Unmasking Dyslexia

Carleen Ross MSc. Positive Psychology Practitioner & Coach

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Unmasking Dyslexia explores the lived experience and untold strengths of dyslexic minds.Hosted by Carleen Ross MSc., a Positive Psychology Practitioner and Coach, each episode blends personal stories with science-backed insights from psychology and neuroscience.Discover practical tools, reframe the narrative, and reconnect with what it truly means to thrive with dyslexia.

Aug 4

Coaching vs Therapy: What's the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

Send us Fan Mail Should you choose coaching or therapy? Many people use the terms interchangeably, but coaching and therapy serve different purposes and understanding the difference can help you choose the support that's right for you. In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, I explore the similarities and differences between coaching and therapy, both from an academic perspective and through the lived experiences of clients who have participated in both. As a Positive Psychology Coach with a background in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, I've found that many people benefit from both approaches but for different reasons. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ The key differences between coaching and therapy ✅ Why therapy often focuses on understanding the past ✅ How coaching focuses on growth, goals, and future possibilities ✅ The role of values, strengths, and self-confidence in coaching ✅ A real client perspective on experiencing both therapy and coaching ✅ How coaching supports personal and professional development ✅ Why healing and growth often work together Whether you're navigating a dyslexia diagnosis, pursuing personal growth, or simply curious about the coaching process, this episode will help clarify how these two powerful approaches can support your journey. 🎙️ Unmasking Dyslexia explores dyslexia beyond reading and writing—examining identity, well-being, relationships, personal growth, and the unique strengths of neurodiverse minds. 📌 Interested in Positive Psychology Coaching? Connect with me through the links below to learn more about how coaching can support your growth and well-being journey. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
Jul 21

What Well-Being Really Means for Dyslexics (It's Not About Being Happy)

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, I explore one of the most misunderstood concepts in positive psychology: well-being. Many people believe well-being means being happy all the time, but true well-being is much deeper than that. It includes our emotions, relationships, accomplishments, health, financial stability, personal growth, meaning, purpose, and even the difficult experiences that shape who we become. As someone with dyslexia and a Master's in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, I've discovered that increasing well-being can have a profound impact on how we experience life—and even how we navigate our dyslexic challenges. In this episode, we discuss: ✅ The difference between happiness and well-being ✅ Why toxic positivity can be harmful ✅ The role of emotions in personal growth ✅ Relationships and their impact on well-being ✅ Meaning, mattering, and purpose ✅ Psychological richness and learning from life's challenges ✅ Why embracing both success and struggle creates a fuller life If you've ever wondered how to create a more meaningful and fulfilling life, this episode is for you. 🎙️ Welcome to Unmasking Dyslexia—where we explore dyslexia beyond reading and writing, and uncover how it influences identity, relationships, well-being, and human potential. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
Jul 7

The Grief Nobody Talks About After a Dyslexia Diagnosis

Send us Fan Mail In this deeply personal episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores the grief process that can follow a late dyslexia diagnosis and why so many dyslexic adults experience emotional upheaval after finally receiving answers. While society is beginning to highlight the strengths and gifts associated with dyslexia, this episode creates space for the other side of the journey — the grief, loss, confusion, and identity shifts that can surface after diagnosis. Carleen discusses: Why late diagnosis can feel emotionally overwhelming The grief of missed support and misunderstood childhood experiences How dyslexics often internalize negative labels Why hope can temporarily disappear after diagnosis The connection between wellbeing and dyslexic challenges The importance of self-acceptance, nervous system regulation, and healing How positive psychology, resilience, and post-traumatic growth can help rebuild identity This episode also introduces Snyder’s Hope Theory and offers a guided visualization exercise to help listeners reconnect compassionately with their younger selves. If you’ve recently been diagnosed with dyslexia or are struggling to redefine who you are after diagnosis, this conversation reminds you that grief is normal, healing is possible, and your story is still unfolding. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
Jun 23

Late Dyslexia Diagnosis: The Identity Shift Nobody Talks About

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores why receiving a late dyslexia diagnosis can feel emotionally overwhelming and deeply life-changing. Beyond simply explaining reading or memory struggles, a diagnosis can force individuals to completely re-evaluate their identity, relationships, past experiences, and self-worth. Carleen shares her personal experience of being diagnosed at 49 years old and discusses the grief, relief, nervous system response, and emotional reframing that can follow an adult dyslexia diagnosis. She challenges the medical model that focuses only on deficits and instead encourages listeners to see dyslexia through a neurodiversity lens — as a different processing style rather than something “wrong.” This episode also highlights: • Why late diagnosis can trigger an identity crisis • The emotional impact of reinterpreting childhood experiences • How labels influence self-perception • Why dyslexics often internalize harmful narratives • The importance of rebuilding identity through strengths and self-understanding • How positive psychology coaching can support the healing process If you’ve recently discovered you’re dyslexic later in life, this episode reminds you that you are not broken — you simply process the world differently. https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
Jun 9

Do Dyslexics Feel Pain Differently? The Surprising Science of Dyslexia & Pain Thresholds

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores an often-overlooked question: Do dyslexics experience pain differently? Drawing from scientific research and personal experience, this episode dives into how dyslexia may influence pain thresholds, body awareness, headaches, stomach pain, and sensory processing. Carleen discusses studies showing that dyslexic individuals may require more pressure to notice pain in their limbs and extremities, while simultaneously experiencing increased sensitivity to internal pain signals like headaches and stomach discomfort. Through stories, science, and reflection, this episode challenges the idea that dyslexia only impacts reading and learning. Instead, it explores dyslexia as a full-body neuroprocessing difference that may shape how individuals experience and interpret the world around them. Topics include: • Dyslexia and pain thresholds • Why dyslexics may process body signals differently • Sensory integration and proprioception • The connection between dyslexia, headaches, and stomach pain • Personal reflections on injury, pain tolerance, and resilience • Why dyslexia extends far beyond the classroom This episode invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and join the conversation around the hidden sensory and physical dimensions of dyslexia. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
May 26

Dyslexia & Gut Health: The Surprising Link to Constipation

Send us Fan Mail What does dyslexia have to do with constipation? More than you might think. In this episode, we explore the emerging connection between dyslexia, gut health, and the brain. While dyslexia is often viewed as a learning difference, it is also a neurodiverse profile—meaning the entire system, including the body, can be impacted. Inside this conversation: The connection between the gut microbiome and brain function Why neurodivergent individuals may experience more digestive challenges The role of stress and anxiety in digestion How gut health can influence cognitive function and dyslexic traits The emerging research linking dyslexia with stomach aches and constipation Why this isn’t “just physical”—it’s neurological and systemic We also explore interoception (your awareness of internal body signals) and how stress impacts digestion, potentially intensifying dyslexic challenges like word recall and processing. This episode is educational, empowering, and yes… a little bit of potty talk. ✨ Because understanding your body helps you understand your brain. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
May 12

Do Dyslexics Stim? (Most People Get This Wrong)

Send us Fan Mail Do dyslexics stim? It’s a question that often gets dismissed—but the answer reveals something much deeper about dyslexia, neurodiversity, and how the brain regulates itself. In this episode, we unpack the truth: dyslexia is not just a learning difference—it is a neurodiverse profile. And like many neurodivergent individuals, dyslexics engage in forms of stimming, often without even realizing it. You’ll learn: What stimming actually is and why it matters The different types of stimming (tactile, visual, auditory, movement, oral, and cognitive) Why many dyslexics say “I don’t stim”—but actually do How masking hides self-regulation behaviors The connection between stimming, anxiety, and focus Why these behaviors are not flaws—but intelligent adaptations From fidgeting and rereading to shifting your weight or chewing your cheek, many everyday behaviors are actually forms of self-regulation. This episode invites you to rethink what you thought you knew about dyslexia—and to see yourself with more clarity, compassion, and understanding. ✨ You’re not broken. You’re wired differently—and intentionally. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.
Apr 28

Dyslexics Mask More Than You Think (Signs You Didn’t Realize)

Send us Fan Mail Do dyslexic individuals mask? Absolutely — and often more than they even realize. In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, we break down the hidden ways dyslexics mask in everyday life to fit into a world that doesn’t fully understand how their brain works. From memorizing information and overstudying to using humour, perfectionism, and rehearsed conversations — many of these behaviours aren’t personality traits… they’re coping strategies. In this episode, we explore: What masking looks like for dyslexic individuals Why dyslexics often hide their challenges The difference between masking and personality Common masking behaviours like: Memorizing instead of processing Overstudying to feel “safe” Using humour or self-deprecation Suppressing needs Rehearsing conversations (social scripts) The “class clown” vs. “quiet achiever” patterns How masking impacts wellbeing and identity Many dyslexics grow up adapting to survive socially and academically, often without realizing it. This episode invites you to pause and ask: How much of what I do is actually masking? If you’re dyslexic — or support someone who is — this conversation can help bring awareness, validation, and a new lens to everyday behaviours. 👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help shift the narrative around dyslexia and neurodiversity. Support the show Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference. If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs Or connect with her directly, email her at connect@CarleenRoss.com.

Unmasking Dyslexia explores the lived experience and untold strengths of dyslexic minds.Hosted by Carleen Ross MSc., a Positive Psychology Practitioner and Coach, each episode blends personal stories with science-backed insights from psychology and neuroscience.Discover practical tools, reframe the narrative, and reconnect with what it truly means to thrive with dyslexia.

Creator

Carleen Ross MSc. Positive Psychology Practitioner & Coach
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

26
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Unmasking Dyslexia
Show Website

Unmasking Dyslexia

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Daily