Divergent Conversations
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 their authentic stories. New episodes will come out weekly, on all major platforms. Megan told Patrick, ”I’ll bring the chaos, You organize it.” This perfectly sums up their working relationship and friendship. Reflections of two neurodivergent clinicians. Raw, Vulnerable, Affirmative As Hell. Follow instagram.com/divergentconversations
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Episode 20: Embracing Neuroqueer Identity: Quee...
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 ...
62 min
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Episode 19: Questions and Answers: Redefining I...
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 ...
43 min
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Episode 18: Autistic Unmasking: Redefining Iden...
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 a...
34 min
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Episode 17: Autistic and ADHD Self-Identificati...
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 misd...
42 min
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Episode 16: Autism and Healthcare: The Impact a...
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...
49 min
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Episode 15: Exploring the Intersection: Neurodi...
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 myri...
45 min
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Episode 14: Autistic Masking: The Impact on Men...
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 maskin...
49 min
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Episode 13: When Little Things Feel Huge: Neuro...
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: "O...
42 min
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Episode 12: Demand Avoidance and PDA: Exploring...
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. Addition...
43 min
60
Episode 11: Sensory Overload and Social Engagem...
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 s...
45 min
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Episode 10: Understanding Alexithymia — Explori...
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 l...
32 min
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Episode 9: Travel and Autism — Exploring the Wo...
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 t...
39 min
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Episode 8: Autistic Emotions
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 y...
40 min
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Episode 7: Finding a Neurodivergent Affirmative...
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, ...
52 min
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Episode 6: Challenging Stigma Around Autistic T...
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 t...
44 min
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Episode 5: Diagnosis Stories (Part 2) — Early S...
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 tha...
42 min
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Episode 4: Diagnosis Stories (Part 1) — The Imp...
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 the...
46 min
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Episode 3: The Relationship Between Sleep & Neu...
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, res...
45 min
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Episode 2: Autistic Burnout
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 re...
41 min
70
Episode 1: I’ll Bring The Chaos & You Help Orga...
Have you ever felt like there was some big mystery that you could never solve as to why you acted and thought the way you did?
Maybe you were told that you are neurodivergent but struggle to understand what that means for you.
Do you feel tired of ma...
32 min