings, drawing parallels between personalized experiences in everyday life and the support needed in educational and professional environments.

There’s a big contrast between personalized experiences in adult settings and the rigid structures often found in schools. (Why is that?) It’s important to recognize how embracing individual differences and providing choices can lead to more positive self-beliefs and enhanced performance. And then to do the work to make those changes. I’d like to challenge everyone to stop thinking of neurodivergent traits as disorders, and instead explore their potential as superpowers.

Throughout this week’s episode, I share strategies for advocating for yourself or your child in educational and professional settings. This conversation encourages a more inclusive and empowering perspective that recognizes and celebrates the unique needs and strengths of every individual.

And I challenge listeners to reconsider their approach to accommodations. Whether you're a therapist, a parent, or someone navigating your own neurodivergent journey, this episode offers valuable insights on creating environments where everyone can flourish.

Listen now to gain a fresh perspective on accommodations and learn how to advocate for a world that embraces neurodiversity. Discover how small changes in our approach to individual needs can lead to significant improvements in personal growth, learning, and overall well-being.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you won't want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

The true definition (and outcomes) of depression goes far beyond what we typically think of: someone pulling away from loved ones, extreme sadness, maybe even feeling suicidal.

But the truth is that depression is often a symptom of trauma, and can manifest in individuals in so many different ways. It may be a collapse after extreme anxiety that we may not even notice because we’ve normalized living life at a high cadence. When we crash into depression, we may feel safe because we learned that there’s safety in that. However, we may not recognize this initially because that learning happened in a pre-verbal stage, before we can even remember.

Because we want to rewrite what we’ve learned and decided so we can feel better, because we want to heal from past trauma, EMDR is an amazing therapeutic option for people who suffer from depression and hopelessness.

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what happens in our bodies and minds when we experience early trauma, why depression and anxiety are so linked, why there might be a medical reason for some depression, and how depression can actually feel safe for some of us.

There are so many options available for people who feel depressed, especially in the winter months. EMDR is just one of the tools that can help. I urge anyone who feels an overwhelming sense of helplessness and withdrawal to seek out professional help.

When something traumatic happens to us, it can be healing to have a therapist listen to and/or validate our horrible experience, especially if no one else has before. However, rehashing the details of that traumatic event can be retraumatizing. Brain-based therapies like EMDR teach us that we don't have to talk about the trauma or the details if we don't want to because the real healing doesn't focus on the traumatic event itself.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you wont want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.

Our brains are as unique as our fingerprints, yet society often expects us all to think, learn, and behave in uniform ways. We're told to sit still, focus on demand, and visualize on cue. But what if these expectations are built on flawed assumptions about how our minds work?

This week on the podcast, we explore the fascinating spectrum of mental imagery, from aphantasia (the inability to visualize) to hyperphantasia (vivid, movie-like imagination). This reveals just how diverse our cognitive experiences can be. You'll discover how some people can't conjure a simple mental image, while others experience rich, multi-sensory internal worlds.

But this variation in how we process and experience information extends far beyond visualization. It affects how we learn, communicate, and interact with the world around us. We'll dive into real-life examples and cutting-edge research that challenge our assumptions about “normal” brain function.

Understanding these differences is crucial, not just for personal insight, but for reconsidering how we approach education, workplace expectations, and even mental health diagnoses. By embracing the full spectrum of cognitive diversity, we can create more inclusive, effective strategies in therapy, education, and daily life.

Listen in as we challenge our assumptions and celebrate the unique ways each mind works. Whether you're an educator, mental health professional, or simply curious about the intricacies of the human mind, this week’s episode will transform how you view cognitive diversity.

The Zero Disturbance podcast is for educational purposes and is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or individualized mental health or medical care.

Want to learn more about empowering yourself to experience therapy or coaching on your terms? If you appreciated this episode, you wont want to miss out on The Client Workbook + supporting videos!

We also offer free resources for clients and therapists! Get access to our free client resource library for the most up-to-date tools and resources for your own journey.

Therapists, access our favorite free resources for designing high-value offers in The Zero Disturbance Welcome Bundle.

With a Masters in Education from Vanderbilt, Kambria has been creating trainings and teaching adult learners for over 20 years. As the Director of Education and Quality Improvement at Stanford Medical School, she created ease in complex systems, thereby giving medical trainees successful learning experiences. Now, as a dedicated mom, therapist, and EMDR Consultant, Kambria knows what it means to do things efficiently, effectively, and in a learner-centered way. When she isn't podcasting or creating online courses, you can find Kambria playing with her twins on a beach in California.