SEND Parenting Podcast

Dr. Olivia Kessel
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Welcome to the Send Parenting Podcast. I'm your neurodiverse host, Dr Olivia Kessel, and, more importantly, I am a mother to my wonderfully neurodivergent daughter, Alexandra, who really inspired this podcast. As a veteran in navigating the world of neurodiversity, I have uncovered a wealth of misinformation, alongside many answers and solutions that were never taught to me in medical school or in any of the parenting handbooks.Each week on this podcast, I will be bringing the experts to your ears to empower you on your parenting crusade. 

  1. EP 156: Choosing the Right ADHD or Autism Diagnosis Pathway

    3D AGO

    EP 156: Choosing the Right ADHD or Autism Diagnosis Pathway

    Choosing how to get an ADHD or autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming — and confusing. But the pathway you choose does not just affect how long you wait. It affects your child's support, medication access, and long-term outcomes. In this episode, Dr Olivia Kessel is joined by Reemz — a member of the SEND Parenting community with direct experience working inside NHS CAMHS and supporting a family member through Right to Choose. Together, they break down: The NHS CAMHS diagnostic pathwayThe Right to Choose pathway — what it really offers and where families get stuckPrivate assessments — benefits, risks, and hidden costsWhy diagnosis is not a “label,” but a tool for understanding and supportWhat parents need to know before starting any pathwayThis episode is for parents who are: Unsure which route to takeAlready on a waiting listWorried about making the “wrong” decisionSeeking clarity, not opinionsYou are not failing.  You are navigating a complex system — and knowledge changes everything. 🔗 Helpful Resources & Guidelines As mentioned on Podcast Reemz has kindly shared two worksheets that you can print and use at home: ASD Diagnostic criteria worksheet ADHD Diagnostic criteria worksheet Right to Choose (England) Clear explanations of the process, providers, and current waiting times:  👉 ADHD UK – Right to Choose Guide 📘 DSM Diagnostic Criteria Understanding what clinicians are actually assessing can help you advocate more effectively. 👉ADHD Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)   👉Autism Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)  (These criteria explain why traits must be present across settings and over time.) If this episode helped you, please share it with another parent who might be quietly stuck.  And stay tuned — next week’s episode, “Shut the Fluff Up,” dives into how parent regulation changes everything when our children are dysregulated. You are not alone.   You are doing the hardest job  ❤️ Dr Olivia 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    1h 7m
  2. EP 155: Sleep, Melatonin, And ADHD Explained - Dr Olivia

    FEB 3

    EP 155: Sleep, Melatonin, And ADHD Explained - Dr Olivia

    Sleep problems are one of the most overlooked — and misunderstood — parts of ADHD. In this episode of the SEND Parenting Podcast, Dr Olivia Kessel breaks down the science behind ADHD and sleep, explaining why up to 70% of children with ADHD struggle with sleep, and why this is not behavioural, it is biological. Drawing on research and lived experience, Dr Olivia explains how delayed melatonin release and circadian rhythm disruption affect the ADHD brain, and why many children are simply not biologically ready for sleep at conventional bedtimes. This episode was created after a conversation inside the ADHD Warrior Mum community, where a mum shared that her child was still full of energy at bedtime — and that her doctor questioned the evidence behind melatonin. That question prompted a deep dive into what the research actually shows. In this episode, you will learn: Why sleep difficulties are so common in ADHDHow melatonin works (and what it does not do)What the research says about safety and effectivenessWhy addressing sleep can transform emotional regulation, focus, and family lifeDr. Olivia also shares her personal journey navigating over a decade of severe sleep disruption with her daughter — and how understanding the biology changed everything. 🎧 Recommended resource: Dr. Olivia references research and clinical insights from Dr Russell Barkley, including his YouTube talk on ADHD and sleep. 👉 Link to Dr Russell Barkley’s YouTube video on ADHD and sleep 📘 Free resource: Download the free 30-Day Sleep Guide at www.SENDParenting.com/Sleep 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    37 min
  3. EP 154: ADHD Brain Fuel: Why Kids Crash with Lucinda Miller

    JAN 27

    EP 154: ADHD Brain Fuel: Why Kids Crash with Lucinda Miller

    Why do children with ADHD seem exhausted by the end of the day?  Why do meltdowns often hit after school?  And why does it feel like they are constantly craving sugar? In this episode, adapted from a live masterclass inside the ADHD Warrior Mum community, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by Lucinda Miller, founder of NatureDoc and author of Brain Brilliance, to explore how brain fuel affects energy, focus, emotional regulation, and behaviour in children with ADHD. We discuss: Why the ADHD brain uses more energy than a neurotypical brainHow blood sugar crashes drive dysregulation and meltdownsWhy breakfast matters more than most parents realiseHow nutrition can support ADHD medication and sleepPractical, low-pressure strategies that work in real familiesThis is not about perfect diets or restriction.  It is about understanding your child’s brain and supporting steadier days. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    1h 4m
  4. EP 153: EHCPs, Demystified

    JAN 20

    EP 153: EHCPs, Demystified

    Applying for an EHCP can feel overwhelming, intimidating, and emotionally draining — especially when your child is already struggling. In this episode, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by Dr Abigail Fisher and Eliza Fricker, co-authors of The Essential EHCP Guide for Parents and Carers, to gently demystify the EHCP process and remind parents of one crucial truth: You are not failing. The system is hard. Together, we break down what an EHCP really is, when to apply, and the common myths that delay support — including the belief that you need a diagnosis before starting. We explore how to advocate for your child without burning out, what makes an EHCP meaningful (and what makes it ineffective), and how parents can protect their own mental health while navigating a deeply flawed system. This is not just a conversation about paperwork and plans.  It is about trust, instinct, advocacy, and hope. If EHCPs are part of your life — or you are wondering if they should be — this episode will help you feel less alone, more informed, and more empowered. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    53 min
  5. EP 152: ADHD is not an attention problem

    JAN 13

    EP 152: ADHD is not an attention problem

    In this powerful and honest conversation, I am joined by Michael McLeod, internationally recognised ADHD and executive function specialist and founder of GrowNOW ADHD, to unpack what ADHD really is and why so many children and families are being failed by outdated models of support. We explore why ADHD is best understood as a developmental executive function disorder, with emotional regulation at its core — not laziness, defiance, or lack of willpower. Michael explains why traditional approaches like talk therapy, worksheets, and constant verbal prompting often make things worse, and what actually helps children build the skills they need for life. In this episode, we discuss: Why emotional dysregulation is one of the most overlooked signs of ADHDThe four pillars of executive function and how delays show up at home, school, and sociallyWhy screens are so dysregulating for the ADHD brain — and why “balance” is often unrealisticHow parenting language, structure, and boundaries can either escalate or reduce meltdownsWhy executive function predicts long-term success more than grades or academic performancePractical strategies parents can use immediately, including reducing verbal prompts and creating more structure at homeThis is a deeply validating episode for parents who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning whether they are doing something wrong. It reframes ADHD with clarity, compassion, and evidence — and offers a way forward that feels realistic rather than punitive.  📘 Michael’s book The Executive Function Playbook  🌍 Grow Now ADHD Website   ▶️ Russell Barkley YouTube 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    1 hr
  6. EP 151: Mum Burnout

    JAN 6

    EP 151: Mum Burnout

    Christmas is often sold as magical and restorative. For many mums of neurodiverse children, it is exhausting. In this honest, deeply personal episode, Dr Olivia Kessel shares a raw Christmas Eve moment that reveals the hidden burnout so many mothers carry. This is a conversation about emotional regulation, guilt, shame, and the invisible labour of neurodiverse parenting. If you made it through the holidays feeling drained, snappy, or empty, this episode is for you. Burnout is not a failure. It is a sign you have been giving more than you have. You are not alone. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    17 min
  7. EP 150: Holiday Sleep Survival For Neurodiverse Kids

    12/16/2025

    EP 150: Holiday Sleep Survival For Neurodiverse Kids

    The holidays can be magical… and completely exhausting when your child has ADHD. Late nights, travel, sugar, screens, unfamiliar beds, and heightened emotions can quickly undo even the most carefully built sleep routine. If your child’s sleep falls apart during the holidays, you are not failing. This is genuinely harder for ADHD brains. In this episode, Dr. Olivia Kessel shares practical, realistic strategies to help you protect your child’s sleep during the festive season and gently reset routines when January arrives. In this episode, you will learn: Why holidays are especially disruptive to ADHD sleepHow overstimulation, routine changes, and emotional intensity affect regulationWhat to pack in a holiday sleep toolkitHow to protect wind-down time without becoming the “fun police”When and how to manage sugar and screen timeWhat to do if sleep completely falls apartHow to reset sleep routines calmly in the New YearThis episode is for parents who are juggling family expectations, disrupted routines, and a child who struggles to switch off. You will leave feeling reassured, supported, and better prepared. 👉 Download the free Holiday Sleep Survival Guide  Thank you for being part of the SEND Parenting Tribe. You are not alone in this. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    19 min
  8. EP 149: Surviving the Holidays

    12/10/2025

    EP 149: Surviving the Holidays

    December promises twinkly lights and cosy moments, yet many parents feel like they’re sprinting through a minefield. I open up about the invisible load that spikes stress during the holidays—noise, judgment, lost routines, sensory overload—and explain why your nervous system interprets it all as danger. When the body tips into fight, flight, or freeze, calm isn’t a choice you’re failing to make; it’s a state you can learn to access with fast, reliable tools. We unpack the zones of regulation for parents—blue, yellow, red, and green—and walk through a relatable holiday scenario to show how we slide from steady to overwhelmed in small steps. Then I share a three-step reset you can use anywhere: notice, name, navigate. You’ll learn a one-minute breath pattern to switch off threat mode and a 5-4-3-2-1 grounding sequence to anchor back in the present. From there, we get practical about hotspots: setting boundaries for family gatherings, using code words and pre-planned exits, lowering the bar to get out the door, and choosing “good enough” bedtime routines after big days. The heart of this conversation is a reframe: you’re not a bad mum; you’re a tired human carrying a load most people can’t see. Perfection is brittle, but presence is resilient. Trade the Instagram script for small, humane choices that protect your energy and your child’s regulation—leave early, say no, order takeaway, let the outfit go, and pick connection over performance. If you’re craving steady ground, join the Seven-Day Calm Parent Challenge. For £10 you’ll get daily guidance, audio support, a private community, and a live Q&A to help you map triggers, practise resets, set boundaries, and release guilt. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more parents find these tools. Let’s choose present over perfect together. 👉 Join the 7-Day Keeping Calm Challenge (£10) 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey. 📩 Contact Me If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at olivia.kessel@sendparenting.com I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

    36 min
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About

Welcome to the Send Parenting Podcast. I'm your neurodiverse host, Dr Olivia Kessel, and, more importantly, I am a mother to my wonderfully neurodivergent daughter, Alexandra, who really inspired this podcast. As a veteran in navigating the world of neurodiversity, I have uncovered a wealth of misinformation, alongside many answers and solutions that were never taught to me in medical school or in any of the parenting handbooks.Each week on this podcast, I will be bringing the experts to your ears to empower you on your parenting crusade. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Olivia Kessel
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    157
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 SEND Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    SEND Parenting Podcast

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