Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast SEND Parenting Podcast
Plongez dans la liste complète des épisodes de SEND Parenting Podcast . Chaque épisode est catalogué accompagné de descriptions détaillées, ce qui facilite la recherche et l'exploration de sujets spécifiques. Suivez tous les épisodes de votre podcast préféré et ne manquez aucun contenu pertinent.
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Titre
Date
Durée
SEND White Paper Impact & Moving Forward
28 juil. 2026
00:52:58
In February 2026, the UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, issued a white paper outlining recommendations and reforms to the schools and SEND system in England.
In this live masterclass, Olivia discusses the good, the bad, and the key points from this paper that impact you, and to do that she is joined by Kelly Jarvis, Head of Advocacy and Consultancy at Sunshine Support and Education Consultant Sara Donnelly.
💛 If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Why Can't They Just Do It?
14 juil. 2026
00:54:34
How many times has your AuDHD child missed a deadline, or simply not done something really important?
Spoiler alert: they’re not lazy or naughty, because neurodivergent brains do not process things in the same way. Their reward system is entirely different. And their executive dysfunction can make even the most straightforward tasks feel impossible.
I am joined by Nicola McAllister, a specialist in child development and founder of The Regulated Child, to break down why our children can’t just do the thing.
Nicola explains her ‘brain house’ model that she uses to understand and support neurodiverse brains, and why simply telling a neurospicy brain to do something is not only unhelpful, but might actually make a frustrating situation even worse.
Together, Dr. Olivia and Nicole discuss: ✨ how to understand the neurodiverse brain
✨ the regulate, relate, reason framework
✨ why consequences don’t work with ADHD
✨ practical tools to help you work through the wobbles
💛 If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Why Screens Win and What Actually Works Instead with Ekta Khera
30 juin 2026
00:32:27
In today’s attention economy, parenting has never been more challenging. Our children are surrounded by gadgets, technology and screens actively trying to distract them from you.
And they’re really good at it!
So what do we do about screen time, how much is too much, why do our kids always prefer to look at their screens over the world around them - or us - and what can you do about it?
I am joined by Ekta Khera, illustrator and founder of Tiny Thinks, to discuss the big questions around screen time looming over every parent today.
Together, Dr. Olivia and Ekta discuss: ✨ Encouraging children to think deeper
✨ Creating realistic alternatives and harnessing the hyperfocus
✨ Supporting neurodiversity with non-screen based activities
✨ Why Cocomelon is evil
✨ How to build an offline world that helps kids thrive
💛 If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Why Anxiety Escalates in ASD Teens
16 juin 2026
00:51:44
Parenting at the best of times is hard work, but having a neurodivergent child is like parenting on steroids. Nothing works, you never feel like you can catch a break, and worst of all, you often feel like you’re not good enough.
If this sounds like you, this episode is going to help you find your mojo again. Dr. Olivia is joined by Dr. Melita Ash, a clinical psychologist and the director of Percuro Psychology, a specialist practice in assessing and supporting anxiety, neurodivergence and school-related distress.
Together, Dr. Olivia and Melita discuss: ✨ The challenges of identifying ASD in children, especially girls
✨ Managing overwhelm and emptying the stress bucket
✨ Social anxiety and autism
✨ The demand-capacity gap
✨ Patterns to look for in your neurodivergent children
💛 If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 167: Late-Diagnosed Autism in Girls: The Cost of Being the “Good Girl”
13 mai 2026
00:47:22
What happens when a child spends their entire life being told they are “too sensitive,” “not trying hard enough,” or that they “have so much potential”… while secretly struggling just to cope?
In this deeply moving and honest conversation, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by author and illustrator Eliza Fricker to explore the hidden reality of growing up as an undiagnosed autistic girl. Inspired by Eliza’s powerful new book, Could Try Harder, this episode unpacks the emotional cost of masking, people-pleasing, perfectionism, and constantly feeling “different” in a world that misunderstands neurodiverse girls.
Together, Dr. Olivia and Eliza discuss: ✨ The subtle signs of autism in girls that are so often missed ✨ The exhausting reality of masking and living behind a “coping” facade ✨ How phrases like “everyone else manages it” shape identity and self-worth ✨ Why neurodiverse girls are frequently overlooked in schools and families ✨ The grief, relief, and self-compassion that can come with late diagnosis ✨ How parents can better support children who are already trying their absolute best
This episode is a powerful reminder that what looks like “not trying” is often a child trying harder than anyone can see. It is a conversation filled with compassion, insight, humour, and hope for parents, educators, and late-diagnosed women alike.
💛 If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear it.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 166: Beyond the Label empowerning parents of ADHD Girls
07 mai 2026
00:22:49
Today is a special one. It is publication day for my debut book, Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls, and I wanted to mark it by recording something just for you.
In this episode I share the things I wish someone had told me the day we got Alexandra's diagnosis. Why ADHD is so consistently missed in girls, and what it actually looks like in the home rather than the classroom. The one symptom that causes more chaos in families than almost anything else, and that does not even appear on the diagnostic checklist. The piece of neuroscience that changed the way I parent completely. And the four things that have made the biggest, most tangible difference for our family.
This is not a clinical overview. It is what I know now, after years of living it, researching it, and supporting hundreds of families through it.
Beyond the Label is available everywhere books are sold from today. The link is below. And if you are looking for a community of parents who truly get it, details of the ADHD Warrior Mums membership are in the links too.
You are not alone in this. You never were.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 165: When Love and Rage Share the Same Roof : ADHD and Emotional Dysregulation
28 avr. 2026
00:30:00
Following her recent Daily Mail feature, Dr Olivia Kessel opens up about one of the most misunderstood and most common aspects of ADHD: emotional dysregulation and flash anger.
In this honest and practical episode, Olivia explores why emotional dysregulation isn't in the ADHD diagnostic criteria and why that matters. She unpacks the neuroscience behind flash anger and why reasoning in the moment makes things worse. She also goes into the hidden triggers behind explosions at home, including sleep deprivation, masking at school, hormonal cycles, hunger, transitions, and the "school angel, home devil" pattern so many parents recognise. And she shares the practical tools that transformed daily life in their household.
Plus, messages from the community, including parents who felt, for the first time, that their experience was finally being reflected back to them.
If you have ever felt trapped, ashamed, or utterly alone in what is happening behind your closed front door, this episode is for you.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 164: EHCPs Made Simpler: The Tool Every SEND Parent Needs to Know About
21 avr. 2026
00:46:21
Can I be honest with you for a moment?
For so many parents, the hardest part of the SEND journey is not the diagnosis…
It is the paperwork.
The forms. The reports. The endless documents. The fear of getting it wrong.
And for many, that fear becomes so big that they never even make it to tribunal, despite the fact that 95% of cases that get there are decided in favour of families.
In this episode, I am joined by Stevie Hayes, founder of Bundle Creator—a tool designed to simplify one of the most overwhelming parts of the EHCP journey.
We talk about:
Why the EHCP and tribunal process feels so complex (and why that is not your fault)
The hidden “gatekeeping” role of paperwork that stops families in their tracks
How to break the process down into manageable, bite-sized steps
The shocking statistic that fewer than 10% of families reach tribunal
Practical ways to organise evidence, meet deadlines, and feel more in control
How technology can support neurodivergent parents to navigate a non-neuroaffirming system
This is not about pretending the system is easy. It is about giving you the tools to face it with clarity, confidence, and support.
Because you are not failing the system. The system has not been built for you.
And when we change how we approach it, everything begins to shift.
If you have ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure where to start, this episode is for you.
**The local authority is responsible for submitting any bundle to a SEND Tribunal. Parents are best prepared when they understand the constraints and can submit their evidence as a partially completed bundle to the local authority.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 163: When Parenting Feels Relentless: Easter Survival for ADHD Mums
31 mars 2026
00:15:11
Easter holidays can feel like a breaking point for many ADHD mums.
Less structure. More demands. And that quiet, heavy loneliness that no one else seems to understand.
In this deeply honest solo episode, Dr. Olivia shares what came up again and again in her group coaching this week: 👉 the invisible load 👉 the emotional exhaustion 👉 and the feeling of doing it all alone
If you are heading into the holidays feeling overwhelmed, stretched, or already running on empty… this episode is for you.
This is not about perfect routines or getting it “right.” This is about something far more important:
Not losing yourself in the process.
Inside this episode, you will find:
Why parenting a neurodiverse child can feel so relentless (and why it is not your fault)
The hidden “invisible load” so many mums are carrying
A powerful mindset shift to take the pressure off this holiday period
One simple daily anchor to help you reconnect with yourself
A short guided meditation to calm your nervous system and give you space to breathe
Because you are not just the organiser, the advocate, or the regulator.
You are a person within this, too.
And you matter.
If this episode resonates, please share it with another mum who might need to hear this today.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 162: Why rejection hits so hard...ADHD & RSD explained
24 mars 2026
00:32:23
Have you ever watched your child fall apart over something that seems small — a correction at school, a cancelled plan, a simple “not now”… and wondered what is really going on?
In this powerful solo episode, Dr Olivia explores Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) — a term you may have seen everywhere on social media, but one that is often misunderstood.
Blending medical insight, real-life parenting experience, and practical tools, this episode unpacks:
• What RSD actually is (and why it is not in the DSM) • The science behind emotional dysregulation in ADHD • Why some experts support the term — and others challenge it • What RSD really looks like in children and teenagers (especially girls) • Why your child is not “overreacting” — and what their brain is doing instead • The link between ADHD, rejection, and lived experience over time
Most importantly, Dr Olivia shares practical, compassionate strategies to help you support your child:
• How to respond in the moment (what helps — and what makes it worse) • How to build emotional awareness before meltdown • Why validation matters more than logic • How to gently reduce avoidance and build resilience • The role of therapy and when to consider medication
If you have ever felt confused, exhausted, or alone trying to support a child who feels everything so deeply, this episode will help you understand what is really happening — and how to move forward with confidence.
You are not alone in this. And neither is your child.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 161: Raising ADHD Teenagers with Jheri South
17 mars 2026
01:04:35
The teenage years can feel particularly intense when you are parenting a child with ADHD.
Many parents expect things to get easier as children grow older — yet for many families, adolescence brings new challenges: emotional outbursts, school struggles, growing independence, and the feeling that your once-connected child is suddenly pushing you away.
In this episode of the SEND Parenting Podcast, I am joined by therapist and ADHD specialist Jheri South, who works closely with teenagers and their families. Together we explore what is really happening in the ADHD teenage brain and why this stage can be so complex — not just for teenagers, but for parents too.
Jerry shares both professional insight and personal experience as a neurodivergent parent raising seven neurodivergent children. Her work focuses on helping families understand behaviour through the lens of brain development, emotional regulation, and the unique wiring of the ADHD brain.
In this conversation, we explore:
• Why ADHD teenagers often seem three years behind in executive functioning • The impact of constant criticism on self-esteem in ADHD children • Why traditional parenting approaches based on punishment often backfire • How rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) drives emotional reactions and meltdowns • Why connection matters more than control during the teenage years • Practical strategies parents can use to support independence without losing connection
We also talk honestly about the emotional side of parenting ADHD teens — the fear that your child may struggle in life and the worry that you are somehow getting it wrong.
Jheri reminds us of something many parents need to hear:
ADHD teenagers are not broken. They are developing differently — and with the right understanding and support, they can thrive.
If you are navigating the teenage years with an ADHD child and wondering whether things will ever get easier, this episode offers reassurance, insight, and practical tools to help you support your child through this stage.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 160: ADHD Meds, Demystified
10 mars 2026
00:57:00
Deciding whether to try ADHD medication can feel overwhelming for many parents. There is a huge amount of misinformation online, and the decision can feel heavy, emotional, and confusing.
In this episode, I sit down with Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Giovanni Giaroli to break down what ADHD medication actually does in the brain — in clear, parent-friendly language.
We explore:
• How ADHD medication works in the prefrontal cortex and executive brain • The difference between stimulant and non-stimulant medications • Why finding the right medication is often a journey of careful titration • Common side effects and what parents should realistically expect • How medication interacts with autism, anxiety, OCD and PDA profiles • Why medication alone is not the whole picture — and how sleep, exercise, nutrition and support work alongside it
Dr Giaroli also explains why ADHD medication has one of the strongest evidence bases in child psychiatry, while still requiring a personalised approach for every child.
If you are navigating this decision for your child, this conversation will help bring clarity, reassurance, and science to the discussion.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 159: When Puberty Hits ADHD: The Perfect Storm
03 mars 2026
00:59:23
Why does everything suddenly feel harder when puberty begins?
In this powerful and honest conversation, I am joined by Dr Jess Morgan — former NHS paediatrician and now educator — to unpack what is really happening in the brain and body when puberty meets neurodivergence.
We explore:
Why emotional outbursts are developmental, not defiance
How hormonal changes amplify ADHD and sensory sensitivities
The brain science behind mood swings and impulsivity
Why masking becomes more exhausting in adolescence
The hidden mental health toll of “trying to fit in”
Practical ways to support regulation without escalating conflict
What happens when puberty collides with parental menopause
If you have felt blindsided by the intensity of adolescence — particularly with a neurodivergent child — this episode will help you understand the why behind the behaviour, and offer compassionate, practical ways to respond.
Because this is not about bad parenting. It is about brain development, hormones, and learning to tread gently — with our children and ourselves.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 158: Shut the Fluff Up: The Parenting Shift That Transforms Behaviour
24 févr. 2026
00:52:56
In this powerful and honest conversation, Dr Olivia Kessel is joined by parenting coach Alison Solomon to explore one uncomfortable truth: what if the biggest shift in our child’s behaviour has nothing to do with them and everything to do with us?
Alison shares the moment she calls the “arrow through the heart,” when she realised her child was not the problem, her reaction was. From that moment, everything changed.
In this episode, we explore:
• What actually happens in the brain when a child is dysregulated • Why adding logic to an emotional brain makes things worse • The power of silence and when to stop talking • How to create emotional safety at home • Why oppositional traits may be future strengths • The “golden apology” and how modelling accountability builds resilience
This is not about blame. It is about empowerment.
Because when we regulate first, everything else begins to shift.
If you have ever found yourself talking more and getting nowhere, this episode will land.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 157:GCSE Choices, Neurodiversity, and the Bigger Picture
17 févr. 2026
00:10:30
This week is a short solo half-term check-in.
It is GCSE options time in our house, and I know many of you are feeling the same fear.
In this episode, I talk about:
• The 30% executive function delay in ADHD and what that really means • Why GCSE choices can feel overwhelming for neurodivergent teens • How to choose subjects based on interest, not pressure • The bigger life picture beyond exams • Successful neurodivergent entrepreneurs including Jo Malone, Richard Branson and Ingvar Kamprad
GCSEs matter — but they are not destiny.
If you are sitting at the kitchen table staring at options forms, this episode is for you.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 156: Choosing the Right ADHD or Autism Diagnosis Pathway
10 févr. 2026
01:06:47
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 pathway
The Right to Choose pathway — what it really offers and where families get stuck
Private assessments — benefits, risks, and hidden costs
Why diagnosis is not a “label,” but a tool for understanding and support
What parents need to know before starting any pathway
This episode is for parents who are:
Unsure which route to take
Already on a waiting list
Worried about making the “wrong” decision
Seeking clarity, not opinions
You 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:
(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
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 155: Sleep, Melatonin, And ADHD Explained - Dr Olivia
03 févr. 2026
00:37:00
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 ADHD
How melatonin works (and what it does not do)
What the research says about safety and effectiveness
Why addressing sleep can transform emotional regulation, focus, and family life
Dr. 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
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 154: ADHD Brain Fuel: Why Kids Crash with Lucinda Miller
27 janv. 2026
01:03:35
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 brain
How blood sugar crashes drive dysregulation and meltdowns
Why breakfast matters more than most parents realise
How nutrition can support ADHD medication and sleep
Practical, low-pressure strategies that work in real families
This is not about perfect diets or restriction. It is about understanding your child’s brain and supporting steadier days.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 153: EHCPs, Demystified
20 janv. 2026
00:53:04
Applying for an EHCP can feel overwhelming, intimidating, and emotionally draining — especially when your child is already struggling.
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.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 152: ADHD is not an attention problem
13 janv. 2026
01:00:28
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 ADHD
The four pillars of executive function and how delays show up at home, school, and socially
Why screens are so dysregulating for the ADHD brain — and why “balance” is often unrealistic
How parenting language, structure, and boundaries can either escalate or reduce meltdowns
Why executive function predicts long-term success more than grades or academic performance
Practical strategies parents can use immediately, including reducing verbal prompts and creating more structure at home
This 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.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 151: Mum Burnout
06 janv. 2026
00:17:19
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.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 150: Holiday Sleep Survival For Neurodiverse Kids
16 déc. 2025
00:19:05
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 sleep
How overstimulation, routine changes, and emotional intensity affect regulation
What to pack in a holiday sleep toolkit
How to protect wind-down time without becoming the “fun police”
When and how to manage sugar and screen time
What to do if sleep completely falls apart
How to reset sleep routines calmly in the New Year
This 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.
Thank you for being part of the SEND Parenting Tribe. You are not alone in this.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 149: Surviving the Holidays
10 déc. 2025
00:35:59
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.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 148: Parenting PDA: Strategies That Actually Work
02 déc. 2025
00:51:12
If parenting your child feels like a constant battle—and every strategy you have been told to use only makes things worse—you are not alone. Many families live this struggle daily without realising there is a name for what they are seeing: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).
In this episode, we speak with Rachel Crutcher and Sarah Stewart from the PDA Society, two experts who have walked this path both personally and professionally. Together, we uncover why everyday demands trigger such intense anxiety, why rewards and consequences backfire, and how a calm-first, collaborative approach can finally bring relief.
You will hear the early signs many parents miss—demand avoidance even for things a child usually loves, the need for control, and the familiar pattern of fine at school, meltdown at home. Once you understand PDA through a can’t-not-won’t lens, everything begins to make sense.
Your guides walk you through the practical steps that transform family life: • How to lower demands without lowering expectations • How to spot the hidden “micro-demands” that drain your child before the day has even begun • How humour, choices, and written prompts make requests feel safe • Why treating a PDA child like a “mini adult” (explaining the why, asking permission, collaborating) reduces anxiety instantly
We also tackle one of the biggest pain points for PDA families: school. You will learn how masking works, which adjustments truly help, and what flexible, trauma-aware practice looks like in real life. If your school’s ethos is rigid, we help you recognise when it is not the right fit—and where to turn for support and SEND-law guidance.
For families with siblings, we share a simple principle that reduces resentment and restores harmony: use collaborative, low-demand strategies with everyone. It is fair. It is kind. And it works.
Finally, we show you where real, ongoing help exists—through the PDA Society’s free guidance service, moderated parent communities, self-paced learning hub, professional training, and bespoke school consultations.
If you are exhausted, overwhelmed, or unsure what to try next, this episode will give you both clarity and hope. You can understand your child. You can reconnect. And things can get better.
If this conversation supports you, follow the show, share it with your community, and leave a review—your story may be the encouragement another parent needs.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 147: Neurodiverse Futures: Work That Works
25 nov. 2025
00:41:04
So many parents of neurodivergent children lie awake at night wondering the same thing: “What will happen when my child enters the workplace?”
In this episode, Dr. Olivia sits down with Jenefer Livings, HR consultant, workplace needs assessor, and mother to a neurodivergent child, to demystify what neurodiversity at work really looks like. Together they explore how shifts in workplace culture, flexible working, and better understanding of executive functioning are transforming what is possible for neurodiverse adults.
You will learn:
Why traditional school subjects do not predict your child’s future career success
How to identify strengths—not just struggles—in your teenager
What reasonable adjustments and Access to Work actually mean
How parents can support teens to self-advocate with confidence
Why the right workplace can unlock your child’s brilliance (and how to spot the wrong one)
The rising opportunities in self-employment and entrepreneurship for differently wired minds
This is a hopeful, practical conversation for any parent wanting to help their child step into adulthood with confidence, clarity, and a sense of possibility.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 146 Why Pregnancy Hits Harder for Neurodivergent Mums
18 nov. 2025
00:54:55
You are not imagining it.
Pregnancy, birth, and early parenting are more overwhelming for many neurodivergent mums — and no one tells you why.
In this eye-opening episode, doula and neurodiversity advocate Alix Myers joins Dr Olivia to unpack the hidden challenges that make the perinatal journey feel so intense. If you ever wondered why you struggled more than other mums, this episode finally gives you the answers, validation, and tools you deserve.
✨ What You Will Learn
🧠 Sensory Overload in Pregnancy
Why hormonal shifts amplify sensory sensitivities — and how to make your body feel safer and calmer.
🏥 Creating a Neuro-Safe Birth Plan
How lighting, sound, communication style, and advocacy can completely change your birth experience.
🤐 The Hidden Danger of “Masking” in Labour
Why so many neurodivergent women go quiet under stress, and how this leads to medical teams missing signs of distress.
🍼 Feeding Without Overwhelm
Practical guidance for breastfeeding, chest feeding, or bottle feeding — without sacrificing your mental health.
🧩 Executive Function in Postpartum
Why everything feels 100 times harder, and how simple systems can reduce chaos and protect your wellbeing.
🤝 How Partners Can Truly Support You
From non-verbal cues to boundary-bouncing — what your partner really needs to know.
💛 Why This Episode Matters
If pregnancy or early motherhood felt harder than it “should,” this conversation offers compassion, clarity, and solutions. You will walk away feeling understood, supported, and far less alone.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 145: Finding Their Tribe
11 nov. 2025
01:00:12
Many neurodivergent children struggle to make and keep friends — not because they do not care, but because they experience the world differently. In this episode, Dr Olivia speaks with Kirsten, founder of Uncommon, a unique online community that helps neurodiverse children build friendships and confidence through shared interests like gaming, art, and creativity.
Kirsten shares her personal journey to an autism diagnosis, why traditional social spaces often fail neurodivergent kids, and how Uncommon’s mentoring model is transforming lives. Together, they explore what true belonging means — and how finding your tribe can change everything.
Whether your child is shy, anxious, or struggling to connect, this episode will give you hope, practical insights, and a new perspective on social growth for neurodiverse children.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 144: When School Doesn't Fit: The Homeschool Solution
04 nov. 2025
01:03:57
What if the problem isn't your child—it's the system?
If school mornings feel like a battlefield and your child is shrinking under constant pressure, this episode offers hope. Dr. Olivia sits down with Cassie Olguin—homeschooling mother of three (including neurodivergent twins) and Outschool education lead—to explore what learning looks like when you step outside the traditional classroom.
Cassie's Journey: From early motor delays and night terrors to navigating autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety, Cassie shares the messy, real path many families walk. You'll discover how labels became tools for changing the environment—not verdicts on her daughter's potential.
What You'll Learn: ✨ Charter homeschooling demystified – How oversight works without rigid timetables ✨ Personal pace over grade levels – Why your child doesn't need to "keep up" ✨ Practical strategies that worked – Delaying reading until readiness, reframing maths as everyday numeracy, using interest-led classes ✨ Outschool's magic – Live sessions with expert tutors (think: veterinary science with a practicing vet, maths through Minecraft, virtual history escape rooms) ✨ Redefining success – Why standardised tests don't measure intelligence, creativity, or resilience
The Twin Perspective: Perhaps most moving: Cassie's twins are taking completely different educational paths through adolescence. One thrives with college-level work; the other flourishes at a gentler pace. Different tracks, equal worth.
Key Takeaways for Parents:
Start without decision paralysis—you don't need to figure it all out at once
Find your support network and share resources
Outsource subjects you don't love (yes, really!)
Mastery-based learning vs. arbitrary grade levels
Small online classes that respect sensory needs and attention spans
If your child is struggling, this conversation offers relief, clarity, and a roadmap forward.
💡 Subscribe to never miss an episode 💬 Share this with a parent who needs hope ⭐ Leave a review to help more families find practical, compassionate support
Terms: Offer expires 12/31/25 at 11:59 pm PDT. Registered Outschool account required. Enter code at checkout for $40 USD off a new membership. $40 off membership only valid for first-time memberships. Limited to the first 500 users. Cannot be combined with another offer. Subject to Outschool's Terms of Service
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 143: Stop Mothering Me! Understanding Your Teen’s Push for Independence
28 oct. 2025
00:48:06
Half-term chaos, slammed doors, sharp words—if that sounds familiar, you are not alone. In this episode, Dr Olivia Kessel sits down with teen expert Kim McCabe to unpack why your once-snuggly child suddenly bristles at “How was your day?” and how to respond without losing your cool or your connection. From the teenage brain’s rebuild to the unique load neurodiverse teens carry, we explore what is really happening under the surface—and the simple shifts that can change everything at home.
Kim explains why after-school meltdowns often land on parents, how masking drains emotional capacity, and what co-regulation looks like in real life. Together, we cover how to use short validating phrases instead of lectures, hold boundaries that reflect your core values, and create safe outlets for big feelings that do not harm anyone. You will hear why permissiveness can feel like indifference to teens, how to choose a few non-negotiables, and when to step back so your young person can save face and recover their balance.
We also share low-pressure ways to rebuild closeness: monthly parent–teen “dates,” visiting their world first—whether that is gaming, football, memes, or TikTok—without judgment, and narrating your own self-regulation to model coping. Whether you are parenting girls or boys, mums or dads, neurotypical or neurodiverse, the principles hold true: be the parent, team up with other adults, and protect your own capacity. Calm and loving is your superpower—but it needs fuel.
If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a parent who needs a boost, and leave a quick review so more families can find these tools. And if you are ready for deeper support, check the show notes for details on the Recharge and Connect SEND Summit—join us in person or via live stream.
💬 Resources Mentioned in This Episode
If today’s conversation with Kim McCabe resonated with you, you can find out more about her work at Rites for Girls , where she supports parents and teens through the transitions of adolescence. Explore her brilliant book, From Daughter to Woman: Parenting Girls Safely Through Their Teens , and discover her Weekend Retreat for Mothers of Daughters — a beautiful space to reconnect, reflect, and parent with greater awareness and ease.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 142 Saying yes until she failed changed everything
21 oct. 2025
01:05:35
Burnout has a way of making even the smallest task feel impossible. We open with a lifeline for parents raising neurodivergent children, then sit down with campaigner and founder Agnes Agyepong to trace how postnatal depression and isolation became the spark for two powerful vehicles of change: the Glow Mama Awards and a research-led movement tackling maternal and SEND inequalities.
Agnes shares the surprising role social media played in her recovery—authentic posts, wry humour, and micro-moments of solidarity that made her feel seen. That insight grows into Glow Mama, a people’s choice awards platform celebrating the creators who keep mothers going at 3 a.m. From there, Agnes dives into the Black maternal health crisis and the environmental factors that stack the odds against families long before labour begins, culminating in the Black Child Clean Air Report and cross-sector partnerships. The throughline is clear: these are public health problems that show up in clinics, classrooms, and on our streets.
We dig into SEND inequity with lived experience. Agnes talks about being treated with suspicion when her son was self-harming, becoming a school governor to be heard, and the way adultification bias and rigid behaviour policies fast-track exclusions before support arrives. We challenge the outdated, industrial model of schooling and argue for personalised education that works for every brain. Practical guidance runs throughout: why a Year 3 screening won’t secure legal protections, how an Educational Psychologist’s report unlocks exam access and durable support, and how to build an evidence trail that proves whether a school can meet need.
If you want clear next steps, we’ve got them: back petitions so policymakers see the data, write your MP so SEND rises in local triage, connect with specialist groups for Education Other Than At School pathways, and join community networks that share tactics without gatekeeping. Neurodivergent thinkers are not problems to be fixed; they are the innovators we need. Subscribe, share with a caregiver who needs hope, and leave a review to help more families find real tools and real change.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 141 Unschooling Yourself: Letting Go of the ‘Shoulds’ in Parenting
14 oct. 2025
01:02:48
What if the problem was never your child—but the system itself? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Olivia sits down with Esther Jones, mindfulness teacher, mother of three, and author of The Parent’s Handbook to Unschooling Yourself, to explore what happens when we let go of the ‘shoulds’ that weigh parents down. From daily battles over school refusal to the pressure of academic milestones, Esther shares her family’s journey into unschooling—a path that focuses on curiosity, connection, and trust rather than control.
Together, they unpack how mindfulness and self-compassion can transform not just how our children learn, but how we parent. Whether you are curious about alternatives to traditional education or simply looking for a way to bring more calm and joy into your home, this episode will help you see that the first step to helping your child thrive might just be learning to “unschool” yourself.
Join Dr. Olivia Kessel and leading SEND experts at the Recharge and Connect Summit on 11 November 2025 at Phyllis Court, Henley-on-Thames (also livestreamed). A day to recharge, connect, and gain practical tools for raising neurodiverse children. 💛 👉 sendparenting.com/event
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
What if the meltdown in your hallway isn’t defiance at all, but a terrified nervous system asking for help? We go straight to the heart of “challenging behaviour” with Laura, a teacher and mum of neurodivergent twins, who moved from daily crisis to a calmer, kinder home by changing how she understood panic, overload, and connection. Her story spans premature birth, early diagnoses, masking at school, and the moment everything fell apart—then slowly came back together.
We break down the physiology of fight or flight in plain English—what rising heart rate, redirected blood flow, and sensory overwhelm do to a child’s thinking brain—and why sticker charts and lectures backfire mid-meltdown. You’ll hear the hidden social demands most of us miss: the chirpy morning greeting, the barrage of car-ride questions, the insistence on eye contact. We swap over-talking for visuals and scripts, and share a deceptively simple morning playlist that turned dread into momentum. Curiosity replaces blame through a great example of literal thinking (yes, he handed over the red and blue food colouring—because that’s what was asked).
We also map the sensory layer—why kicking and slamming can signal a need for proprioception—and how a realistic sensory routine lowers baseline stress. A striking moment at a cricket match shows how the right environment can flip chaos to clarity in seconds. Boundaries still matter, but timing is everything: teach after calm, not during crisis, and make consequences predictable, visual, and discussed in advance. If you’ve felt hopeless, ashamed, or judged, this conversation will hand you language, tools, and the relief of being understood.
Want more support and live coaching with neurodiversity experts? Join the ADHD Warrior Mom Recharge Station for weekly group coaching, monthly masterclasses, self-care sessions, and a community that gets it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help more families find us.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 139: Why Punishments From 1846 Still Don't Work Today
30 sept. 2025
00:46:36
Dr Olivia Kessel welcomes back co-authors Georgina Benger and Karen Price to discuss restorative justice as a compassionate, relationship-based approach that helps children understand the impact of their actions and repair harm.
• Georgina's research at Cambridge University revealed schools still use the same punishment methods from 1846 despite their ineffectiveness • Traditional punishments fail to teach accountability and create patterns where children accept consequences without understanding impact • Restorative justice shifts focus from punishment to repairing relationships through a seven-step process • Creating a safe space, active listening, and acknowledging emotions are foundational steps in restorative practice • The approach encourages children to explore the impact of their actions and take accountability without forced apologies • Particularly beneficial for neurodivergent children who often experience disproportionate punishment in traditional systems • Implementing restorative practices in schools requires time initially but becomes embedded in culture and ultimately saves time • Children learn to resolve conflicts independently when these practices are consistently modeled • The core principles include prioritizing relationships, focusing on learning rather than labeling, and recognizing that healing should involve everyone
If getting your child to sleep feels like a battle, download our free 30-day Better Sleep Starter Guide at sendparenting.com/sleep – designed with ADHD in mind but effective for all neurodiverse children.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 138: Anxiety, PDA and self-regulation with Caryn Price & Georgina Benger
23 sept. 2025
00:46:34
If you're exhausted from daily battles with a child who seems to resist everything – even things they used to enjoy – this episode will change how you see their behaviour forever.
Karen Price and Georgina Benger, leading PDA experts who've supported thousands of families, reveal why Pathological Demand Avoidance isn't defiance or manipulation – it's anxiety. Using the heartwarming children's book "Olive's Day" as their guide, they brilliantly illustrate how your child literally "can't, not won't," making this complex concept suddenly crystal clear.
Discover why your child appears "perfect" at school but falls apart the moment they get home, and learn practical strategies that honour their neurological needs without creating chaos. Through the relatable story of Olive and her challenging day, Karen and Georgina demonstrate how visual choices, environmental modifications, and the power of co-regulation – literally "lending your nervous system" to help your child manage overwhelming emotions – can transform your family dynamics.
You'll walk away understanding how to support your child's drive for autonomy through collaboration and flexibility, create classroom cultures that build empathy rather than entitlement, and transform daily conflicts into genuine connection. Plus, discover how "Olive's Day" can become a powerful tool for helping others understand your child's unique needs.
Stop walking on eggshells. Stop questioning every parenting decision. Your child isn't broken, and neither are you – you just need different strategies for a different neurotype, beautifully illustrated through one little girl's very relatable day.
This 45-minute conversation, brought to life through Olive's relatable journey, could save your family years of struggle.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 137: The broken UK SEND system with Rebecca Harrison, founder of SEN Home Ed Circle
16 sept. 2025
00:49:20
The postcode lottery in UK's SEND system isn't just frustrating—it's devastating families. This raw, eye-opening conversation with Rebecca Harrison reveals the shocking truth about educational inequality across neighboring boroughs.
Rebecca brings a uniquely powerful perspective as both a former SENCO and mother to two neurodivergent children. Despite her professional background and intimate understanding of the educational system, she's been unable to secure appropriate schooling for her autistic son—all because of where they live. While her local authority offers minimal provision through converted village halls and makeshift attachments to mainstream schools, just a mile away in neighboring boroughs, dedicated autism schools and comprehensive support services exist.
The conversation exposes the painful reality many families face: diagnosis delays stretching years, mainstream schools excluding children after mere weeks, and the agonizing choice between relocating or accepting inadequate support. Rebecca shares her discovery of hidden NHS diagnostic quotas that arbitrarily limit autism diagnoses per financial year and reveals how government "Safety Valve Agreements" incentivize local authorities to keep children in-borough at any cost—even when appropriate educational settings don't exist.
Yet this isn't just a story of systemic failure. Rebecca has transformed her frustration into action by creating the SEND Home Ed Circle, an online community providing resources, lessons and support for families educating neurodivergent children at home. Her three powerful tips—never give up, recognize that neither you nor your child are broken, and "don't let the bastards get you down"—offer a rallying cry for parents fighting similar battles.
Join our WhatsApp community to connect with parents who understand these struggles. Together, we can support each other through the challenges of raising neurodivergent children in a system that wasn't built for them.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 136: Education systems fail neurodivergent children with Julia Silver, founder of Qualified Tutor
09 sept. 2025
00:54:53
Education systems often fail neurodivergent children, but the right support can transform their learning journey. Julia Silver, founder of Qualified Tutors and mother to five neurodivergent children, shares how tutoring can rebuild confidence and love of learning for children struggling in traditional education.
• Understanding that schools can't meet every child's needs – even with the most dedicated teachers • How tutoring offers personalized support that goes to where the student is • The importance of rehabilitation periods when children are excluded from school • Finding tutors who build relationships with both parents and children • Seeing neurodivergent children as teaching us to rethink our assumptions about education • Recognizing that academic success doesn't equal life success • The value of offering children autonomy rather than demanding compliance • Teaching executive functioning skills to help children feel in control • Statistics showing 25% of UK children now use tutors, yet the profession remains unregulated • Research evidence that tutoring creates five months of academic progress • Building a child's ability to connect effort with attainment • How AI might complement human teaching for truly personalised learning • The importance of parents accepting they can't do it all
Helping you to support your neurodiverse child's sleep challenges. Though designed with ADHD in mind, the strategies benefit all neurodiverse children.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
Ever felt like your child's emotions are too big for their body? In this tender final episode of our Alexandra ADHD En Masse series, my 13-year-old daughter Alexandra opens her heart about one of the most challenging aspects of living with ADHD – emotional regulation and friendship struggles.
With remarkable self-awareness, Alexandra shares how overwhelming emotions can suddenly explode, leaving her feeling misunderstood and sometimes excluded from friendship groups. "They might judge you... and then you're excluded because they think you lose it too often or cry too much," she explains, capturing what so many neurodivergent children experience but struggle to articulate.
The breakthrough came through learning the Zones of Regulation – a colour-coded emotional framework that Alexandra describes in detail. This simple but powerful tool transformed her ability to communicate feelings before reaching crisis point. Where once she would hide behind trees at school, unable to express her distress, she can now identify which "zone" she's in and get appropriate support.
We explore practical de-escalation strategies that work at home, from creating calming spaces to keeping a family list of regulation techniques. Alexandra also shares her experience with medication adjustments, school friendship groups, and the anxiety-excitement mix of transitioning to a new school environment. Her insights reveal how interconnected emotional regulation, social acceptance, and academic success truly are for children with ADHD.
Whether you're a parent seeking understanding, an educator looking for classroom strategies, or someone navigating neurodiversity yourself, Alexandra's voice offers both validation and hope. Download our free Zones of Regulation guide through the link in our show notes and join our community where neurodiversity is embraced, not merely accommodated.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
Sleep deprivation became our unwelcome companion for eleven long years. My daughter Alexandra would lie awake for hours, plagued by anxious thoughts that seemed to intensify as darkness fell. When sleep finally came, it was fragmented – she'd wake repeatedly, finding her way to my bed most nights seeking reassurance. For families navigating ADHD, this scenario might sound painfully familiar.
In this deeply personal conversation, Alexandra courageously shares what those nights felt like from her perspective: "Sleep was like a nightmare." She describes overwhelming anxiety that made sleepovers impossible, prevented me from having evenings out, and left us both perpetually exhausted. We candidly discuss how sleep deprivation amplified our challenges, leading to what Alexandra perfectly describes as "explosion time" – when our emotional regulation skills would crumble under the weight of fatigue.
The turning point in our journey came unexpectedly. After trying countless strategies, from elaborate bedtime routines to consultations with sleep specialists, we finally found our answer in prescription melatonin. Alexandra describes the transformation as nothing short of miraculous – from hours of bedtime struggles to falling asleep within minutes. We explore the complementary approaches that support her sleep hygiene now, including technology boundaries, weighted blankets, meditation, and Emotional Freedom Technique for anxiety. Most touchingly, Alexandra shares how quality sleep has expanded her world, enabling her to manage overnight stays and wake feeling "recharged and ready for the day."
Whether you're a parent, educator, or healthcare provider supporting a child with ADHD, this conversation offers both practical strategies and genuine hope. Download our free sleep resource sheet at sendparenting.com/sleep to begin implementing these life-changing techniques today. Because when sleep improves, everything else follows.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
ADHD Medication: a teen's experience
12 août 2025
00:18:51
FREE GUIDE: ADHD Medication Made Simple 💊 Understand how ADHD medication works, the different options available, and how to talk to your child about it with confidence. 👉 Download your free guide here
What's it really like to take ADHD medication as a teenager? Forget the clinical explanations—today my daughter Alexandra bravely takes us behind the curtain of her medication journey with refreshing honesty that only a young person living the experience can provide.
The journey begins with Alexandra's genuine fear: "I can't take a pill. What if it gets stuck in my throat?" Using Tic Tacs as practice pills, we found our way through that first obstacle together. But the real challenges emerged during those initial ten days—a period of emotional turbulence that nearly led me to discontinue the medication altogether. This rarely-discussed "worse before better" phase is something every parent should know about before starting this journey.
Alexandra's description of life before and after medication is striking in its clarity. Homework sessions transformed from battles requiring constant supervision to independent work. Morning routines shifted from chaotic to manageable. Even navigating school medication schedules created unexpected social connections with other students taking similar treatments. When we accidentally missed a dose one morning and attempted homework, the stark contrast reminded us exactly why this intervention mattered so much.
As Alexandra enters her teenage years, our medication journey continues to evolve. We recently transitioned from a stimulant to a non-stimulant medication to address emerging anxiety symptoms—a change bringing its own set of challenges and adjustments. Through it all, Alexandra's perspective remains clear: "It wouldn't help me at all," she says when asked about stopping medication, recognizing how treatment enables her to function at her best despite the adjustments required.
Download our free comprehensive guide "ADHD Medication: The Top Things to Know When You're Considering It" at sendparenting.com/medication. Next week Alexandra returns to discuss another challenge affecting many with ADHD—sleep difficulties and how we've navigated that aspect of her neurodivergent journey.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 132: Mother and Daughter Navigate ADHD Together
06 août 2025
00:18:30
FREE GUIDE for Parents of ADHD Girls 🎁 Discover the often-missed signs of ADHD in girls — so you can spot them early and get the right support. 👉 Download your free guide here
Ever wondered what ADHD actually feels like from the inside? In this intimate first episode of our special summer series, I'm joined by my daughter Alexandra who courageously opens up about her experience living with ADHD before and after diagnosis.
The morning battlefields we once faced will sound painfully familiar to many parents – shouted instructions, missed cues, and escalating frustration on both sides. Alexandra brilliantly articulates why seemingly simple tasks like "get ready for school" became impossible mountains to climb for her ADHD brain. "I would get distracted by my Alexa, my dog toys, even the slightest thing that made me out of place," she explains, painting a vivid picture of how environmental stimuli hijack attention.
Her description of entering the "red zone" – those moments when emotions become uncontrollable storms – provides rare insight into emotional dysregulation that often accompanies ADHD. We explore how strategic supports from understanding teachers and breaking down instructions into manageable steps created turning points in Alexandra's journey. The transformation from our pre-diagnosis struggles to her current independence is nothing short of remarkable.
Whether you're a parent suspecting your child might have ADHD, already navigating a diagnosis, or simply want to understand neurodivergent experiences better, this conversation offers both practical strategies and emotional resonance. Join us next week as we delve into Alexandra's experience with medication – the fears, questions and life-changing results that followed. And don't forget to download my free guide "The Five Most Misunderstood Signs of ADHD in Girls" through the link in the show notes!
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 131: Self-regulation for neurodivergent children with Nicola McAllister from The Regulated Child
28 juil. 2025
00:58:48
What if your child's meltdowns or shutdowns aren't actually about behavior, but biology?
Nicola McAllister, education consultant with 30+ years of experience and mother to an autistic son, reveals the science behind self-regulation that transforms how we support our neurodivergent children. Through her compassionate lens, we discover that what looks like "difficult behavior" is actually a stress response—our children's bodies responding to perceived threats with the only tools they currently have available.
The conversation unveils Nicola's brilliant "brain house" model, explaining how our children's brains develop from the bottom up, and how stress can trap them in the "basement" of survival responses. When traditional parenting approaches fail, it's because we're trying to reason with a child who physiologically cannot access their reasoning brain in that moment.
Instead, Nicola guides us through her self-regulation framework: Goal, Predict, Plan, Do, Review—a collaborative approach that builds executive function skills through practice rather than punishment. Through vivid real-world examples, including her son's struggle with a Mario t-shirt at a social club, she demonstrates how validating our children's concerns and building plans together creates pathways to success.
Perhaps most powerfully, she introduces the "Regulate, Relate, Reason" approach—understanding that our children need to feel calm before they can connect, and only then can they reason. This shifts our parenting from reactive to intentional, what Nicola calls "premiership parenting"—requiring us to be several steps ahead, carefully considering our words and approaches.
Whether you're struggling with morning routines, hygiene battles, or emotional outbursts, this episode provides both the understanding and practical tools to build meaningful connections with your child. Listen now and transform your approach to supporting your child's developing nervous system.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 130: Why are neurodiverse girls being ignored with Sara Donnelly, former headteacher
21 juil. 2025
00:53:38
Sara Donnelly, a head teacher of 14 years, shares why she's leaving education leadership after witnessing the system repeatedly fail neurodivergent children, in particular, girls. We also delve into why:
• Girls with neurodiversity are often missed because they present differently than the stereotypical profile • Signs to watch for in autistic girls include subtle stimming, hypervigilance, and struggling to maintain (not make) friendships • Many professionals still believe myths like "she can't be autistic because she makes eye contact" or "she has friends" • Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) should be addressed by fixing the environment, not the child • Creative solutions like normalising ear defenders for everyone can help neurodivergent children without singling them out • The education system needs radical reform: smaller class sizes, less testing, and personalized learning
Join our private WhatsApp community to connect with other parents navigating their neurodiverse journey.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 129: Protecting your child online with Emily Keeney of the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office)
14 juil. 2025
00:35:52
The digital world offers a unique sanctuary for neurodiverse children—a place where they can connect, explore, and engage in ways that might feel challenging in person. But this digital refuge comes with hidden costs as platforms silently harvest our children's personal data, using it in ways most parents don't fully understand.
Deputy Commissioner Emily Keaney from the Information Commissioner's Office pulls back the curtain on what's really happening when your child scrolls through social media or plays online games. From recommender systems that create detailed profiles of your child's interests to geolocation settings that can expose their physical whereabouts, the conversation reveals the mechanics of data collection that operate just beneath the surface of your child's favourite apps.
What makes this discussion particularly valuable is its practical approach. Rather than inducing panic, Keaney shares concrete successes where regulatory pressure has forced major platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to implement stronger privacy protections specifically for young users. She explains how sophisticated age verification technologies are becoming increasingly common, ensuring children receive appropriate safeguards even when they've managed to circumvent parental controls.
For parents of neurodiverse children who may be especially vulnerable online, the episode offers a perfect balance of technical insight and practical guidance. Learn why simply checking privacy settings isn't enough and how ongoing conversations about digital safety can be naturally integrated into family life. Discover the power of showing genuine curiosity about your child's online experiences rather than approaching them with suspicion.
What emerges is a heartening message: parents aren't alone in this fight. Through significant fines and regulatory action, the ICO is steadily shifting the burden of protection away from overwhelmed parents and onto the powerful platforms profiting from our children's attention. Join us to understand how you can better protect your child while still allowing them to benefit from the connection and community the digital world provides.
Got questions about protecting your child online? Join our private WhatsApp community where parents share experiences and support each other through the challenges of raising neurodiverse children in a digital age.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 128: Most children have multiple diagnosis with Lizzie Shearing and Liz Britton from Learning DNA
07 juil. 2025
01:03:30
The gap between what neurodiverse children need and what traditional education provides continues to widen, leaving parents desperate for answers while waiting years for diagnoses and appropriate support. In this eye-opening conversation, Lizzie Shearing and Liz Britton share how Learning DNA's revolutionary approach is transforming outcomes for children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental differences.
At the heart of their methodology is the recognition that most children don't fit neatly into diagnostic boxes. "I think what really struck me in my role as a SENCO was that there isn't really one child I've ever met that only has one difficulty," explains Lizzie, highlighting why the traditional siloed pathways to support often fail our most vulnerable learners. Their 360-degree assessment evaluates fourteen distinct learning skills, creating a comprehensive picture that prioritizes interventions based on individual needs rather than diagnostic labels.
One of the most fascinating revelations is how frequently visual processing difficulties are misdiagnosed as dyslexia. Lizzie shares how proper screening and intervention improved her own daughter's reading speed by 25% overnight through specialized glasses and vision therapy. This exemplifies Learning DNA's evidence-based approach, which looks beyond labels to identify and address the root causes of learning barriers.
The conversation explores their innovative therapeutic programs, including movement therapy using AI tracking technology, personalized learning programs, vision therapy, and auditory integration training. What makes their approach particularly powerful is how they bring together families, schools and specialists to create holistic support systems with practical strategies for both home and classroom environments.
For parents navigating the overwhelming journey of supporting a neurodiverse child, this episode offers both hope and practical guidance. Discover how understanding your child's complete learning profile – rather than chasing diagnoses – could be the key to unlocking their potential and transforming their educational experience. Could your child's learning challenges be different than you think?
Click here for Learning DNA enter SEND30 for a 30% discount
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 127: Parenting Your Neurodivergent Child with Diane Dempster, co-founder of Impact Parents
30 juin 2025
00:40:51
We dive into a powerful conversation about parenting neurodivergent children from the inside out with guest Diane Dempster, coach, speaker, and co-founder of Impact Parents. Diane shares her personal journey as a "recovering yelling mom" and how she discovered that the way we show up as parents matters more than what we do.
• How the "Super Mom trap" catches neurodivergent parents who try to do everything for their children • Why parents are "the missing link" in helping neurodivergent children thrive • Recognising when you're having a "wobbly" day and what to do about it • Practical tools like the "3-5 challenge" for setting realistic expectations • Questioning whether difficult behaviours are "naughty or neurological" • Reframing self-care as "bringing your needs into the equation" • The importance of asking for help and modelling this skill for your children • Setting an intention to do something for yourself every day, no matter how small • Breaking free from internal critical voices that may not even be your own
If you're looking for a safe space to connect with other parents navigating their neurodiverse journey, our private WhatsApp community offers support, insights and real conversations with like-minded parents who truly understand. Join the conversation today. You can find the link in the show notes.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 126: ADHD Parenting: Heal Yourself, Help Your Child with Randy Free of Aspire Coaching
10 juin 2025
00:50:39
What if your journey to help your child with ADHD actually begins with healing yourself? Randy Free, founder of Aspire Coaching, offers a refreshing perspective that might just transform your family dynamics.
When traditional parenting approaches fail with neurodivergent children, parents often feel trapped in cycles of conflict, meltdowns, and mutual frustration. Randy's personal story of raising two children with ADHD resonates deeply—the hours spent on homework, the struggles within an inflexible education system, and the constant worry about how their story would end. Through this journey, he discovered a profound truth: healing the family system creates space for the child to thrive.
The heart of our conversation explores Randy's PEACE framework (Perspective, Ease tension, Attune, Connect, and Empower), offering a structured path toward calmer, more connected parenting. We unpack how children's emotional outbursts aren't manipulative or defiant but distress signals from a brain where logic becomes inaccessible during emotional moments. Randy introduces practical tools like the STOP method for identifying emotional warning signs and creating personalised calming strategies before reaching full meltdown.
Perhaps most importantly, we challenge the misconception that gentle parenting means permissiveness. Randy articulates the crucial balance between empathetic connection and maintaining clear boundaries, showing how fewer, more focused expectations actually create space for children to thrive. The conversation takes a beautiful turn as we recognize how neurodivergent children flourish when their education aligns with their passions—like Randy's son who struggled to get out of bed for school but achieved perfect attendance at motorcycle mechanics school.
Whether you're in the trenches of daily ADHD challenges or simply seeking to better understand neurodivergent minds, this episode offers compassionate insight alongside practical strategies. Join us to discover how one breath, one conscious choice at a time, you can transform both your parenting approach and your relationship with your wonderfully unique child.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 125: Financial protection for neurodivergent children with Lisa Chauhan & Cara Roughani of Send Protect
02 juin 2025
00:49:57
Financial planning for neurodivergent children is not just about money but about love, responsibility, and the legacy we leave when we're no longer here.
• Cara explains how her journey with her autistic son during COVID lockdown led to creating SendProtect after noticing financial advisors weren't addressing SEND-specific needs • SendProtect offers free educational events, webinars and consultations to help SEND parents understand long-term financial planning • Life insurance policies should be written in trust to prevent inheritance tax and provide immediate access to funds • Children's ISAs can become problematic at age 18 if your child lacks financial capacity, requiring court applications • Vulnerable person's trusts provide a government-approved way to save money for SEND children without affecting benefits • Even £5 per week can provide meaningful financial protection through properly structured life insurance • Having a will with children's guardianship specified is essential to prevent SEND children entering temporary care • Workplace support for SEND parents is crucial—employers need to understand the additional caring responsibilities
Join the conversation in our private WhatsApp community where SEND parents connect for support, insights and understanding. Find the link in the show notes.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 124: When your child slips away with Guy Shahar of Transforming Autism
26 mai 2025
00:46:30
What happens when the child you thought you knew begins to slip away? For Guy Shahar, watching his one-year-old son Daniel lose words, self-feeding abilities, and connection was heartbreaking. "It's like you're losing your child," Guy shares, describing the helplessness that washed over him and his wife as traditional medical pathways offered little beyond frustration and dismissal.
Their story takes an unexpected turn when they follow their intuition to a small therapy center in Israel, emptying their savings on what Guy calls "stronger than a whim, but without any rational basis." What follows is nothing short of remarkable - a transformation that begins on the very first day when Daniel, who hadn't touched solid food in over a year, sits calmly at a table feeding himself. The magic, Guy explains, isn't in mysterious techniques but in learning profound attunement and containment - creating safety while truly seeing and responding to what his son actually needed rather than what conventional parenting expected.
Guy's journey doesn't end with Daniel's progress. While establishing the charity Transforming Autism, he discovers his own neurodivergence, adding layers of insight to his understanding: "Autistic children are often particularly sensitive and empathic - turbocharged even. It's overwhelming, that's why they shut down." This revelation reshapes his advocacy work, focusing on helping parents understand their children's extraordinary potential from the earliest moments. Through intensive home-based therapies and accessible online parent groups, his charity now guides families toward the confidence to parent neurodivergent children on their own terms.
For parents just beginning this journey, Guy offers compassionate wisdom: allow yourself to grieve the future you imagined, seek community with those who understand, and remember that while the path may not resemble what you expected, the connection waiting on the other side can be more profound than you ever thought possible. Connect with the Send Parenting WhatsApp community through the link in our show notes, where you'll find others walking similar paths with open hearts and shared understanding.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 123: Creating calm in the classroom with Lisa Danahy, Founder & Director of Create Calm
19 mai 2025
00:52:44
Dr. Olivia Kessel speaks with Lisa Danahy, Founder & Director of Create Calm, yoga therapist and author of Create Calm in the Classroom, a book about understanding and supporting children's nervous systems through breath and movement techniques. She talks about why playful approaches work better than verbal instructions for neurodivergent children and:
• Why we need to understand behaviours as nervous system communications rather than problems to fix • How to use the "volcano" movement exercise to release tension and anxiety • The importance of validating emotions rather than labelling them as good or bad • Practical ways to help children navigate emotional storms through body awareness
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me If you wou...
EP 122: When educators and parents work together with WITH Lynn How of Positive Young Mind & Izzy Felton, host of the SEND Network Podcast
12 mai 2025
00:46:55
The SEND Parenting Podcast joins forces with the SEND Network Podcast to explore the transformative power that emerges when parents and educators collaborate effectively for neurodiverse children, featuring Lynn Howe who brings unique insight as both a SENCO and parent of a neurodivergent child. We delve into how:
• Children frequently mask difficulties at school, causing disconnect between home and school experiences • The EHCP process remains challenging, even for those with insider knowledge • Regular check-ins and addressing concerns early prevent escalation to crisis points • The magic formula of letting go • Support networks provide validation and practical strategies for both parents and professionals
Join us in the private SEND Parenting WhatsApp community by clicking the link in the show notes. It's been wonderful to communicate with everyone in the community and join together to help each other navigate challenges and celebrate successes.
📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter.
⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.