There are many stereotypes about giftedness, what it really means, and the connection it might have to neurodivergent traits related to autism or ADHD.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, and Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, discuss the nuanced world of giftedness and neurodivergence, including IQ, societal pressures, and the unique personal experiences that shape gifted individuals.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Explore the evolving definitions of giftedness and twice-exceptionality, and how universal screening can help identify marginalized and neurodivergent students.
2. Understand the social and emotional struggles faced by gifted individuals, including the challenges of perfectionism and social connections.
3. Learn about the theory of overexcitabilities, and how heightened sensitivities impact the cognitive and emotional experiences of gifted individuals.

Reflect on the importance of creating environments that support neurodivergent traits, challenge societal norms linking productivity to self-worth, and advocate for systemic changes that nurture the unique qualities of gifted individuals.

About Emily

Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, is the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast, which explores the psychological, educational, and social needs for enriching the lives of neurodivergent people. She is the author of several books for parents and educators related to the development of children and teens who are neurodivergent and cognitively gifted. She started her career in education and now works as a mental health counselor in private practice outside of St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in supporting neurodivergent, twice-exceptional, and gifted people of all ages.

• The Neurodiversity Podcast
• Neurodiversity University
• Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools: Transforming Practices So All Students Feel Accepted and Supported
• Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today’s Classroom
• Twitter: @EmilyKM_LPC
• Facebook: @EmilyKircherMorris
• Podcast Facebook Page: @NeurodiversityPodcast

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Gifted Learning Lab, Resilient Mind Counseling, & Learning Nook

✨The Gifted Learning Lab

The Gifted Learning Lab is all about empowering parents to raise their gifted and 2e kids with confidence and less conflict. If you’re looking for real, neurodivergent-affirming strategies, you can check out Danika’s free email mini-course on reducing power struggles at giftedlearninglab.com/power. And for those wanting a deeper dive, her coaching program, 'Support Your Intense Gifted/2e Kid,' offers hands-on support for the journey.

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities

Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Balancing vulnerability and authenticity can be challenging, but also deeply rewarding. 

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, talk with Samuel Silverman, a psychiatrist and stand-up comedian diagnosed with OCD and ADHD, about the intersection of comedy, mental health, and the digital age.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain insights into how the blend of personal vulnerability and social critique in comedy helps individuals connect with their audience and understand their own mental health experiences more deeply.
2. Hear Samuel Silverman's unique perspective on balancing a career in psychiatry with a presence on comedy stages and in social media, including the ethical boundaries he maintains while advocating for mental health awareness.
3. Discover practical advice on recognizing and managing OCD, understanding its pervasive nature of doubt, and learning how self-expression can be a cathartic way to handle internal struggles.



As you reflect on this conversation, consider how your own experiences and challenges might be transformed through creative expression and connection. Remember that sharing your journey, setting healthy boundaries, and advocating for understanding can be powerful tools in the mental health landscape.

Note from Samuel:

I was raised in a progressive Jewish family in Baltimore, MD. I went to the same small progressive school that my mother and aunt attended — my grandmother actually taught there while the two of them were in school, and my mother later taught there while my brother and I attended.

When I was 18, I traveled halfway across the country to attend Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. There I met my wife, Kelley Stevens, better known as “The Private Practice Pro.”

I attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed my psychiatry residency training at Loma Linda University. As I was completing my residency, I began to explore the world of stand-up comedy, and started performing throughout Southern California before traveling to other parts of the country to tell jokes, when I’m not too busy seeing patients.

I myself have diagnoses of both OCD and ADHD. More than anything, OCD has colored so much of my experience. Because of this, my symptoms and struggles with this condition provide much of the material for my comedy.

• Instagram: @samsilvermancomedy

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities

Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neurodivergent individuals often find mental health topics like OCD, autism, and ADHD intertwined in ways that can complicate their personal narratives and self-identity.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, and Brittany Goff discuss the intersections of OCD, autism, and ADHD and the use of I-CBT in the treatment of OCD for neurodivergent individuals.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Understand how sensory discrepancies can lead to the development of obsessive stories, particularly for autistic individuals, and how inference-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (I-CBT) offers a tailored approach to counteract these doubts.
2. Discover the unique challenges and strategies for neurodivergent individuals, including those with undiagnosed autism or ADHD, in managing OCD symptoms and building self-trust through a neuro-affirmative lens.
3. Learn about the intersection of personal experiences, vulnerable self-themes, and logical reasoning with OCD, and how neurodivergent traits such as hyperempathy and rejection sensitivity influence the creation of obsessive narratives.

Consider how your sensory experiences and neurodivergent traits affect your perception of reality and self-trust. I-CBT can offer tools and strategies to foster more certainty, understanding, and self-trust.

DISCLAIMER: I-CBT is currently only evidence-based for OCD.

About Brittany:

Brittany Goff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Clinical Director at Zen Psychological Center, a neuroaffirming OCD practice in Maryland. Additionally, she serves as an Instructor at the Cognitive Behavioral Institute, providing continuing education in Inference-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT) for OCD. She authored the first-ever I-CBT workbook and was one of the first adopters of I-CBT in the United States. She is the first clinician to offer I-CBT training specifically tailored for individuals with Autism and ADHD, a neuroaffirming approach to treating OCD.

• Facebook groups:
• I-CBT & Neurodivergence
• I-CBT & Neurodivergence Community
• Training in I-CBT: icbtonlinelearning.com
• Waitlist for training on how to adapt I-CBT for neurodivergence
• I-CBT Workbook
• Zen Psychological Center: zenpsychologicalcenter.com

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating the healthcare system and advocating for needs can be a frustrating and invalidating experience, especially for neurodivergent individuals who exhibit interwoven behaviors associated with OCD, autism, or Tourettes.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, and Dr. Stacy Greeter, an AuDHD and OCD child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist, discuss the multi-faceted challenges of accessing appropriate healthcare, the nuances of differentiating between behaviors related to OCD, autism, and Tourettes, and the significance of authenticity in professional environments.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain valuable insights into how to navigate the healthcare system more effectively by preparing questions, bringing an ally, and scheduling frequent consultations, emphasizing the importance of patient self-advocacy in medical appointments.
2. Understand the distinctions among stimming, tics, and OCD compulsions, and learn to differentiate value-driven actions from fear-based compulsions, helping to provide clarity and reduce pathologizing behaviors that bring joy.
3. Discover the importance of authenticity and individuality in both medical and therapeutic fields, hearing firsthand experiences from professionals who embrace their neurodivergent identities to foster better client outcomes and work cultures.

As you reflect on this episode, consider the importance of advocating for your needs within the healthcare system. Remember, your voice and experience are crucial in navigating these complex environments.

More about Stacy:

Dr. Stacy Greeter is an AuDHD and OCD child/adolescent and adult psychiatrist in Sarasota, FL. Her autistic special interests include fantasy creatures and everything psychiatry. She uses metaphors from fantasy universes such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and The Little Mermaid to make complex psychiatric concepts more relatable and advocate for autistic patients and other autistic doctors.

• Website: stacygreetermd.com
• YouTube: youtube.com/@stacygreetermd
• Psychiatry Boot Camp: stacygreetermd.com/psychiatry-boot-camp
• Free Resource on Healthcare Advocacy

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OCD is often misunderstood and can manifest in many forms from a variety of experiences that create associations with a compulsion and an outcome.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, are joined by Aiden Reis, a trans, Autistic therapist who specializes in OCD, anxiety, phobias, and panic. They discuss practical strategies for effectively managing OCD through Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy using a value-driven and neurodivergent-affirming approach.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Learn practical strategies for rebuilding self-trust after anxiety-inducing experiences, drawing from Aiden Reis’s invaluable insights into Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy adapted for neurodivergent individuals.
2. Discover the importance of accommodating sensory needs in therapy without reinforcing anxiety, and understand how to effectively differentiate between sensory sensitivities and anxiety responses.
3. Gain a richer appreciation of how addressing "what if" scenarios and unhooking from distressing thoughts can lead to profound empowerment and emotional resilience, helping you live a good life despite potential challenges.

OCD can be challenging, but there are ways to manage it, and ERP, when done using a neurodivergent-affirming approach, can be an effective tool in managing OCD for neurodivergent individuals.

More about Aiden:

Aiden is a trans and autistic, private practice therapist based in Massachusetts. Working with Autistic and ADHDer clients, he is passionate about providing neurodivergent-affirming and LGBT-positive therapy. He specializes in OCD, anxiety, phobias, and panic. Aiden is a member of the International OCD Foundation.

• Website: www.divergecounseling.com

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For neurodivergent individuals, navigating the upheaval caused by natural disasters can be particularly challenging. The constant unpredictability, sensory overload, and disrupted routines can feel overwhelming.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the psychological, emotional, and physical impact of natural disasters on neurodivergent individuals. Patrick, who lives in Asheville, NC, which was destroyed by Hurricane Helene, shares his experience.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Hear firsthand accounts from Patrick, a resident of Asheville, NC, about the challenges of enduring Hurricane Helene as a neurodivergent individual, including the disorientation from losing communication and navigating resource scarcity.
2. Learn about the incredible efforts in Western North Carolina to band together, raise funds, and offer psychological support amid the chaos, showcasing the power of communal strength and how individuals can offer support that still works with their sensory needs.
3. Understand the coping mechanisms and strategies for reestablishing normalcy, including navigating grief and routine disruption, that neurodivergent individuals can employ in the face of crisis.

If you want to donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for Western North Carolina communities affected by Hurricane Helene, visit: atppod.com/wnc

NOTE: Please be aware that this episode includes a first-hand account of the tragedy and devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina.

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is often oversimplified and misrepresented, turning a complex mental health condition into a stereotype of mere cleanliness or orderliness. For those who struggle with it, the reality is far more nuanced, affecting many aspects of daily life and self-perception.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, provide a compassionate, insightful conversation about the perceptions, identities, and experiences tied to OCD.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain a better understanding of OCD as a mental health condition, how it differs from commonly held misconceptions, and why self-determination and neurodivergent-affirming practices are crucial.
2. Hear personal stories about living with OCD, from intrusive thoughts and auditory hallucinations to coping mechanisms, and learn how these experiences align—or clash—with other neurodivergent conditions like autism and ADHD.
3. Discover strategies for reducing stigma and opened discussions around OCD and mental health, emphasizing the importance of community, support, and educated perspectives.

When exploring more about OCD, especially within yourself or in support of others, remember that understanding and compassion are key. Equip yourself with knowledge, seek out supportive communities, and always prioritize your mental well-being.

Resource:

• Neurodivergent Insights Article: What is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨ Hurricane Relief for WNC communities:

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neuroimmune systems often intertwine with chronic health and neurodivergence, leaving neurodivergent individuals grappling with things like energy management, chronic fatigue, or other long-term health conditions.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, talk with Dr. Mel Houser, an Autistic family physician, about the intricate dynamics of chronic health, energy management, and the often-overlooked connection between neuroimmune systems and neurodivergence.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain a deeper understanding of post-exertional malaise (PEM) and how recognizing one's limits can help in avoiding the debilitating crash that often follows overexertion.
2. Using real-life experiences, understand the systemic challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals within a traditional healthcare model, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy and community support.
3. Discover practical strategies and tools from Dr. Houser on identifying environmental triggers and making manageable adjustments to improve health, particularly for autistic and ADHD adults.

As you navigate your own healthcare journey, remember to honor your limits, seek out community, and advocate for the care you deserve.

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not intended as medical advice.

More about Dr. Mel Houser:

Dr. Mel Houser (she/they) is an Autistic family physician with a clinical focus on providing primary care for neurodivergent patients across the lifespan. She is the Founder and Executive Director of All Brains Belong VT, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in Montpelier, Vermont that uses universal design principles to provide neurodiversity-affirming medical care, social connection opportunities for all ages, and neurodiversity-related educational training. At age 37, Dr. Houser was diagnosed as autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, dyslexic, and dyscalculic. She is also the parent of an autistic 6-year-old, who is her guru of so many keys to the universe.

• Website: allbrainsbelong.org
• Get Connected: allbrainsbelong.org/get-connected
• Clinician Resources: allbrainsbelong.org/clinician-resources
• Instagram: @allbrainsbelongvt
• Bateman Horne Center Website: batemanhornecenter.org
• Check out All Brains Belong’s project: allbrainsbelong.org/all-the-things

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities:

Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By exploring biopsychosocial aspects of life, it can become easier to understand our nervous systems from a holistic perspective offering more options to improve our quality of life with simple and manageable changes.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, explore the biopsychosocial aspects of chronic fatigue and long COVID, and how these affect one's social life and overall health through the lens of Megan’s experiences.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Learn about realistic and attainable goal-setting to overall health using a biopsychosocial approach, highlighting why it's important to avoid extremes and embrace small, achievable changes.
2. Gain insight into how personal struggles and professional advice sometimes contradict, as well as discover a more holistic perspective that underscores the importance of authenticity.
3. Discover the psychological and biological dimensions of Megan’s chronic fatigue and long COVID, and how these affect her social life and overall health.

As you listen, consider how you can apply these discussions to your own life, setting realistic goals and fostering a sense of balance. Make self-care a priority, and remember that small, positive changes can create ripple effects that significantly enhance your mental and physical health.

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not intended as medical advice.

Resources:

• Biopsychosocial Venn Diagram Download

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities:

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot can be learned about our nervous system and needs by looking at biopsychosocial aspects of life.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, explore the biopsychosocial aspects of sleep and how they intersect with mental health through the lens of Patrick’s experiences.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain insight into Patrick Casale's ongoing battle with sleep issues, from his childhood to the present day, and learn how various factors—like sleep environment, hydration habits, and caffeine intake—impact his nights.
2. Hear Dr. Neff's expert advice on practical strategies for better sleep, including the use of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and small, manageable changes that can make a big difference over time.
3. Understand the biopsychosocial dimensions of sleep disturbances, including how stress, rumination, and hypervigilance can disrupt your rest, and discover methods to counter these challenges through visualization and grounding exercises.



If you struggle with sleep, consider doing a biopsychosocial assessment for yourself, and find the small changes you can implement to improve your sleep quality and overall well-being.

DISCLAIMER: This episode is not intended as medical advice.

Resources:

• Biopsychosocial Venn Diagram Download
• Patrick’s Biopsychosocial Venn Diagram Download
• Sleep Resource (Neurodivergent Article): neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/autism-adhd-and-sleep
• Sleep Workbook (Neurodivergent Insights): neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/sleep (Use Code: DCPOD for 25% off)

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities:

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dealing with chronic health issues can often feel like a neverending battle, especially when it seems like there’s no clear path to improvement.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss their personal battles with chronic health conditions. They provide an insightful analysis using the biopsychosocial model, share their experiences, and introduce this new series on chronic health issues for neurodivergent individuals.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Gain practical insights into managing chronic health struggles through the biopsychosocial model, which considers the interconnected biological, psychological, and social factors affecting well-being.
2. Discover the power of setting concrete, manageable goals to tackle issues such as sleep, depression, and chronic pain, and learn strategies to cultivate self-efficacy and align your actions with your values.
3. Learn how diet, exercise, and behavioral health perspectives play crucial roles in managing complex medical conditions, and hear about the hosts' personal plans to focus on movement and diet for improved health.

As you embark on your own journey to better health, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. Identify one tangible goal you can work on today, and consider the broader biopsychosocial factors influencing your well-being. Reflect on how you can take actionable steps, no matter how small, towards living a more value-aligned life.

————————————————————————————————

🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast

🎙️Spotify

🎙️Apple

🎙️YouTube Music

▶️ YouTube

————————————————————————————————

Thanks to Our Sponsors: Resilient Mind Counseling & Learning Nook

✨Resilient Mind Counseling

Resilient Mind Counseling is a neurodivergent-affirming therapy and medication management practice operated all throughout North Carolina. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent individuals, especially Autistic ADHDers, as well as the LGBTQ and BIPOC communities. We take insurance, so please check our website for coverage for different services. For medication management, you need to be within a 60-mile driving distance to the office. Text or call 828-515-1246 or visit our website at resilientmindcounseling.com to get started.

✨Learning Nook

Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨Hurricane Relief for WNC communities:

This money will go to nonprofits who are boots on the ground. It will go to struggling individuals who do not have enough money for gas to get out, or who do not have enough money to provide their basic needs right now. Donate to Patrick's GoFundMe to help provide urgent aid for WNC communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Visit: atppod.com/wnc

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices