On episode 251, Emily welcomes Dr. Amy Marschall, a clinical psychologist focused on trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming care. They talk about the transition from traditional therapy models to neurodiversity affirming approaches, and the importance of lived experience and self-diagnosis in mental health care. They talk about the challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in accessing care, particularly in rural areas. The path to neurodiversity-affirming care involves the need for some clinicians to unlearn practices that we now understand could be harmful. Emily and Amy also talk about the significance of community support in finding the right clinician, as well as the broader implications of neurodiversity affirming practices in daily life.

Takeaways

• The traditional expert-client model can be unhelpful in the world of neurodiversity.

• Lived experience is helpful in understanding mental health needs.

• Self-diagnosis is a valid and necessary option for many.

• Inappropriate therapy practices can lead to trauma that complicates healing.

• Telehealth can improve access to care, especially in rural areas.

• Community visibility is helpful to neurodiversity-affirming clinicians.

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The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you can also join our private Facebook group. For more information go to NeurodiversityPodcast.com.

Dr. Amy Marschall earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, in 2015. She completed her pre-doctoral internship through the National Psychology Training Consortium (Central Region) and her post-doctoral residency at Family Psychological Center, PA, in Harrison, Arkansas.

Dr. Marschall has been a licensed psychologist since 2016 and currently owns a private practice, RMH-Therapy, where she provides therapy primarily to children and adolescents, and psychological evaluations. Her clinical specializations include trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming care, rural mental health, and telemental health.

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Amy’s website

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In Episode 250, Emily Kircher-Morris and Sam Young tackle the radical shifts in how neurodivergent kids connect and thrive in our post-pandemic world. The pandemic didn't just disrupt - it created unexpected opportunities for neurodivergent youth to forge meaningful connections in new ways. They dive deep into how digital spaces have become vital lifelines, while challenging the traditional playbook for "successful" socializing. One powerful revelation? A single genuine connection can transform a child's entire social world.

Takeaways:

• The surprising advantages of post-pandemic social changes for neurodivergent kids

• Why online communities are becoming crucial safe havens

• How parents can ditch outdated social expectations and support their kids' unique paths

• The hidden impact of discovering your own neurodivergence while parenting

• Breaking free from comparing neurodivergent kids to neurotypical peers

Sam Young’s organization, the Young Scholars Academy, is a virtual village that helps twice-exceptional & differently-wired students feel seen, nurtured, and happy through strength-based courses, camps, and community. Bright, curious kids thrive when they feel a sense of belonging. To learn more, check out the Spring Sneak Peek Open House on Monday, December 4th, at 4 p.m. PT | 7 p.m. ET. Here’s a link, and feel free to use the coupon code YSANEURODIVERSITYPODCAST10.

Sam Young, M.Ed., is the Head of School at Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, talent-focused virtual enrichment school that supports twice-exceptional, differently-wired, and gifted students to feel seen, nurtured, and happy through strength-based courses, camps, and community.

Sam is a two-time Fulbright Scholar, a TEDx speaker, a Keynote speaker, a former Bridges Academy educator of nearly 10 years, and a Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity graduate. Additionally, Sam is a neurodivergent person himself who has committed his life to supporting differently-wired students to overcome the harmful deficit-based system and discover, develop, and lead their lives with their strengths, talents, and unique interests.

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Young Scholar’s Academy

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On Episode 249, Emily Kircher-Morris chats with Diane Dempster and Elaine Taylor-Klaus from Impact Parents, hosts of the Parenting with Impact podcast. They talk about the challenge of motivating neurodivergent kids, and break down why it’s challenging. The chat includes a framework called PINCH, a way to remember and think about important elements of motivation. You’ll come away with practical strategies for parents to foster a supportive environment that encourages engagement, and ways to move away from fear and stress as motivators.

Takeaways

• Traditional parenting advice often doesn't apply to neurodivergent kids.

• Motivation can be misunderstood; it's not always lack of interest.

• Executive functioning skills play a crucial role in motivation.

• Dopamine is essential for engaging in non-preferred tasks.

• Fear-based parenting creates stress and is not sustainable.

• Intrinsic motivation develops later in life, especially for neurodivergent individuals.

• The PINCH framework helps identify different motivators for kids.

• Interest in a subject can significantly boost motivation.

• Competition can motivate but may also cause anxiety in some children.

• Collaboration and connection with peers can enhance motivation.

• Parents should experiment with different motivational strategies.

• Transparency and vulnerability in parenting can build trust.

Elaine Taylor-Klaus and Diane Dempster co-founded ImpactParents.com in 2011 because traditional parenting advice wasn’t working for their complex kids and they found no training or coaching available designed specifically to support them as parents of complex kids.

Internationally recognized as leading parent educators, they use a coach-approach to help parents reduce the stress of raising children, teens, and young adults with ADHD, Anxiety, Autism, LD and more. They’re the creators of Sanity School® behavior training, and the authors of many books including Parenting ADHD Now: Easy Intervention Strategies to Empower Kids with ADHD and The Essential Guide to Raising Complex Kids with ADHD, Anxiety and More.

BACKGROUND READING

Impact Parents website

Parenting with Impact podcast

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