NeuroDiverse Christian Couples MHNRN, LLC

Today, Dan and Stephanie talked with Kevin and Shawna Meek. Their story of divorce and remarriage to each other through infidelity and discovering their neurodiversity. Stephanie and Shawna spoke back in February about her betrayal trauma with the infidelity. Today, they share their determination for marriage and offer hope for those who have had similar challenges in a neurodiverse marriage.



Kevin & Shawna Bios
As a husband and wife determined for more in their relationship, Kevin and Shawna candidly share their journey toward healing and hope after their own divorce, remarriage to one another, infidelity, betrayal trauma, emotional deprivation, and a mid-life autism diagnosis.
Shawna is a professional certified coach and author. Her professional focus is supporting women experiencing betrayal trauma with infidelity, problematic sexual behavior, and porn use. In recent years, she has focused on the additional lens for couples in a neurodiverse marriage with autism and Asperger profiles.

She is the founder and owner of Living Stones Coaching, Mentoring, and Consulting, based in Arizona. She is the author of the book Determined for More, based on their own 25-year marriage journey.
Kevin, also with Living Stones, comes alongside men as a mentor and accountability support for their struggles with problematic sexual behavior, those diagnosed or considering evaluation of autism (ASD1), and those seeking recovery, desiring to focus on growth and improving their relationships. They support clients internationally and have an approach that is very personalized, relatable, and validating to each unique situation. They have a passion for supporting others on their healing journey, providing guidance and tools needed to navigate through difficult and often devastating circumstances.

Look for Shawna's book coming out in April of 2024: Determined for More.

This is a story about the raw truths and realities of finding strength in a complex, neurodiverse marriage following divorce, remarriage, betrayal trauma, and emotional deprivation.

Living Stones Website at www.livingstonescoaching.com

Just the Guys has its first guest, author Brian Hight. Brian and the guys talk about his book and being intentional!


Brian Hight has a career dedicated to servicing marine and laboratory electronics, where he honed his understanding of technically intricate systems. Outside of work, his passions include hiking, electronics, and clay and stone carving, forming a blend of technical precision and creative exploration. He lives in New Zealand with his wife, Sheila, and has one daughter.
You can find his book An Intentional Marriage at:
https://www.amazon.com/Intentional-Marriage-Tools-Stronger-Relationship-ebook/dp/B0CW1FMQBH
Print book coming soon!

About the Book:
Brian Hight takes us on a deeply personal journey, revealing how unintentionality nearly shattered his marriage. While his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD-1) and introverted nature played a role, it was ultimately his choice to stop investing in his relationship that led to the crisis. With raw honesty, Brian shares his struggles and triumphs, offering insights into the tools that helped him regain mental, emotional, and relational strength.

This book isn't just a memoir; it's a guide for anyone seeking to forge a path of intentionality in their own relationships. The author's experiences serve as a beacon of hope, illustrating that this journey is not a single event but a lifelong commitment to finding the best in yourself, your world, and especially in your significant relationships.
The second half of this book is a toolbox of tips, tools, and techniques that discuss ideas and activities that the author has used as part of his journey toward intentionality. Some are practical, and others are conceptual, but all of them have helped him focus on how he can be more present to himself, his surroundings, and especially to his wife and marriage.

If you have been following our podcasts for a bit, you know we are fans of Dr. Jim Wilder, and we talk about joy, hesed, group identity, and healthy correction often. Today, we have with us Chris Coursey, who has authored and co-authored several books on Joy using Wilder's principles and theoretical foundations.

Today we discuss?
What is Joy?
Can I have Joy while things are bad?
What is a Joy -Gap?
How are quieting and joy related?
What is the difference between solitude/isolation and quieting my brain?

About our Guest:
For over 25 years, Chris has been developing and practicing brain-based solutions to make relationships work. He started out his career specializing in severe trauma and abuse and also pastored a small congregation in Michigan for a number of years. Chris is a published author with ten books in print, including “The Joy Switch: How Your Brain’s Secret Circuit Affects Your Relationships - And How You Can Activate It.” He co-authored his most recent book, “The 4 Habits of Joy-Filled People” with Dr. Marcus Warner.

Chris enjoys spending time with his wife, Jen, and their two sons, Matthew and Andrew. In addition to studying, writing, jogging, and exercising, he enjoys the outdoors and is one of the rare people who actually likes the snow.

Find out more- how to practice and learn skills we mentioned today at:
https://thrivetoday.org/relationalskills/

If you have been following the podcast, you have heard Dan and Stephanie talk about joy, hesed, group identity, and healthy transformation. Today, we talk with Michel Hendriks, the co-author of The Other Half of Church.

About our Guest:
MICHEL HENDRICKS (MDiv, Denver Seminary; BS, University of Colorado) has been a teacher and trainer for more than twenty-five years. He is the former pastor of spiritual formation at Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, CO. He has also served and trained people in Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. He is the author of Basic Training for Walking With Jesus and Intentional Apprenticeship. He and his wife, Claudia, have three adult children.

Today, Dan and Stephanie talk about blindspots, receiving feedback, perspective-taking, and the Johari window. What is the Johari window? Listen to find out!

If you really want to do a deep dive into Feedback skills- take our course as a self-study or reach out for coaching!

www.christianneurodiversemarriage.com
Group Coaching- Select Receiving Feedback and Relational Skills

Today, we talked about TBI, TIA, and when autism is combined with personality pathologies such as narcissism.

From Jodi's website about her:
Throughout my journey as a therapist, educator, and coach, I have amassed more than 20 years of experience helping people with a multitude of challenges, including autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, abuse, and codependency. I completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1997 and received a master’s degree in counseling in 2000. I am trauma-certified and trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy and hypnosis.

Although my professional training and experience have provided tremendous knowledge and insight, it was my 19-year neurodiverse marriage, being a mom to my autistic daughter and ADHD son, and my relationships with other neurodiverse loved ones that have truly served as my personal training ground for understanding and embracing neurodiversity.


In addition, I am a survivor of narcissistic abuse in multiple relationships beginning in childhood. I know the feelings of confusion, heartbreak, resentment, anger, terror, desperation, and hopelessness. I have been love-bombed, devalued, discarded, physically and verbally intimidated, and gaslighted. I have experienced shame, guilt, humiliation, and the desperate desire to be loved by others who were incapable. Through years of my own therapy, I unraveled and healed from my own traumatic abuse. I confronted codependency, a dysfunctional survival mechanism from childhood that I brought into my adult relationship. I have emerged wiser and stronger. I learned to love and value myself, allowing me to safely and securely love and be loved by others through connected communication, healthy boundaries, realistic expectations, care, empathy, compassion, and affection.

My abusive past caused fear and uncertainty for me in my neurodiverse relationships, which are fundamentally confusing for individuals who are neurological hard-wired differently from one another. Over time, I’ve noticed a common pattern in relationships where both neurotypical and neurodivergent partners have often endured abuse in their past relationships or during childhood. This history hinders partners from establishing safety and building trust that is necessary to cultivate a loving connection.

Today, I am compelled to support others in finding their way through confusion and hardship, ultimately leading them to clarity, peace, and joy in their lives. I have built an educational and coaching program aimed at assisting you in comprehending yourself and understanding your loved ones better. Moreover, this program equips you with valuable tools to make informed decisions and enhances your communication and connection skills, enabling you to thrive in relationships.

Find Jodi's courses or more information about Jodi at:
https://jodicarlton.com/

Disclaimer:
When we have guests on the ASR podcast, they are recognized for their expertise on autism as an advocate, self-advocate, clinicians, parents, or other professionals in the field. They may or may not be part of the faith community; having a guest on the broader topic of autism does not reflect complete agreement with the guest, just as many guests may not agree with our faith perspective. Guests are chosen by topic for the chosen podcast discussion and are not necessarily in full agreement with all beliefs of the chosen guest(s).