Nervous System Care & Healing

Liz Zhou
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Mental Health

A podcast about how to take care of our nervous systems while we navigate systems that were designed to keep us dysregulated. Hosted by Liz Zhou, a neurodivergent therapist of color. If you’re a highly sensitive or neurodivergent person — or have always felt different from others, like you belong nowhere — then I hope this podcast will feel like a “welcome home” for you. Here, we approach difference with curiosity, not judgment. We affirm that there is nothing “wrong” with you, that none of us are broken — but the systems around us are. If you’re curious about individual healing & collective liberation, this podcast is for you. Join us as we heal our nervous systems & take good care of ourselves and each other. You are welcome here.

  1. 4d ago

    Self-Regulation & Co-Regulation: Our Nervous Systems Need Both

    Nervous system regulation is the capacity to shift states - from dysregulated, overwhelmed, and disconnected, to regulated, grounded, and connected. It’s a skill that we can develop & strengthen across time, and that allows us to build healthy relationships - with self, others, & the world. This episode shares options for nervous system regulation - self- & co-regulation - so you can add ideas to your nervous system care plan. Topics covered: What is self-regulation?What is co-regulation?Why we need BOTH self-regulation & co-regulation practices: experiences of healthy connection & co-regulation teach our nervous systems how to self-regulateHow childhood experiences impact nervous system development (& why none of us are “doomed” by the past - our nervous systems are malleable, and capable of change, healing, and rewiring across time)Nature offers opportunities for non-human relationship, connection, & co-regulation - which is helpful if you don’t feel safe to co-regulate w/ other humans RESOURCES >> To view research mentioned in the episode, click here. 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my email newsletter, where I share insights on how to understand your brain & take care of your nervous system: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> Follow on IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about Nervous System Healing Intensives here (focused sessions, using Brainspotting & Internal Family Systems, to help you heal deeply & connect with your authentic self) 🌻

  2. Aug 9

    The Link Between Trauma, Neurodivergence, & Capitalism, w/ Lila Low-Beinart

    How do you know if you have trauma… or if you’re neurodivergent… or both? Why does it seem like more & more people are receiving autism & ADHD diagnoses these days? And what does capitalism have to do with all this? Join me & Lila as we explore the link between capitalistic systems and the struggles experienced by neurodivergent people. In this episode, we discuss: the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm vs. pathology paradigm: why you’re not “broken” - you’re navigating a world that wasn’t built for youwhy we need likeminded community around us when we’re shifting from one paradigm to another allowing space for grief & joy while unmasking & connecting with your authentic selfwhy so many neurodivergent people experience trauma - and why, in a capitalist society, we are all experiencing trauma to some degreehow to discern between trauma responses vs. innate neurodivergent traitsthe nuances of high-masking, late-diagnosed autistic experiences, and the privilege to pass as neurotypical in certain contextshow capitalism disables people - aka, "capitalist disablement" This episode provides language to help you make sense of your experiences & invite self-compassion - whether you are autistic, ADHD, multiply neurodivergent, neurotypical, or don't identify with a specific label. QUOTE: “In a capitalist society, we are all experiencing trauma to some degree. The notion that our very livelihood depends on being able-bodied enough to get work in the US - to me, that’s a trauma. As capitalism continues to ask more and more of us to benefit the people who are making money off of our labor, more and more of us are becoming disabled by this capitalist extraction.” 🌿 About the Guest Lila Low-Beinart (she/her) is a Neurodiversity Educator, Consultant, Licensed Psychotherapist, and the Founder of Divergent Paths Counseling. As a multiply neurodivergent queer woman - and former pharmaceutical chemist and “dharma bum” - Lila brings a powerful blend of professional expertise and rich lived experience to her work. She is a pioneer in neurodiversity-affirming care, training clinical, corporate, and school settings to move beyond awareness and toward true systemic change. 🌿 Connect with Lila >> Website: www.divergentpathscounseling.com  >> IG: www.instagram.com/divergent.paths.counseling/ >> Explore 24 -CE Comprehensive Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy Training: www.divergentpathscounseling.com/neurodiversity-affirming-psychotherapist-training  🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my email newsletter: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist

  3. Aug 3

    In a Grief-Filled World, Hope is a Resource & a Practice

    In a world that can feel disconnecting, dysregulating, and filled with suffering, just as it is important to grieve, it is important to stay connected to hope.  In this episode, I share reflections on: why we need hope as a resource, when navigating systemic grief & oppressionwhy hope is different from spiritual bypassing (hope moves us toward action & fuels us to build the world we want to live in)how to expand capacity for hope: witnessing acts of courage, community, care, and creative problem-solvinghow acknowledging & feeling our grief can move us toward a more connected futurehow moments of joy resource the nervous systemhope as a somatic experience in the nervous system (not just a cognitive experience) I’ll invite you to reflect on these questions: What gives you hope?What does this hope inspire you to do?How do you experience hope in your nervous system? Articles Mentioned in the Episode >> These Portland trail guides build community through science, education and whimsy — in drag: https://www.opb.org/article/2026/06/14/portland-oregon-outdoors-hiking-group-drag-performance/   >> Baltimore will turn 911 into more than just an emergency number: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/27/nx-s1-5874720/baltimore-will-turn-911-into-more-than-just-an-emergency-number  >> She invited her friends to come together to make her casket: https://www.npr.org/2026/04/18/nx-s1-5786831/dying-terminally-ill-casket-weaving  >> The Art of Resistance Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-art-of-resistance/id1828763111 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my email newsletter, where I share insights on how to understand your brain & take care of your nervous system: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> Follow on IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about Nervous System Healing Intensives here (focused sessions, using Brainspotting & Internal Family Systems, to help you heal deeply & connect with your authentic self) 🌻

  4. Jul 26

    A Neuro-Affirming Approach to Parenting: Autonomy & Co-Regulation, w/ Dr. Carolyn Solo

    If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child (autistic, ADHD, PDA, & more; high, medium, or low support needs), you may have noticed that mainstream parenting advice doesn’t always make sense for you, your child, or your family’s needs.  In this episode, Dr. Carolyn Solo & I explore the differences between neurodiversity-affirming parenting (which values connection, autonomy, & nervous system co-regulation) vs. mainstream parenting (which emphasizes control, hierarchy, & obedience).  We discuss why it’s important to attune to the unique needs of each child’s nervous system; and why PDA (often referred to as “pathological demand avoidance”) is better framed as “pervasive drive for autonomy.”  Carolyn shares her experiences of supporting her neurodivergent child through burnout recovery. She names the importance of trusting that your child will let you know what they need, and that you are the expert on your child - even when traditional parenting advice tells you that you’re “wrong.” Join us in a deeply honest conversation, that might help you feel less alone - and remind you that connection with your child begins with connection with yourself.  CHAPTERS 03:10 What is PDA (persistent drive for autonomy) & how does it show up in children? 05:44 Navigating burnout in neurodivergent children 12:58 Navigating doubt, guilt, & nervous system dysregulation as a parent 19:23 The impacts of a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis 26:47 What is a neuro-affirming approach to parenting? 37:27 A therapeutic approach: EMDR intensives 🌿 RESOURCES >> Learn about PDA: www.pdanorthamerica.org 🌿 About the Guest Dr. Carolyn Solo (PhD, LCSW, she/her) is an EMDR consultant & EMDR intensive therapist in Vermont & Pennsylvania. She specializes in EMDR intensives for parents of neurodivergent kids, and provides coaching for EMDR therapists who want to launch intensives in their practices to provide clients with exceptional outcomes. Carolyn is a mom of three girls, the oldest of whom is PDA profile AuDHD. 🌿 Connect with Carolyn >> Websites: www.integritaswellnessllc.com / www.futuretemplateparent.com  >> IG: @integritas_intensive_emdr / @futuretemplateparent >> For therapists: EMDR Intensive Workbook 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my weekly newsletter: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist

  5. Jul 19

    Beyond Talk Therapy: How Brainspotting Works to Heal the Nervous System

    If you’ve ever noticed that talking about your problems doesn't necessarily help you FEEL better about them… you might have experienced the limitations of talk therapy.  In this episode, I explain how Brainspotting - a healing modality that works directly with the deep brain & nervous system - can fill in the gaps. We’ll cover: 00:26 What is Brainspotting & how does it work? 05:23 What’s the difference between talk therapy & Brainspotting? (& how they can complement each other) 08:05 What does a Brainspotting session look & feel like? 12:14 The power of nervous system connection & co-regulation - why Brainspotting isn’t just a series of steps, but rather a relational process 14:47 The original Brainspotting: an ancient & intuitive practice? Whether you’re exploring Brainspotting therapy for yourself, or you’re a practitioner considering getting trained in this modality, this episode breaks it all down in simple language - acknowledging both the scientific & spiritual side of healing. 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in CO & worldwide. 🌿 RESOURCES >> Visit the official Brainspotting website >> Learn about Brainspotting therapy >> Blog: EMDR vs. Brainspotting: Which is Better for Neurodivergent Brains? 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my email newsletter, where I share insights on how to understand your brain & take care of your nervous system: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> Follow on IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about Nervous System Healing Intensives here (focused sessions, using Brainspotting & Internal Family Systems, to help you heal deeply & connect with your authentic self) 🌻

  6. Jul 12

    From Dysregulation to Connection: An Intersectional Approach to Sex Therapy, w/ Dominique Oster

    However you’re feeling about sex is normal - whether you feel curious, apprehensive, frustrated, confused, sad, overwhelmed, excited, neutral, or something else.  This episode is here to support you in building a healthy & expansive relationship to sex & intimacy… while acknowledging both your nervous system and the systems around us.  Join me & Dominique, a certified sex therapist, as we discuss: how traumas and systems of oppression impact our nervous systems - which then impact our sexual experiences, as the stress response is connected to the desire & arousal systems in the bodythe realities of living within a society that normalizes sexual violencehow patriarchy shapes conceptions of what “successful sex” looks like; while capitalism says, “there’s something wrong with you” (if you can’t meet certain performative standards), and tries to sell you a solution Recognizing that these are the waters we swim in, is the first step to unlearning harmful narratives and building a healthier relationship with ourselves.  This episode will leave you with questions & ideas to explore, so that you can bring nervous system regulation into your life and expand your capacity for intimacy & connection, if desired.  This is a non-pathologizing, educational conversation. If you’ve ever been curious about sex therapy, but felt too shy to ask… this is for you. CHAPTERS 04:40 What is sex therapy, exactly? 08:50 How our nervous systems impact our sexual experiences 13:08 How systems of oppression dysregulate the nervous system 19:32 How do we bring more regulation into our lives and experience more intimacy & connection? 28:05 The impacts of capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy on relationship to sexuality 33:11 A scaffolded approach: real-life sex doesn't always look like the movies 🌿 RESOURCES >> All About Love (bell hooks)  >> Come Together (Emily Nagoski) >> Burnout (Emily Nagoski) >> Mating in Captivity (Esther Perel) 🌿 About the Guest Dominique Oster (she/her) is a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist who specializes in expansive sexuality & relationships. By helping clients understand their unique historical, cultural, and psychobiological influences, she helps individuals, couples, and polycules to move beyond the unspoken expectations of sex & relating into more aligned & personalized frameworks. Her work as an adjunct professor focuses on teaching clinicians how to talk about sex from an intersectional & systems perspective with their clients, preferably without blushing. 🌿 Connect with Dominique >> Website: www.domostertherapy.com  >> IG: www.instagram.com/ostertherapy 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my newsletter: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist

  7. Jul 5

    What Death Doula Work Teaches Me About Life

    Death is a natural part of life… yet our death-phobic, grief-phobic society rarely acknowledges this fact.  We’ll eagerly plan for marriages, births, graduations, and other life milestones… but avoid discussing end of life. This is understandable, as confronting our mortality can feel scary & overwhelming. Yet conversations about end of life can also be meaningful & life-affirming, ensuring that our wishes, needs, and values are honored till the end - and beyond. When we acknowledge the one certainty in life - that our days on earth are finite - we free ourselves to live more presently & authentically in the now. In this episode, I share about my explorations of death work & end-of-life care - from one (mortal) human to another. 01:38 What is a death doula? 04:51 Exploring end-of-life care & post-death options that align with your values (ex: conventional burial, fire cremation, water cremation, green burial, natural organic reduction) 10:40 Why we need to have conversations about end of life (even if it's uncomfortable) 13:56 You’re a living legacy: how do you want to be remembered? 16:09 End-of-life care is community care; death work belongs to all of us May this episode remind you to live fully & to have important conversations with your people - sooner rather than later. 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in CO & worldwide. 🌿 RESOURCE >> Blog: How to Cope with End-of-Life & Death Anxiety 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my email newsletter, where I share insights on how to understand your brain & take care of your nervous system: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> Follow on IG: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist >> To work 1:1 with Liz: learn about Nervous System Healing Intensives here (focused sessions to help you heal deeply & connect with your authentic self) 🌻

  8. Jun 28

    Asian American Experiences: Unpacking the Model Minority Myth, w/ Sang Lintakoon

    In this episode, we’re diving into the Asian American experience - going beyond stereotypes, and exploring deeper truths about belonging, identity, and authenticity. For Asian Americans: this episode is here to affirm you & help you make sense of your experiences. For non-Asian folks: this episode is here to educate & inform you, and invite curiosity & connection across communities. Join Asian-American therapists, Liz & Sang, in a mind- & heart-opening conversation on: why many Asian Americans feel both “not Asian enough” & “not American enough”the multifaceted nature of Asian American experiences (we are not a monolith - our communities include multiracial folks, transracial adoptees, & other intersections of identities)the history of the “model minority myth” - which pits minorities against each other & reinforces systems of white supremacythe dichotomy of being adjacent to whiteness (through the model minority myth), while also being treated as the “perpetual foreigner”why every Asian American has likely heard the question: “where are you REALLY from?” - and why this is an example of a microaggressionhow microaggressions & racism impact the nervous system what it means to reclaim identity & connect with self - even when oppressive systems ask us to diminish parts of ourselves in order to fit inthe importance of solidarity across communities QUOTE: “I think part of the healing work for Asian Americans is to reclaim some of those things that we might have erased for the sake of survival.” 🌿 About the Guest Sang Lintakoon (LPC, RPT, she/her) is the firstborn daughter of ethnically Chinese immigrants from Southeast Asia. She grew up in New Jersey and spent time living in Pennsylvania, Texas, & Zambia, Africa before moving to Colorado to pursue her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She works with children, teens, & adults at her private practice in Westminster, CO called The Perch Counseling Services, where she specializes in issues related to transracial adoption & Asian American racial identity. 🌿 Connect with Sang >> To explore therapy & support groups for Asian Americans, visit: www.theperchcounseling.com 🌿 RESOURCES  >> To explore mental health resources for the Asian community, visit: www.asianmhc.org >> To view recommended readings from this episode, click HERE 🌿 About the Host Liz Zhou is a neurodivergent therapist of color, coach, & speaker based in Colorado (MA, LPC, she/her). She helps highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults & couples heal their nervous systems and connect with their authentic selves. Her specialties include: Brainspotting, EMDR, IFS, Psychedelic Integration, & Nervous System Intensives (deep-dive, accelerated therapy). Liz’s services are available online in CO & worldwide. 🌿 Connect with Liz >> Join my weekly newsletter: Liz’s Neurodivergent Letters >> Instagram: www.instagram.com/liz.holistic.therapist

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A podcast about how to take care of our nervous systems while we navigate systems that were designed to keep us dysregulated. Hosted by Liz Zhou, a neurodivergent therapist of color. If you’re a highly sensitive or neurodivergent person — or have always felt different from others, like you belong nowhere — then I hope this podcast will feel like a “welcome home” for you. Here, we approach difference with curiosity, not judgment. We affirm that there is nothing “wrong” with you, that none of us are broken — but the systems around us are. If you’re curious about individual healing & collective liberation, this podcast is for you. Join us as we heal our nervous systems & take good care of ourselves and each other. You are welcome here.

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