Divergent Conversations Megan Neff & Patrick Casale

It’s natural to have questions following neurodivergent discovery, diagnosis, or while embracing a new identity. Additionally, some individuals might not identify as neurodivergent but are curious about the very nuanced conversations happening in and around the community.

In this second Ask The Audience episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, respond to questions they've received from podcast listeners and their communities.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Dive into the controversial topic of whether "everyone is a little bit autistic" and understand why this statement can be harmful and dismissive to the autistic community.

Gain insight into the nuances of language used to describe neurodivergence, including the pros and cons of terms like ASD, high functioning, and on the spectrum, and why identity-first language can be empowering.

Explore the unique challenges and potential advantages of being an Autistic or ADHD therapist, and learn practical tips for preventing burnout and finding success in the field.


As you navigate your neurodivergent journey, remember you are not alone. Your inquiries are invaluable, not just to you but to countless others like you. We will have more episodes like this, so we appreciate your questions.
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🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast
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🎙️YouTube Music
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Thanks to Our Sponsors: Web Therapia, Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat, Learning Nook, & The Receptionist for iPad

✨Web Therapia:
Thanks to Web Therapia for sponsoring this episode.
In today's competitive healthcare landscape, establishing a robust online presence is crucial for attracting new patients and expanding your practice. Web Therapia specializes in tailored digital marketing solutions specifically for doctors and therapists. From professional website design to effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and ADA compliance, they ensure your practice stands out in local and telehealth markets.
Visit webtherapia.com, and mention this ad for 10% off web design or SEO for the 1st month.

✨Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat
San Ignacio, Belize | January 12–16, 2025
If you're a neurodivergent entrepreneur, you may want a retreat experience that caters to your unique needs. Gabrielle Juliano-Villani and I have co-created the Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat in Belize at an all-inclusive resort. We are neurodivergent entrepreneurs. She specializes in burnout prevention and polyvagal theory, and I specialize in business strategizing, creativity, and entrepreneurship. This retreat is exclusively for neurodivergent entrepreneurs who want rest, connection, sensory soothing, burnout prevention tips, and to immerse themselves in an amazing location. Go to allthingspractice.com/belize-neurodivergent-2025 and use code NEURODIVERGENT at checkout to save $250. For questions, email patrick@casalecoaching.com.

✨Learning Nook:
Explore the power of the neurodivergent community with the Neurodivergent Insights Learning Nook—a neurodiverse space that welcomes all neurotypes. Our community fosters personal growth with access to workbooks, eBooks, workshops, and more. We also host body double sessions, parent gatherings, and monthly live events. Clinicians can join our special tier for exclusive resources and networking. Limited to 20 new members monthly. Enroll at neurodivergentinsights.com/membership. Scholarships available.

✨The Receptionist for iPad
Thanks to The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to therec

It’s natural to have a flood of questions following neurodivergent discovery, diagnosis, or while embracing a new identity. Additionally, there are individuals who might not identify as neurodivergent but just have curiosity about the very nuanced conversations happening in and around the neurodivergent community.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, respond to questions they have received from podcast listeners and their communities.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Hear Dr. Neff and Patrick share their “surprising” experiences and personal growth as podcast hosts, including overcoming anxiety, balancing preparation and spontaneity, working on relational aspects of podcasting, establishing and honoring boundaries, finding confidence, and more.

Gain insights into the late autism diagnosis journey, including common identity development processes like unmasking, exploring gender and sexuality, and how this affects relationships, as well as advice for communicating your diagnosis to friends and family, managing their reactions, and deciding when and how to educate others.

Learn about the legal and medical implications of an autism diagnosis, the genetic factors, and how understanding family history can provide deeper insights into your own neurodivergence.


Your inquiries are invaluable, not just to you, but to countless others facing similar challenges. We will continue to have episodes like this in the future, so we appreciate your questions to help guide these future episodes.
——————————————————————————————————
🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast here
🎙️Spotify
🎙️Apple
🎙️YouTube Music
▶️ YouTube
——————————————————————————————————

A Thanks to Our Sponsors: Web Therapia, Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat, & The Receptionist for iPad

✨ Web Therapia:
I want to thank Web Therapia for sponsoring this episode.
In today's competitive healthcare landscape, establishing a robust online presence is crucial for attracting new patients and expanding your practice. Web Therapia specializes in tailored digital marketing solutions specifically for doctors and therapists. From professional website design to effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and ADA compliance, they ensure your practice stands out in local and telehealth markets.
Visit webtherapia.com, and mention this ad to get 10% off web design or SEO for the 1st month.

✨ Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat
San Ignacio, Belize | January 12–16, 2025
If you're a neurodivergent entrepreneur, you may have been looking for a retreat experience that caters to your sensory system and unique needs. Gabrielle Juliano-Villani and I have co-created the Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat in Belize from Jan. 12–16, 2025 at an all-inclusive resort. We are both neurodivergent entrepreneurs. She specializes in burnout prevention and polyvagal theory, and I specialize in business strategizing, creativity, and entrepreneurship. We're combining the best of both worlds exclusively for neurodivergent entrepreneurs who want rest, connection, sensory soothing, neurodivergent burnout prevention tips, and to immerse themselves in an amazing location.
Go to allthingspractice.com/belize-neurodivergent-2025 and use code NEURODIVERGENT at checkout to save $250 off the retreat. For questions, email patrick@casalecoaching.com.

✨ The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first mont

For adults questioning if they are Autistic, ADHD, etc., there is often an exploratory and somewhat confusing phase where they feel in between two different identities.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, talk with Jak Levine-Pritzker, founder of Authentically ADHD LLC, about navigating identity when exploring the possibility of an autism diagnosis, as well as the effect of internalized ableism and external input during the assessment process.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Learn about Jak's experiences with the questioning of fitting into or out of diagnostic criteria, especially when examining overlapping traits between ADHD and autism.

Gain insights into the nuances of the assessment process for neurodivergent conditions, exploring the quantitative and qualitative aspects beyond standardized tests.

Discover the evolving understanding of neurotypes, including the impact of self-identification on assessments and the relevance of organizing principles like monotropism and flow state.


As you reflect on your journey or support others, remember to ask questions, be mindful that neurodivergent experiences and diagnoses are full of grey areas, and keep an open mind if you seek a diagnosis.

About Jak:

Jak Levine-Pritzker(she/her) is an ADHD coach, mental health advocate, and founder of Authentically ADHD LLC. She empowers ADHDers to heal internalized ableism and shame and design a life that actually works for their brains using a strengths-based approach. Read Jak's full bio.


Membership: authenticallyadhd.com/membership


Website: authenticallyadhd.com


Instagram: instagram.com/authenticallyadhd


——————————————————————————————————
🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast here
🎙️Spotify
🎙️Apple
🎙️YouTube Music
▶️ YouTube
——————————————————————————————————

A Thanks to Our Sponsors: Web Therapia, Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat, & The Receptionist for iPad

✨ Web Therapia:
I want to thank Web Therapia for sponsoring this episode.
In today's competitive healthcare landscape, establishing a robust online presence is crucial for attracting new patients and expanding your practice. Web Therapia specializes in tailored digital marketing solutions specifically for doctors and therapists. From professional website design to effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies and ADA compliance, they ensure your practice stands out in local and telehealth markets.
Visit webtherapia.com, and mention this ad to get 10% off web design or SEO for the 1st month.

✨ Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat
San Ignacio, Belize | January 12–16, 2025
If you're a neurodivergent entrepreneur, you may have been looking for a retreat experience that caters to your sensory system and unique needs. Gabrielle Juliano-Villani and I have co-created the Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat in Belize from Jan. 12–16, 2025 at an all-inclusive resort. We are both neurodivergent entrepreneurs. She specializes in burnout prevention and polyvagal theory, and I specialize in business strategizing, creativity, and entrepreneurship. We're combining the best of both worlds exclusively for neurodivergent entrepreneurs who want rest, connection, sensory soothing, neurodivergent burnout prevention tips, and to immerse themselves in an amazing location.
Go to allthingspractice.com/belize-neurodivergent-2025 and use code NEURODIVERGENT at checkout to save $250 off the retreat. For questions, email patrick@casalecoaching.com.

✨ The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to ther

For ADHDers, romanticism is a common struggle where you find yourself constantly daydreaming about an ideal future and struggling with the reality of the present.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the intricacies of romanticizing experiences and the repercussions that come with it. As neurodivergent mental health professionals, they offer a unique perspective on how projecting ideal futures can create a disconnect with the present, leading to disappointment and restlessness.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Discover the impact of romanticizing future outcomes on mental health, particularly for those with ADHD and other neurodivergent traits, and how it can disrupt your ability to enjoy the present moment.

Hear Dr. Neff and Patrick's personal stories about their struggles with restlessness and the unending need for new experiences, and learn how this affects their daily lives.

Explore strategies to reconcile your idealized visions of the future with the messy reality of the present, and find out how to cultivate a sense of settled contentment.


Take some time to reflect on your own tendencies to romanticize the future. Consider how this impacts your well-being and what steps you can take to stay grounded in the present and find balance one moment at a time.
——————————————————————————————————
🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast here
🎙️Spotify
🎙️Apple
🎙️YouTube Music
▶️ YouTube
——————————————————————————————————

A Thanks to Our Sponsors: D.Rowe Co., Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat, & The Receptionist for iPad

✨ D.Rowe Co.
I want to thank D.Rowe Co. for sponsoring this episode.
D.Rowe Co. (which includes D.Rowe Tax LLC and D.Rowe Law PLLC) offers tax, law, and accounting services designed for creative and personal support industries. With both academic and practical experience from well-established businesses to start-ups, they offer support through top-level expertise and a fresh approach to client service. Check out their free webinar on June 17th at noon ET by visiting droweco.com. Use code DC10 to get 10% off services at droweco.com.

✨ Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat
Happening in San Ignacio, Belize | January 12th–January 16th, 2025
If you're a neurodivergent entrepreneur, you've probably been looking for a retreat experience that really caters to your sensory system and your unique needs. That's why Gabrielle Juliano-Villani and I have co-created a Neurodivergent Beyond Burnout Retreat in Belize from January 12th–January 16th, 2025 at an all-inclusive resort. We are both neurodivergent entrepreneurs. She specializes in burnout prevention and polyvagal theory, and I specialize in business strategizing, creativity, and entrepreneurship. We're going to combine the best of both worlds exclusively for neurodivergent entrepreneurs who want rest, connection, sensory soothing, neurodivergent burnout prevention tips, and to immerse themselves in a really amazing location in San Ignacio, Belize.
If you're interested, go to allthingspractice.com/belize-neurodivergent-2025 and use code NEURODIVERGENT at checkout to save $250 off the retreat cost. If you have any questions, email me directly at patrick@casalecoaching.com. See you in Belize!

✨ The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon

It’s common for ADHDers to feel these waves of inspiration that may lead to a romanticized version of the future that would come by acting on them. However, if action is taken, it alternatively might be accompanied by the ADHD tax—financial burden, over-commitment, broken dreams and promises, feelings of guilt and regret, etc.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the concept of the ADHD tax and its impact on various facets of life such as time, money, and relationships. Both hosts share their personal experiences and practical tips on how to better manage impulsivity, as well as explore the impact of standard marketing practices on impulsive action.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Gain valuable insights into how the ADHD tax manifests in everyday life, from impulsive travel bookings to forgotten groceries, and learn strategies to prevent and mitigate these financial and emotional costs.

Hear about the intricate balance of excitement and capacity in neurodivergent collaborations. Dive into tips for managing overwhelming enthusiasm and the importance of slow productivity and setting boundaries.

Learn ethical marketing practices that consider the needs of neurodivergent individuals, emphasizing the importance of building relationships over manipulative sales tactics and creating a consumer-friendly environment.


As you navigate the challenges of impulsivity and overstimulation, remember that understanding and implementing mindful strategies can help you lead a more balanced life. Take a moment to pause before making hasty decisions, and prioritize your well-being as you create a space where both your ideas and your downtime are respected.
——————————————————————————————————
🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast here
🎙️Spotify
🎙️Apple
🎙️YouTube Music
▶️ YouTube
——————————————————————————————————

A Thanks to Our Sponsors: D.Rowe Co., Freed, & The Receptionist for iPad

✨ D.Rowe Co.
I want to thank D.Rowe Co. for sponsoring this episode.
D.Rowe Co. (which includes D.Rowe Tax LLC and D.Rowe Law PLLC) offers tax, law, and accounting services designed for creative and personal support industries. With both academic and practical experience from well-established businesses to start-ups, they offer support through top-level expertise and a fresh approach to client service. Check out their free webinar on June 17th at noon ET by visiting droweco.com. Use code DC10 to get 10% off services at droweco.com.
✨ Freed
I want to thank Freed for sponsoring this episode.
Being a clinician in today's medical or mental healthcare field can be overstimulating. It can be so hard to focus on clients while taking adequate notes. Freed.AI listens, transcribes, and writes medical documentation for you, written in your style and ready the moment the visit is over—no more overstimulation or letting things fall through the cracks. Freed is HIPAA compliant, secure, and takes less than 30 seconds to learn. More importantly, Freed supports your executive function skills, so you can get back to doing what you love—helping your clients.
Go to getfreed.ai and use code DCPOD for your first month free.
✨ The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating the world with ADHD can present unique challenges, particularly when it comes to motivation and productivity. Whether it's the difficulty of getting started on mundane tasks or the complexities of staying engaged over time, the rollercoaster of emotional ups and downs can be hard to manage.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the intricacies of the ADHD interest-based nervous system, how it impacts daily life, and practical ways to enhance motivation and productivity.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

Discover effective techniques to manage your interest-based nervous system, from creating engaging environments to the use of dopamine stacking.

Gain insights into different approaches for handling mundane tasks like household chores, including the concept of body doubling and competition.

Learn how the 5 motivators encapsulated in the acronym P.I.N.C.H. (Passion [discussed in terms of Play for this episode], Interest, Novelty, Competition/Collaboration/Connection, and Hurry Up) can influence your actions and help overcome procrastination and anxiety.


Try exploring ways to incorporate the 5 motivators for the ADHD system into your environment and approach to tasks. Understanding your unique nervous system is a step toward having more engagement and productivity, even when facing understimulating tasks.

Resources:


Visit vs. Force-Based Approach to ADHD: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/power-of-a-visit



Interest-Based Nervous System Article: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/interest-based-nervous-system



Interest-Based Nervous System And ADHD Workbook: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergentstore/interest-based-nervous-system



——————————————————————————————————
🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast here
🎙️Spotify
🎙️Apple
🎙️YouTube Music
▶️ YouTube
——————————————————————————————————

A Thanks to Our Sponsors: D.Rowe Co., Freed, & The Receptionist for iPad

✨ D.Rowe Co.
I want to thank D.Rowe Co. for sponsoring this episode.
D.Rowe Co. (which includes D.Rowe Tax LLC and D.Rowe Law PLLC) offers tax, law, and accounting services designed for creative and personal support industries. With both academic and practical experience from well-established businesses to start-ups, they offer support through top-level expertise and a fresh approach to client service. Check out their free webinar on June 17th at noon ET by visiting droweco.com. Use code DC10 to get 10% off services at droweco.com.
✨ Freed
I want to thank Freed for sponsoring this episode.
Being a clinician in today's medical or mental healthcare field can be overstimulating. It can be so hard to focus on clients while taking adequate notes. Freed.AI listens, transcribes, and writes medical documentation for you, written in your style and ready the moment the visit is over—no more overstimulation or letting things fall through the cracks. Freed is HIPAA compliant, secure, and takes less than 30 seconds to learn. More importantly, Freed supports your executive function skills, so you can get back to doing what you love—helping your clients.
Go to getfreed.ai and use code DCPOD for your first month free.
✨ The Receptionist for iPad
I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode.
The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices