For our first episode, we explain what neurodiversity is, who falls under this description and one of the most important things we’ve learned parenting and working with this population. Join us, as we share why we’re doing a podcast and what you can expect from listening in each week.

Get full show notes and more information here: JasonDebbie.com/1

Listen in to our interview with well-respected psychologists Abby and Todd. Find out what goes into a comprehensive psychological evaluation, why is it worth investing in a good one, and hear what they say to those wanting to avoid a diagnosis because of fears around labeling their child.

Get full show notes and more information here: https://JasonDebbie.com/2

In this first solo episode with Debbie, she talks about some of the challenges in neurodivergent parenting. You love your son or daughter and want them to be happy. You want the best for them, but it's hard to figure it out what to do.

There's a lot of conflicting advice and approaches out there. How do you know if you're doing it right? How do you know what's going to help your loved one?

Listen in as she points out from personal experience what positive results really boil down to- every time.

• How do you know if you’re doing it right?
• Why you can say and do all the “right things” according to experts and still get a negative result.
• What positive results really boil down to- every time.
• Why doing the work on yourself is so worth it even if it’s hard.

• Visit NeuroDevMentoring.com to learn more about out our specialized program for neurodivergent young adults.
• Follow Debbie on Instagram!

• Don’t miss an episode, follow on us on Spotify or Amazon Music and subscribe via Apple Podcasts, or RSS.
• Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.
• Contact us at Support@JasonDebbie.com for comments, suggestions, or to be a guest on our show.

We are delighted to have Nichol, the Executive Director of Summit Achievement wilderness therapy program in Stow, ME, on our show. He is truly someone who “gets it” and does great work with autistic and neurodiverse clients. Nichol shares some great nuggets of insight and approaches like the concept of “safe struggle” from his experience working with this population that you will want to start using.

If you are unfamiliar with what wilderness programs are, this is a great introduction to one of the best for serving our communities’ young people. We discuss when a wilderness therapy program is appropriate for neurodiverse young people, especially when an outpatient clinical or residential setting isn’t working.

Listen in this week on our discussion and learn from Nichol’s great perspectives from years of experience and passion for his work.

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

• The benefits of working through “safe struggle” to overcome challenges.
• Why the “outdoor effect” accelerates results.
• Why we don’t change when were comfortable.
• The advantage of wilderness therapy for neurodiverse young people.
• How the Summit hybrid wilderness model helps clients take what is learned outdoors and apply it in real life settings.
• Teaching “tone, tact and timing,” improving executive functioning skills and handling transitions.
• Why pot vaping can be attractive to neurodiverse young people

Featured on the Show:

• Nichol Ernst, LCSW
• Visit Summit Achievement to learn more about Nichol’s wilderness treatment program and Summit Traverse to learn more about their short-term therapeutic boarding school program.
• Link for Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare (OBH)
• Link for National Association for Therapeutic Schools and Programs (NATSAP)
• Visit NeuroDevMentoring.com to learn more about out our specialized program for neurodiverse young adults.
• Follow Debbie on Instagram!

In Jason’s first solo episode, he draws from a presentation he gave at a previous Young Adult Transition Association (YATA) conference. He has found one of the most successful treatments for the neurodiverse young adult population has nothing to do with treatment.

He goes into detail about the developmental model as it applies to neurodiverse young people. This understanding gives important insights into how to better influence children. It also helps you to be ready for which developmental stage that delays really become apparent.

This part 1 episode sets the stage for what a high school re-do is and why it’s often so needed.

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

• Understanding the developmental model and applying it to neurodiverse young people.
• What stage delays become more obvious so you can be ready for it.
• The importance of a “high school re-do” for some young adults and what it can look like.
• What parents tend to focus the most on and why it’s a big mistake.
• The difference between performance versus well-being or doing well versus being well and it’s implications.
• Understanding primary, secondary, and tertiary issues with neurodiversity.
• Why and how to meet young people where they’re at to connect.

Featured on the Show:

• Visit NeuroDevMentoring.com to learn more about out our specialized program for neurodiverse young adults.
• Follow Debbie on Instagram!

We’re so happy Joanna came by for another visit at our school, NeuroDev. Joanna has her own podcast ‘Success Is Subjective’ that we enjoy listening to that you’ll want to check out, too. So, of course, we asked her to be a guest on our podcast and record an episode while she was with us.

Joanna is a Treatment Placement and Therapeutic Gap Year Consultant, who helps young adults and their families during the important transition time into adulthood.

Along with the many challenges of neurodiverse parenting, are the worrisome questions surrounding what will happen to them when they become an adult.

It doesn’t have to be a big, scary, looming black hole. There are many good options and supports out there, especially if we keep an open mind.

No matter the age of your neurodiverse son or daughter, this episode will help you better prepare for the important adult transition stage.

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

• What you can’t overlook when planning for the transition to college or independence.
• What you can expect for a timeline.
• Why you need a plan for how to step back.
• When it may be a bad idea to push college.
• Why your focus may change when you consider the bigger picture.
• Options to help other than traditional college.
• The benefits of getting support for parenting a neurodiverse adult versus a neurodiverse child.

Featured on the Show:

• Find Joanna at lilleyconsulting.com, Success Is Subjective podcast, Instagram, facebook, and check out some great articles she’s written.
• Visit NeuroDevMentoring.com to learn more about out our specialized program for neurodiverse young adults.
• Follow Debbie on Instagram!

In part 2, Jason continues to draw from a presentation he gave at a Young Adult Transition Association (YATA) conference.

Jason gets to the heart of why we need to throw out the usual timelines for neurodiverse teens and young adults and makes the case for a high school re-do.

He shares the short list he uses at NeuroDev as a barometer of where a student is at and offers four ways to motivate a teen or young adult to get their unmet and underdeveloped needs met.

Those needs go far beyond just educational and performative tasks.

He takes a hard look at how we may contribute to our teens experiencing secondary and tertiary issues on top of the primary issues associated with a neurodiverse diagnosis.

If you are looking for ways to better support your teen, don’t miss this episode.

As Jason says, “You can either make it really hard and be miserable throughout the entire process, or you can accept it for what it is and enjoy the journey.”

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

• What meeting our children where they’re at can look like.
• Understanding what Jason calls, “Comparison Fatigue.”
• What is KEY for neurodiverse teens and young adults to be OK.
• What teens & young adults need to develop well.
• Four ways to motivate teens & young adults.
• What we all need to feel good enough.
• What happens when teens get knocked down too much.
• Why primarily wanting our kids to DO WELL can be a big mistake and the wrong issue to focus on.

Featured on the Show:

• Visit NeuroDevMentoring.com to learn more about out our specialized program for neurodiverse young adults.
• Follow Debbie on Instagram!

It’s time for some neurodiverse girl talk! We invited Caitlin to come talk about the unique presentation and issues neurodiverse females experience. They’re often misunderstood and misdiagnosed or go undiagnosed until later than their male counterparts.

Unfortunately, because three times as many boys are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as are girls, most of the research has been directed at neurodiverse males.

This makes it even more important for us to understand some of the key differences in how females present and to understand their unique needs.

We appreciate Caitlin joining us and sharing her deep understanding and tips for how to best support our neurodiverse female loved ones.

Caitlin Galt is a licensed clinical mental health counselor who works with a young adult population at Aspiro Wilderness Therapy Program. She specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder, NVLD, family systems, anxiety, identity issues, mood disorders, trauma, addictive behaviors, and ADHD.

You’ll want to share this episode far and wide with anyone parenting or mentoring neurodiverse females.

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

• Red flags to keep an eye out for if you suspect your daughter may be neurodiverse.
• What differentiates a neurodiverse diagnosis in females from other common misdiagnosis.
• Why females often get misdiagnosed or diagnosed later than their male counterparts.
• Why neurodiverse females struggle to navigate social situations.
• What is masking and why is it more common among neurodiverse females than in males.
• The importance of comprehensive mentoring and teaching of relationship skills.
• Caitlin’s tips for parents of neurodiverse females.

Featured on the Show:

• To learn more about the wilderness therapy program Caitlin works at, please visit: Aspiro
• Visit NeuroDevMentoring.com to learn more about out our specialized co-ed program for neurodiverse young adults.
• Sign up for our free video course: Start Parenting Confidently With 3 Simple Steps
• Follow Debbie on Instagram! Join the conversation and comment to share your insights from this episode.