x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Divergent Conversations

Megan Anna Neff & Patrick Casale

Dr. Megan Neff and Patrick Casale are two Neurodivergent therapists in a neurotypical world. During this podcast, they’ll talk about their own personal experiences as Autistic-ADHDers. They will reflect on their lived experience as AuDHD mental health professionals, and entrepreneurs, as well as offer clinical guidance, and support. Episodes will be conversational in nature, and they’ll interview other ND Folx to amplify the voices of other neurodivergent advocates and individuals as they share

health & fitness mental health

All Episodes

34:55

Episode 21: Taking Up Space: Navigating Social...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/09/29

Taking up space and asking for what you need in social settings and relationships can be particularly challenging for Autistic individuals, especially before Autistic diagnosis or discovery. It is not uncommon for many Autistic people to respond strongly to rejection, and we often work hard to "earn" a place in groups where we are allowed to safely exist by being helpful to others or blending in by dressing or acting in a way that seems "normal" or "acceptable." Maintaining these actions while

en

62:29

Episode 20: Embracing Neuroqueer Identity: Queerness...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/09/22

Statistically, 70% of Autistic individuals identify as non-heterosexual, and genderqueer people are 3 to 6 times more likely to be diagnosed as Autistic than cisgender adults. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, talk with Rebecca Minor, MSW, LICSW, a gender expansive therapist and advocate in the neuroqueer space, about genderqueer identity and neuroqueer identity—what they are, how they intersect, and how they are perceived versus present

en

43:33

Episode 19: Questions and Answers: Redefining...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/09/15

Many questions around identity often come up for adults who have been masking their whole lives and discover later in life that they are Autistic. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, answer some of the questions sent to them from podcast listeners about identity and moving forward in life after autism discovery. Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode: Hear answers to questions like, how do you know who you really are beyond the

en

34:44

Episode 18: Autistic Unmasking: Redefining Identity...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/09/08

Identity is complex and interwoven into the world around us. But as Autistic individuals who wear a mask, identity is often not entirely shaped by ourselves. Late in life discovery of autism or ADHD can set off a cascading journey of self-discovery and identity exploration. Once we start to embrace our authentic selves and explore our identity, everything can change. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, dive into the topic of exploring

en

42:53

Episode 17: Autistic and ADHD Self-Identification and...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/09/01

Lived experience, awareness, self-identification, and self-diagnosis for autism and ADHD can have immense value, allowing us to connect with a community and share experiences that others may not fully comprehend. However, there are also risks of misdiagnosis and misinformation that can potentially cause harm. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, explore the hot topics surrounding misinformation, social media anecdotes, and self-diagnosis of

en

49:52

Episode 16: Autism and Healthcare: The Impact and...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/08/25

Self-disclosure of an autistic diagnosis in medical situations or even everyday life is a very vulnerable thing to do, and there are so many results that can come from it. Self-disclosure can result in both negative and positive experiences including everything from insurance challenges and negative societal assumptions to better accommodations for sensory issues in medical situations and quicker access to neurodivergent-affirming healthcare providers. This mix of results can make the decision to

en

45:39

Episode 15: Exploring the Intersection:...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/08/18

Do you ever feel like your immune system is working against you? You don’t know what’s wrong, no one else knows what’s wrong, you keep doing medical tests and it’s coming back normal or the pieces don’t add up. Autistic people often experience a myriad of chronic health conditions and nervous system dysregulation that leaves us feeling terrible, overwhelmed, and with tons more questions than answers about what’s going on with our bodies. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two

en

50:14

Episode 14: Autistic Masking: The Impact on Mental...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/08/11

There are a lot of nuances of Autistic masking, and it's become a sensitive and polarizing topic these days online and in social media. With all the various opinions, information, and anecdotes out there, it can be confusing to understand what masking is, and how privilege and different social identities intersect with the experience of unmasking. Masking and unmasking impacts mental health, identity, and relationships in significant ways. In this episode, Dr. Megan Anna Neff and Patrick Casale,

en

42:27

Episode 13: When Little Things Feel Huge:...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/08/04

Difficulty with unexpected changes or routine disruptions is a pivotal part of being Autistic and even small changes can result in a surge of irritation. In regards to routine or plan changes, Dr. Neff described her feelings as an Autistic person: "Once I'm, like, emotionally checked out of something, I'm out." Patrick Casale shared his experience saying that it's very hard to get back into a place where he feels mentally regulated, and he just gets very irritated, very easily. In this episode, Dr

en

43:22

Episode 12: Demand Avoidance and PDA: Exploring the...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/07/28

In this episode, we explore demand avoidance, a common experience among neurodivergent people. We delve into the factors contributing to demand avoidance, including executive functioning challenges, sensory issues, and a desire for autonomy. Additionally, we take a closer look at Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), also known as Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, a complex and often misunderstood subtype of autism. Join us as we navigate this important topic, gaining a deeper understanding of demand

en

45:52

Episode 11: Sensory Overload and Social Engagement —...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/07/21

Socializing in groups can feel exhausting and often adds an entirely different level of complexity to the sensory experience and challenges for autistic individuals. Patrick Casale, an AuDHD mental health therapist, shared his thought processes and some of the questions that run through his head when in group conversations, such as, "When do I interrupt? When do I not? When do I jump in? When do I not? When do I stay quiet? When do I avoid adding commentary?" Dr. Neff shared that she shows up

en

32:38

Episode 10: Understanding Alexithymia — Exploring the...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/07/14

Picture the immense amount of energy invested in analyzing your emotional responses to every social interaction, striving to decipher not only your own feelings but also how the other person perceived the conversation. Or imagine navigating through life with a constant undercurrent of irritability and anxiety, yet lacking a clear understanding of their origin. These experiences only represent a small fraction of what people with alexithymia may experience. Alexithymia, which in simple terms is

en

39:27

Episode 9: Travel and Autism — Exploring the World...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/07/07

Travel and the act of experiencing people and places is something that is generally talked about with excitement, but for Autistic people, it can be a much more complex experience. Patrick, who hosts entrepreneurial retreats for therapists all over the world and travels often for extended periods of time, shared that despite loving to travel, the experience of hosting retreats and being away from home could also feel torturous at times, like having exposed nerves that were shocked by all things

en

40:40

Episode 8: Autistic Emotions

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/06/30

Being an Autistic human often pairs with a complex relationship with emotions. Just the question, "How do you feel," can feel so uncomfortable and spark anxiety, panic, and avoidance, often resulting in pre-planned responses or an answer that makes you think, "What the hell am I saying right now?" In her initial session with a new therapist, Megan Anna, an Autistic psychologist, unintentionally exposed her genuine feelings about emotions, inadvertently confessing, "I hate emotions." In this episode,

en

52:48

Episode 7: Finding a Neurodivergent Affirmative...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/06/23

Finding a neurodivergent affirmative therapist is important for individuals who are Autistic, have ADHD, or have another diagnosis. However, it isn't always easy to connect with a therapist who is willing to explore their client's special interests, even though it can help them feel more comfortable and relaxed during therapy sessions. There are some therapists out there who shy away from or just don't understand neurodivergent minds and thinking, despite what claims may be on their profiles, which

en

44:55

Episode 6: Challenging Stigma Around Autistic Therapists

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/06/22

There can be a lot of stigma around autism and especially being an autistic therapist, which can make it even harder for autistic individuals to step into this career. They may even be told that they can't be empathetic or relate to others in a way that could help their clients, which is just NOT TRUE. If you are autistic and have been hesitating to step into the mental health field because of the stigma around autism, then this episode is for you. Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire

en

43:10

Episode 5: Diagnosis Stories (Part 2) — Early Signs...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/06/09

For many adults who are diagnosed later in life, their diagnosis story often begins with a misdiagnosis story. It's not uncommon for these adults to go through childhood and some adult life just feeling like they are a bit more weird or different than a lot of the people around them. It can even be a somewhat painful experience as they try to find answers and explore the reasons why they just don't seem to fit in and why they present themselves the way they do. If you have been exploring the

en

46:23

Episode 4: Diagnosis Stories (Part 1) — The Impact of...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/06/02

For individuals who've wondered if they are autistic (or know they are but haven't been formally diagnosed), it can be a complex journey to first decide whether or not to seek a formal autism diagnosis and then to learn how to restructure the way they see and interact with the world. Getting diagnosed and embracing yourself as autistic can feel like tearing down a wall (or removing your mask). And you can finally see yourself clearly, but so can everyone else. You might feel relief, you might feel

en

45:48

Episode 3: The Relationship Between Sleep &...

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/05/26

Ever wake up in the middle of the night with the thoughts of “Damn. I’m not going back to sleep tonight” crossing your mind? Sleep and neurodivergent brains have a complex relationship, and many neurodivergent individuals struggle with insomnia, restless sleep, sleep paralysis, being light sleepers, and having the weirdest sleep schedule in general, if you can call it a schedule at all. Fatigue is often common and more intense for neurodivergent individuals, which can be hard on those who are

en

41:41

Episode 2: Autistic Burnout

Divergent Conversations ·

2023/05/12

Do you ever find yourself in a state of paralyzing burnout that can happen even when you're doing activities that you enjoy? Have you ever taken a vacation to fight the fatigue of life only to find that your post-vacation burnout-recovery state is reversed sooner and more severely than others? Do you wonder how you can reduce your burnout in a way that works and actually lasts? Then this episode is for you. Top 3 reasons to listen to this episode: Understand what autistic burnout looks like and how

en

141 results

Similar Podcasts

Доктор Тройняшкин

Доктор Тройняшкин

The Dry Eye Treatment PODCAST

Dry Eye Treatment

Différent et alors ?

PATRICK SULAY

Kyle Kingsbury Podcast

Kyle Kingsbury

The Real Weight Loss Coach

Matty Lansdown