In this episode of The Hidden World of Women, host Emma chats with the incredible Allison Davies—a former neurologic music therapist, speaker, and advocate for neurodivergent individuals. Together, they dive into a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from:

• What is music therapy, and how can it support neurodivergent brains?
• Being diagnosed with AuDHD (Autism + ADHD) and what that journey looks like
• Do you need a formal diagnosis, or can self-identification be enough?
• Finding spaces and strategies that work for your unique neurotype
• And because this podcast can never run without one or two tangents: How many cats is too many cats?

As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, this episode is all about embracing your brain, understanding how it works, and discovering tools to create a life that supports you. Allison was kind enough to shares personal insights into the experience of her own diagnosis and the experience of her kids diagnosis. She describes it as an incredibly vulnerable experience. Allison does highlight that is it worth doing the work to understand your neurotype because through the experience it allows people to live better and more affirming lives.

Allison talks about the science of music and the ways it can help people feel calmer and safer to myth-bust the idea that Music Therapy is unscientific. She emphasises that for patients it can help build their tolerance for other medical procedures because people don’t associate the concept of music with potential traumatisation.

Resources Mentioned:

• Learn more about Allison Davies: allisondavies.com.au
• Australian Music Therapy Association: austmta.org.au

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