The Calm Cast

The Calm Place

The Calm Cast is hosted by Alison Petten, Registered Psychologist and Co-Director of The Calm Place, alongside Ashley MacLellan. Together, they create a space for honest, down-to-earth conversations about mental health and wellness. With the support of expert guests, they break down stigma, explore the topics we don’t talk about enough, and share practical tools—making healing feel more approachable, relatable, and even a little bit fun.

Episodes

  1. Is it Me or ADHD?

    3d ago

    Is it Me or ADHD?

    In Episode 2 of The Calm Cast, Alison, Ashley and Stephanie Keezer explore one of the most common questions people are asking today: "Do I have ADHD?" With ADHD conversations becoming increasingly common online, it can be difficult to know whether symptoms like forgetfulness, overwhelm, difficulty concentrating, or emotional dysregulation point to ADHD—or something else entirely. Stephanie shares her expertise as a psychologist specializing in both ADHD and trauma, helping listeners understand the complex relationship between brain development, childhood experiences, and mental health. In this episode, we discuss: ✨What ADHD actually is—and what it isn't ✨Why ADHD is often misunderstood and over-simplified online ✨The connection between trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and ADHD-like symptoms ✨How childhood experiences shape brain development ✨Why ADHD assessments require more than a checklist ✨The differences between ADHD symptoms and trauma responses ✨How ADHD often presents differently in women ✨The role genetics play in ADHD ✨The importance of comprehensive assessment and accurate diagnosis About Our Guest Stephanie Keezer, Psychologist Stephanie is a psychologist here at The Calm Place in St. John's, Newfoundland. She specializes in comprehensive adult ADHD assessments, with expertise in identifying subtle and internalized presentations across high-functioning adults, including women, whose symptoms are frequently overlooked in standard evaluations. Her approach is collaborative and relational, focused on creating a safe space to understand patterns and explore how unprocessed stress, trauma, and early experiences may shape emotional and cognitive functioning. Her practice is grounded in genuine connection, thoughtful assessment, and clear, practical guidance. Connect With Us Have questions you'd like us to cover in a future episode? We'd love to hear from you. Follow The Calm Place on social media and send us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas for future episodes of The Calm Cast @thecalmplace_nl Remember: Calm isn't something you find. It's something you practice. 💜

    38 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Calm Cast is hosted by Alison Petten, Registered Psychologist and Co-Director of The Calm Place, alongside Ashley MacLellan. Together, they create a space for honest, down-to-earth conversations about mental health and wellness. With the support of expert guests, they break down stigma, explore the topics we don’t talk about enough, and share practical tools—making healing feel more approachable, relatable, and even a little bit fun.