Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The AuDHD Psych Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep 29: AuDHD Experience - Work, Burnout and Ableism in Autism & ADHD | 26 juil. 2026 | 00:25:59 | |
🎙️ Episode 29 — Work, Burnout & Ableism: Why So Many of Us Aren't Employed
If we are different and not defective, why are so many of us unemployed, underemployed, or exhausted at work? In this episode, Aaron Howearth (Clinical Psychologist) works through the employment gap for neurodivergent people — and makes the case that it is structural, not a matter of effort or willingness. We start with the numbers. Around three in ten autistic adults are employed in UK research, roughly half in Australia, and in the Netherlands the most common employment trajectory across thousands of autistic people was long-term unemployment. ADHD sits differently in the data, with productivity loss, injury, and time off carrying much of the cost. What ties it together is a person-environment mismatch — and the uncomfortable finding that most interventions still try to change the person rather than the workplace, even though environmental change is what actually shifts employment outcomes. From there we get into burnout as a mechanism. We work through what autistic burnout actually is — chronic exhaustion, skills loss, reduced tolerance for sensory and cognitive demands, nonlinear and often long-term — how it must be differentiated from depression, anxiety, trauma responses and personality differences without excluding them, and why the withdrawal looks different (recovery, not amotivation). We are careful with masking: it is associated with burnout and likely a leading mechanism, but the causal evidence isn't there yet. We also name the thin ground honestly — ADHD burnout is a clinical and community idea without a defining study, and AuDHD burnout has almost no academic literature at all. Then we turn upstream to ableism: the assumption that able-bodied and typical means right, normal, and appropriate, and that anything else is deficient. That shows up bluntly (employers who say they would not hire an autistic person under any circumstances) and subtly (be quiet, slow down, be more cheerful) — and both feed masking, stress, and burnout. We extend the double empathy problem to triple empathy in professional settings, where the mismatch is with colleagues and managers too, not just clients. Finally, we get practical: what accommodations actually cost, why everyone already uses accommodations, what to ask for, and how to plan recovery before you run out of spoons.
Today's discussion draws on a mix of peer-reviewed research (strongest for autistic employment outcomes, autistic burnout, and accommodations), thinner and largely non-definitive material on ADHD burnout, and clinical and lived-experience observation where the literature does not yet reach — particularly for AuDHD burnout, where academic evidence is close to absent. Where a claim is associational rather than causal, or clinical rather than trial-based, that's named clearly in the episode.
This episode is general educational and advocacy information only. It is not individualised or tailored therapy, assessment, advice, or employment or legal guidance. If you need support, please speak with your GP or a registered practitioner in your area. Thanks for listening, and remember — we are different, not defective. Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 28: Understanding Neurodivergence - Relationships, Friendships and Intimacy in AuDHD, ADHD and Autism | 16 juil. 2026 | 00:20:20 | |
🎙️ Ep 28 — Relationships: Friendship, Loneliness & Intimacy Across Neurotypes "It's not meeting my needs. It's not meeting your needs. It's meeting our needs in the best balance for us" If we're different and not defective, why do so many of us find relationships hard? In this episode, Aaron Howearth (Clinical Psychologist) sits with that question and works through friendship, loneliness, and intimacy across neurotypes — not as evidence of a deficit inside us, but as something that lives in the space between us and the people we're trying to connect with. We start with what the research bears out: on average, autistic people report being lonelier and having fewer, lower-quality friendships — though this varies enormously from person to person, and many of us genuinely prefer smaller, higher-quality networks. From there we get into the double empathy problem: the idea that communication difficulties aren't a one-sided skills deficit, but a two-way mismatch, like speaking the same language in a slightly different dialect. When neurotype-matched pairs communicate, that difficulty largely disappears — which tells us it's a language barrier, not a broken person. We look at why community is protective, why masking costs us, and why the evidence is stronger for autism than ADHD, with only grey-literature hints that double empathy extends to ADHD too. We then turn to intimacy across neurotypes — comparable desire for connection, but real barriers around sensory sensitivity, communication style, and a statistically higher likelihood of trauma. Finally, we bring in Gottman's work on partner responsiveness (turning towards vs turning away) and a warm-hug framing of attachment styles, landing on the most practical lever of all: understanding how you and your partner work, and meeting needs in the balance that's right for your context.
Today's discussion draws on a mix of peer-reviewed research (strongest for autism, and for the double empathy work), grey literature (particularly for any extension to ADHD), and lived-experience and clinical observation. Where the ADHD-and-friendship evidence is thin, or where the argument is pragmatic rather than trial-based, that's named clearly in the episode.
This episode is general educational and advocacy information only. It is not individualised or tailored therapy, assessment, or advice. Aaron does not provide relationship counselling. If you need support, please speak with your GP or a registered practitioner in your area. Thanks for listening, and remember — we are different, not defective. Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 27: AuDHD Experience - Therapy Adaptations for Neurodivergent Folk (AuDHD, ADHD & Autism) — What's the Point? | 12 juil. 2026 | 00:27:24 | |
🎙️ Ep 27: AuDHD Experience - Therapy Adaptations for Neurodivergent Folk (AuDHD, ADHD & Autism) — What's the Point? "Barriers aren't a 'you' problem — they're an 'us' problem to manage together." Hi friends. If neurodivergent people are already showing up to therapy, why do affirming adaptations even matter? In this solo episode I work through that question from my own clinical experience and lived experience as an AuDHD psychologist. We map the barriers that keep neurodivergent people out of the therapy room — physical, psychological, emotional, sensory, and cognitive — and then walk back through the same five to look at small, practical, often low-cost changes that make care genuinely accessible. From externalising working memory and body doubling, to trauma-informed safety, non-fluorescent lighting, situational mutism, and a cushion instead of new chairs, this one is for neurodivergent listeners deciding what to ask for, and for clinicians wanting to do better. A note on the evidence: I'm speaking mostly from clinical and lived experience here, not a deep RCT base. Where I mention that neurodivergent people "endorse" adapted approaches as helpful, that's about acceptability and client-rated helpfulness — how much people value these adaptations — not proven treatment efficacy or effect sizes. The main study behind that point is Paynter, Sommer & Cook (2025), who asked autistic adults to rate the helpfulness of specific therapy adaptations. The passage on perimenopause and sensory gating is an emerging, still-contested area, not settled science — hold it lightly. Takeaways: If this was useful, please share it with a clinician who needs to hear it — that's the single best way to get affirming care to more people. 📚 Reference: Paynter, J., Sommer, K., & Cook, A. (2025). How can we make therapy better for autistic adults? Autistic adults' ratings of helpfulness of adaptations to therapy. Autism. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613251313569 Educational content only — this is not therapy or personalised clinical advice. We are different, not defective. Keywords: neurodivergent therapy, AuDHD, autism, ADHD, affirming practice, therapy adaptations, accessibility, situational mutism, sensory overwhelm, trauma-informed care, clinical psychology Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 26: Understanding Neurodivergence (AuDHD, Autism & ADHD) - More Than Diagnosis | 02 juil. 2026 | 00:20:22 | |
🎙️ Episode 26: Understanding Neurodivergence - More Than Diagnosis "I can be autistic without autism spectrum disorder, in the same way that I can have legs without being broken." Summary: In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, clinical psychologist and AuDHDer Aaron Howearth takes on a question sparked by a challenge on social media: can you identify as autistic without holding a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder? The answer is yes — and in this episode, Aaron unpacks exactly why, drawing on clinical definitions, diagnostic criteria, the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm, and his own lived experience as an autistic ADHDer and former Navy serviceperson. Aaron begins by untangling three terms that are often conflated: neurodiversity, neurodivergent, and diagnosis. He explains that neurodiversity — like biodiversity — simply refers to the natural range of cognitive styles that exist across humans, while neurodivergent describes a brain that functions differently from the neurotypical majority. Autism, he argues, is a cluster of cognitive characteristics — not a disorder by default. Autism Spectrum Disorder, on the other hand, is the diagnostic label that applies only when those characteristics cause functional difficulties in the person's life. Drawing on Damian Milton's Double Empathy Problem, Aaron explores how social and communicative differences in autism are not inherent deficits, but mismatches between communication styles — a dialect problem, not a language problem. He walks through how the same characteristic (say, cognitive rigidity or impulsivity) can function as both a strength and a barrier depending on the environment, using vivid examples from his own clinical work and time in the Navy. Aaron also addresses the claim that autism diagnosis is "not a social construct," offering a clinical and philosophical unpacking of what a social construct actually is — and why diagnosis, by its very nature, fits that definition. He closes by emphasising that a neurodiversity-affirming perspective does not deny difficulty; it contextualises it. A person's expression of their characteristics as strengths or challenges will always interact with physical health, social inclusion, life stress, and environment. Key Themes & Takeaways
Referenced Concepts
We are different, not defective. 🌐 Follow @AuDHDPsychPodcast on Instagram for content reels from each episode. Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 25: AuDHD Experience - Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice | 25 juin 2026 | 00:27:37 | |
🎙️ Episode 25: AuDHD Experience - Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice "Neurodiversity-affirming practice" is now on almost every clinician's website here in Australia and around the world — but what does it actually mean, and what should it look like in the room? In this episode, Aaron Howearth (Clinical Psychologist) unpacks affirming practice not as a marketing label, but as a genuine reorientation of how we understand, formulate, and work alongside neurodivergent people. We start with the conceptual foundations: relocating difficulty away from the individual and into the mismatch between a person and an environment that demands they be someone they're not. From there we walk through the domains where affirming practice actually shows up — formulation, language, collaborative goal-setting, therapeutic-style fit, and environmental adaptation — using the five Ps formulation and plenty of lived-experience examples along the way. We then name clearly what affirming practice is not: relabelling old deficit-focused work, abandoning clinical reasoning, avoiding difficulty, or imposing an affirming frame on someone who hasn't asked for it. Finally, we offer six practical markers you can use to tell whether the care you're giving or receiving is genuinely affirming — and an honest note on where the evidence base currently sits. As always, this is general educational information, not individualised therapy or advice.
Much of what's discussed today draws on lived-experience research and correlational data rather than randomised controlled trials. We don't yet have affirming interventions rated as evidence-based across systematic reviews — but the parallels with affirming practice in trans and queer communities, alongside strong lived-experience data, point clearly in this direction.
This episode is general educational information only. It is not individualised or tailored therapy, assessment, or support. If you need support, please seek out an affirming clinician in your area. Thanks for listening, and remember — we are different, not defective. Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 24 AuDHD Experience - Late Diagnosis & Identity reconstruction | 18 juin 2026 | 00:22:17 | |
🎙️ Episode 24: AuDHD Experience - Late Diagnosis and Identity Reconstruction "After a lifetime of feeling wrong, broken, like a weirdo, along comes late diagnosis — but that's the doorway, not the destination." In this episode of AuDHD Psych, Aaron explores late diagnosis and identity reconstruction for autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people — why so many of us are found so late, and how we rebuild a sense of self afterwards. Drawing on the research and his own experience, he unpacks why late diagnosis is the norm rather than a personal failing, how internalising presentations and masking keep us under the radar, and why our diagnostic criteria, built around externalising behaviour, miss so many of us for decades. He looks at the double feeling of diagnosis — relief and grief arriving together — and at diagnosis as something that confirms who we already were rather than changing us. He also handles the borderline personality disorder pathway carefully, as a frequent misdiagnosis and conceptual overlap rather than a relabelling, while naming the stigma that does real harm. Takeaways:
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 23: AuDHD Experience - Joy, Strengths and Quality of Life | 10 juin 2026 | 00:19:57 | |
🎙 Episode 23: AuDHD Experience - Joy, Strengths and Quality of Life "Strengths-based framings sit alongside, not instead of, our support needs — so keep both ideas in mind." In this episode of AuDHD Psych, Aaron explores joy, strengths, and quality of life for AuDHDers — moving past both the deficit-and-disorder framing and the neurodivergent-superpower narrative to find the partial truth in each. Drawing on recent research, he unpacks the strengths autistic and ADHD people endorse (pattern recognition, hyperfocus, humour, creativity), how flow, hyperfocus, and monotropism overlap, and why our strengths are linked to well-being when we name and use them. He also looks at what genuinely lifts quality of life — affirming relationships, good environmental fit, support, and community — while warning against environments that extract our strengths without supporting our needs. Takeaways:
Keywords: AuDHD, neurodivergent strengths, joy, quality of life, monotropism, hyperfocus, flow, well-being, special interests, double empathy problem, environmental fit, burnout, affirming community, different not defective Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 22: AuDHD Experience – Suicidality & Protective Factors | 03 juin 2026 | 00:23:45 | |
⚠️ Content note: This episode discusses suicide and suicidal thoughts directly and at length. It is general education, not personal advice. If this feels like a lot, please pause and reach out to a support service (Australian helplines listed at the end). Episode 22: AuDHD Experience – Suicidality & Protective Factors In this episode of the AuDHD Psych Podcast, clinical psychologist Aaron Howearth explores why suicidality risk is higher in neurodivergent communities — and why that risk is not inherent to being autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD. Drawing on clinical work, lived experience, and recent research, Aaron is clear that elevated risk is an outcome of the interaction between neurodivergent people and environments that don't accommodate them. The through-line of the whole conversation: we are different, not defective, and it's not your fault. Aaron unpacks the mechanisms behind heightened risk — constant masking leading to defeat and entrapment, thwarted belonging and a sense of burdensomeness, isolation and minority stress, and unmet support needs. He then turns to crisis care and affirming support, with a direct message to clinicians about flat affect, sensory-hostile environments, and the difference between autism, ADHD, AuDHD and trauma. The episode closes on hope: the protective factors and practical safety-planning scripts that can genuinely reduce risk. Key Themes & Takeaways
If you need support: · Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 · 13YARN (for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people) 13 92 76. · QLife (LGBTIQ+ peer support) 1800 184 527. · Lifeline 13 11 14 · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 21: AuDHD Experience - Trauma, CPTSD & Systems Harm | 27 mai 2026 | 00:26:26 | |
Episode 21 – Trauma, PTSD & Systems Harm What if you're not "too much," "too complex," or "treatment resistant"? What if the very systems designed to help neurodivergent people are inadvertently causing harm instead? In this episode, Aaron explores the deep intersection between neurodivergence and trauma — and why so many AuDHDers, autistic folks, and ADHDers find themselves stuck in cycles of misdiagnosis, invalidation, and burnout.
The "complexity" so often attributed to neurodivergent clients usually isn't about us — it's about a mismatch between our characteristics, our histories, and systems built for someone else. Understanding trauma and neurodivergence together makes the "complex" much less complex.
This episode discusses trauma, complex trauma, interpersonal violence, school bullying, healthcare harm, and suicidality at a conceptual level. Please pause and reach out to a support service if needed:
You are not too much. You are not defective. You are different — and you are worthwhile. 🎧 Subscribe, share with someone who needs to hear it, and join the conversation on Instagram @audhdpsychpodcast Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep20: AuDHD Experience - Misdiagnosis, BPD & Mental Health in Late-Diagnosed Adults | 19 mai 2026 | 00:26:47 | |
Episode 20: AuDHD Explained — Misdiagnosis, BPD & Mental Health in Late-Diagnosed Adults In this episode of the AuDHD Psych Podcast, clinical psychologist Aaron Howearth and co-host Dan unpack why mental health diagnosis is so complex for AuDHDers, and why so many of us collect a stack of labels — depression, generalised anxiety, borderline personality disorder, bipolar, treatment-resistant depression — before Autism and ADHD are ever properly considered. Drawing on clinical work, lived experience, and the qualitative research literature, Aaron explains how diagnostic overshadowing happens, why internalising presentations are most at risk of misdiagnosis, and what genuinely neurodiversity-affirming assessment looks like in practice. Aaron and Dan work through the mechanics of overshadowing — how a clinician's existing diagnostic lens quietly re-explains every new symptom and closes the door on alternative formulations — and the elevated mental health risks that ride alongside AuDHD, including anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidality. They examine why biological females and internalising males are disproportionately mislabelled with borderline personality disorder when emotional impulsivity, rejection sensitivity and rigid thought patterns are actually expressions of an undiagnosed AuDHD profile. They then move into the practical: how to script questions for your clinician without it landing as an attack, why differential diagnosis and formulation are the antidote to overshadowing, and how late diagnosis reframes self-concept from "bad person, not trying hard enough" to environment-fit. Throughout, the conversation returns to the affirming reframe — difficulties arise from the mismatch between who you are and what the environment expects, not from a defective self. Key Themes & Takeaways
Scripts to use with your clinicians: Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 19: AuDHD Explained - More Than the Sum of Its Autism + ADHD Parts - Cognitive Differences, Energy Economy & Late Diagnosis | 12 mai 2026 | 00:29:17 | |
Episode 19: AuDHD Is More Than the Sum of Its Parts – Cognitive Differences, Energy Economy & Late Diagnosis In this episode of the AuDHD Psych Podcast, clinical psychologist Aaron Howearth and co-host Dan explore why AuDHD isn't simply Autism plus ADHD, but a distinct presentation with its own cognitive, emotional, and behavioural fingerprint. Drawing on clinical work, lived experience, and recent research, Aaron traces the diagnostic history back to the DSM-5 (2013) — the first time Autism and ADHD could be formally co-diagnosed — and explains why anyone diagnosed before 2015 may have had half their neurotype missed. Aaron and Dan dig into the cognitive differences that set AuDHD apart, including a study showing AuDHD young people experience greater difficulties than their autistic or ADHD peers across planning, attention, simultaneous processing, and successive processing. They unpack the energy economy of AuDHD — how the tug-of-war between routine-seeking autistic characteristics and novelty-seeking, impulsive ADHD characteristics drives masking, burnout, anxiety, and depression — and reframe these patterns through a "different, not defective" lens that centres environment, context, and self-knowledge. Throughout, they offer practical, shame-free reflections on self-identification, late diagnosis grief, adaptive functioning, finding affirming clinicians, and the strengths of an AuDHD problem-solving brain. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 18: AuDHD Experience - Time Blindness, Planning & Task Initiation | 05 mai 2026 | 00:28:25 | |
🎙️ Episode 18: Understanding AuDHD in the Real World - Time Blindness, Planning & Task Initiation In this episode of the AuDHD Psych Podcast, clinical psychologist Aaron Howearth and co‑host Dan explore why getting started on “simple” tasks can feel impossibly hard for AuDHD brains, even when the motivation and desire are absolutely there. Drawing on clinical work and lived experience, Aaron explains prospective memory (remembering to do things in the future), time blindness, and executive function differences that turn “make a phone call” or “apply for uni” into an overwhelming tangle of steps, fears, and past experiences of running out of time. Aaron and Dan unpack the urgency cycle and last‑minute sprint – why panic can act as a powerful attention anchor, but also reinforces anxiety, exhaustion, and the belief that you “only work under pressure.” They tease apart procrastination from task initiation difficulty, and look at how ADHD impulsivity and autistic set‑shifting differences interact in AuDHD, making it harder to switch away from interests toward boring, complex, or ambiguous tasks. Throughout, they offer practical, shame‑free strategies like timers, reminders, body doubling, and micro‑steps, while emphasising self‑compassion: this isn’t laziness, it’s a different brain that needs different tools. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 17: AuDHD Experience - Sensory Processing and Overwhelm in ADHD, Autism & AuDHD | 28 avr. 2026 | 00:24:23 | |
🎙️ Episode 17: Understanding AuDHD in the Real World - Sensory Processing and Overwhelm in ADHD, Autism & AuDHD Episode Summary In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron Howearth explores how sensory profiles shape daily life for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD individuals. Why does a flickering light, a chatty colleague, or a tag in your shirt seem to "set you off" — when really, you've been quietly carrying that load all day? Drawing from clinical psychology and lived experience, Aaron explains how neurodivergent nervous systems often process sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, balance, and body position differently from the average person. He unpacks why these differences are not defects, but a mismatch between our sensory profile and environments built for typical sensory experience. Aaron introduces the build-up model of overwhelm — how small sensory costs accumulate across the day until what looks like an overreaction is actually a proportionate response to hours of unseen strain. He links sensory load to attention, masking, emotional regulation, and burnout, and explains how sensory gating, hidden coping, and reduced tolerance can spiral into a vicious cycle. This episode offers validation, language, and practical strategies for identifying high-cost sensory channels, designing neuroaffirming environments, and treating sensory fit as a legitimate accessibility issue rather than special treatment. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 16: AuDHD Experience - Masking, Burnout & Unmasking in ADHD, Autism & AuDHD | 21 avr. 2026 | 00:32:26 | |
🎙️ Episode 16: AuDHD in the Real World - Masking, Burnout & Unmasking In this episode of the AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron Howearth unpacks masking and camouflaging as neurodivergent survival strategies. He explains how autistic and ADHD people learn conscious and unconscious ways of “passing” as typical, such as practised eye contact, softened honesty, and scripted conversations, often long before they have words for their neurodivergence. Aaron explores how this constant self‑monitoring and suppression of stims, emotions, and sensory needs drains cognitive and emotional energy, contributing to exhaustion, low social battery, and executive functioning crashes. He also touches on late diagnosis, identity confusion, and grief around not knowing “where the mask ends and I begin.” Throughout, he reframes “disorder” as a mismatch between neurodivergent needs and environmental demands, normalises collapse after masking‑heavy days, and invites listeners to compare one high‑cost masking context with one low‑mask or safe environment.
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 15: AuDHD Experience - Rejection Sensitivity & Dysphoria | 14 avr. 2026 | 00:27:10 | |
🎙️ Episode 15: Rejection Sensitivity & Dysphoria in ADHD, Autism & AuDHD Episode Summary In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron Howearth explores rejection sensitivity, emotional intensity, and rejection sensitive dysphoria through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. He explains why some autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD people experience emotions as suddenly overwhelming, especially when past experiences of rejection, exclusion, or social misunderstanding shape how current situations are interpreted. Drawing from clinical psychology, Aaron describes emotions as a bodily response to our cognitive appraisal of context, then links that to fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and flop responses, as well as differences in interoception and alexithymia. He shows how rejection sensitivity can amplify ambiguous social cues, how anticipation of rejection can feel as painful as rejection itself, and why people may move quickly from calm to intense dysphoria without noticing emotion building in the background. Aaron also discusses how these patterns can contribute to people pleasing, self-sacrifice, masking, burnout, and interpersonal stress, and how they can resemble some features often associated with borderline personality disorder without reducing people to a label. He then offers practical strategies, including using the NICE framework, redirecting attention toward novelty, interest, challenge, or emergency, and replacing “you’re too much” with a more compassionate understanding that people are responding to context, not failing as people. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 14: Understanding AuDHD in the Real World – School, Work, Relationships and Burnout in ADHD, Autism & AuDHD | 07 avr. 2026 | 00:20:05 | |
🎙️ Episode 14: AuDHD in the Real World – School, Work, Relationships and Burnout Episode Summary In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, clinical psychologist Aaron Howearth moves from talking about AuDHD traits in theory to how they actually show up across school, work, relationships, and daily life. He explores what school can look like for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD kids behind the report cards: bright, capable students who miss key details because their attention is pulled to everything happening around them, collecting “failure” experiences and perfectionistic self‑criticism even when they’re genuinely trying. Aaron shares a primary‑school story about getting absorbed in playground handball, missing a chance to use the bathroom, then rigidly following a teacher’s “you should have gone at recess” rule and wetting himself in class, illustrating how interest‑based attention and autistic rule‑keeping can collide in inflexible systems. He then looks at why neurodivergent students so often struggle more consistently than their neurotypical peers: the extra cognitive load of sitting still, suppressing stims, noticing every distraction, and trying to hold and process information in working memory at the same time. Aaron explains how people whose overall abilities are above average can still have relative weaknesses in working memory or processing speed that make standard classrooms and “just keep up with the teacher” delivery especially hard. Rather than framing these differences as laziness or defect, he reframes them as a mismatch between our cognitive profiles and systems designed by and for the statistical middle, and outlines practical accommodations like extra test time, movement breaks, and offering information in multiple formats. Shifting into adulthood, Aaron discusses how the same patterns re‑emerge at work: fluorescent lights that trigger migraines, noisy open‑plan offices that overload attention, and instructions given in ways that don’t match a person’s processing style. He emphasises that adjustments like quieter rooms, flexible lighting, clear written instructions, and task structures that fit how someone’s brain works are not special treatment but good workplace design. Key Themes & Takeaways Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 13: Understanding AuDHD - Executive Functioning and Daily Life: ADHD, Autism & AuDHD (Part 2) | 24 mars 2026 | 00:32:03 | |
🎙️ Episode 13: Understanding AuDHD – Executive Functioning and Daily Life (Part 2) Aaron describes how an ADHD-style “problem-solving brain” can flip into a “problem-finding brain” when worry and rumination take over, especially in generalized anxiety. He introduces worry postponement (also called worry time or the worry chair) as a structured way to park worries during the day, revisit them briefly in a time-limited “worry window,” and reclaim attention for the people, tasks, and moments that matter. Read more about worry postponement here: He also shares neurodivergent-friendly tools for time blindness, task initiation, and follow-through: externalising time with alarms, visual timers, and apps; body doubling and social accountability; reducing visual clutter and sensory load; and building routines gradually through habit stacking rather than overwhelming, all-or-nothing life overhauls. Throughout the episode, Aaron reframes “disorder” not as something inherent to autistic or ADHD traits, but as a mismatch between our brains and inflexible environments and expectations, inviting a more compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming way to understand executive functioning differences. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 12: Understanding AuDHD - Executive Functioning and Daily Life: ADHD, Autism & AuDHD (Part 1) | 18 mars 2026 | 00:42:21 | |
🎙️ Episode 13: Executive Functioning in Daily Life: ADHD, Autism & AuDHD Episode Summary In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron Howearth explores how executive functioning shapes everyday life for autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD individuals. Why do tasks that “should” be simple – studying, working, organising the day, or following through on plans – so often feel overwhelming or impossible, even when we know exactly what we’re meant to be doing? Drawing from both clinical psychology and lived experience, Aaron explains executive functions as the brain’s “mental mechanics”: planning, organisation, working memory, impulse control, sustained attention, and cognitive flexibility. He unpacks how differences in these areas are common across neurodevelopmental conditions and how they influence our ability to start, persist with, and complete tasks in real-world contexts. Aaron also explores the apparent contradiction between autistic and ADHD profiles – rules, structure, and rigidity on one side; impulsivity, distractibility, and jumping between tasks on the other – and how these traits can coexist within AuDHD individuals. Rather than seeing executive functioning as a fixed trait, he highlights how attention, motivation, and follow-through shift with factors like environment, stress, novelty, interest, and internal state. This episode offers clarity, validation, and a practical language for understanding why executive functioning challenges show up the way they do, and invites a more compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming perspective on how we navigate daily life with different “mental mechanics.” Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 11: AuDHD Psych Q&A Part 2 - Menopause, Gender & Why You Feel ‘Too Much’ And ‘Not Enough’ | 11 mars 2026 | 00:35:43 | |
🎙️ Episode 11: Q&A Part 2 Episode Summary In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron Howearth continues the community Q&A, responding to several commonly asked questions about neurodivergent experiences and expanding on themes raised in previous episodes. The conversation covers topics including perimenopause and menopause in neurodivergent people, the relationship between neurodiversity and gender diversity, how diagnostic impairment levels can change across life circumstances, and the internal tensions often experienced by people with both autistic and ADHD traits. • Hormonal Changes & Neurodivergence - Fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause can amplify attention, sensory, and executive functioning differences. • Masking & Late Recognition - Biological or life changes can reduce compensatory capacity, revealing previously masked neurodivergent traits. • Gender & Neurodivergent Thinking - Autistic cognition often questions rigid social rules, including traditional gender binaries. • Sensory Processing & Dysphoria - Attention, sensory sensitivity, and interoception can intensify experiences of gender dysphoria. • Contextual Impairment - Autism support levels and ADHD severity reflect environmental demands as much as individual traits. • AuDHD Internal Conflict - ADHD novelty-seeking can coexist with autistic preferences for routine and predictability. • Hyperfocus & Task Initiation - Interest-based attention allows deep focus on engaging tasks but makes boring tasks difficult to start. • Planning vs Panic - Detailed planning tendencies can interact with ADHD overwhelm, leading to procrastination and last-minute urgency. • Social Energy Fluctuation - Socialising can feel energising or draining depending on stress, sensory load, and available energy. • Different, Not Defective - Many neurodivergent difficulties arise from environmental mismatch rather than inherent personal deficits. Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 10: AuDHD Psych Q&A Part 1 - Diagnosis, Self-ID & "Different, Not Defective" | 03 mars 2026 | 00:37:51 | |
“When I'm surrounded by people like me, I don't feel disordered. I feel understood.” 🎙️ Ep 10: Your Questions Answered – Diagnosis, Self-ID & “Different, Not Defective” Episode Summary Aaron explores why many clearly neurodivergent people never receive a formal diagnosis, highlighting the role of masking, family strategies, and multi-generational awareness in buffering against distress and “disorder” labels. He uses accessible metaphors (like having legs versus having broken legs) to explain the difference between having autistic characteristics and meeting criteria for a disorder, and reframes autism and ADHD as neurotypes that can generate both difficulty and strength depending on the environment. The conversation moves into self-identification versus formal diagnosis, including the privilege, cost, and gatekeeping surrounding assessment and why Aaron prefers the language of being “self-identified” rather than “self-diagnosed.” He also addresses concerns that self-identification “mocks” those with formal diagnoses, noting that most self-identified autistic and ADHD people he meets have done deep research, grappled with imposter syndrome, and know their traits intimately long before tentatively claiming the label. Aaron then discusses diagnostic complexity, including how conditions like borderline personality disorder, complex trauma, OCD, and AuDHD can overlap or be misread as one another, especially when clinicians are unfamiliar with neurodivergent presentations. He illustrates how autistic and ADHD traits can be mistaken for personality pathology or compulsions when we don’t yet have a neurodiversity lens, and notes that co-occurrence is also possible — it’s not always either/or. Finally, Aaron touches on life stage factors such as perimenopause and shifting environmental demands (like starting university) that can dramatically change how ADHD and autistic traits show up, even when the underlying neurotype has been there since childhood. He closes by reflecting on the power of community, the emotional labour of advocacy, and his gratitude for listeners whose engagement and reviews help spread the core message of the podcast: we are different, not disordered. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 9: Understanding AuDHD: Late Diagnosis and Diagnostic Levels | 18 févr. 2026 | 00:29:07 | |
🎙️ Episode 9: Understanding AuDHD: Late Diagnosis and Diagnostic Levels Episode Summary In this episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron Howearth explores one of the most common and emotionally loaded experiences in the neurodivergent community: late diagnosis. Why are so many autistic and ADHD individuals missed in childhood? Why do diagnoses often come after years, or even decades, of anxiety, depression, or misdiagnosis? Drawing from both clinical psychology and lived experience, Aaron explains how traditional diagnostic frameworks were historically built around externalising presentations, often observed in young boys. This has left many neurodivergent individuals, particularly internalisers, high-masking people, and those with higher-than-average intellect, unseen by clinicians. Aaron also discusses diagnostic severity and support levels, challenging the idea that these labels describe fixed traits. Instead, impairment and severity are reframed as dynamic, context-dependent experiences shaped by environment, stress, confidence, and internal states. This episode offers clarity, validation, and a compassionate perspective on how neurodivergent traits are understood and misunderstood within clinical systems. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 8: Understanding AuDHD - The Intersection of Neurodiversity & Gender Diversity | 04 févr. 2026 | 00:21:26 | |
“If the rule doesn’t make sense, it has no value to me.” 🎙️ Ep 8: Labels, their Utility & Lack Thereof
Episode Summary In this episode of the AuDHD Psych Podcast, Aaron and Uma explore the intersection between gender diversity and neurodiversity, unpacking how autistic and neurodivergent ways of thinking can shape experiences of gender, identity, and self-understanding. Aaron reflects on his own gender experience and how autistic logic, detail orientation, and a rejection of arbitrary social rules influenced his relationship with gender — including why he does not experience gender dysphoria in the same way many gender-diverse people do. The conversation expands into the lived realities of gender dysphoria for neurodivergent people, particularly how sensory differences can amplify discomfort and distress. The episode also dives into what genuinely affirming gender care looks like, highlighting the importance of listening, accessibility, and avoiding harmful assumptions — such as the idea that gender diversity in autistic people is “just a special interest.” Finally, Aaron and Uma reflect on the power of community, advocacy, and shared support, especially for people navigating multiple marginalized identities. Key Themes & Takeaways
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, follow, subscribe, or share the podcast. Keywords: Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, neurodiversity, gender diversity, gender dysphoria, sensory processing, gender-affirming care, advocacy, community, neuroqueering, LGBTQIA+, intersectionality Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 7: Understanding AuDHD - Neurodiversity Affirming Paradigm | 22 janv. 2026 | 00:23:56 | |
“The same traits that create difficulty can also be the ones that help us thrive.” 🎙️ Episode 7: Understanding The Neurodiversity Affirming Paradigm - Building Balanced Beliefs Episode Summary Welcome to Episode 8 of The AuDHD Psych Podcast — hosted by Aaron Howearth, a clinical psychologist and proudly AuDHD human. In this solo episode, Aaron explores the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm and what it truly means to view autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergent experiences as differences rather than disorders. Drawing from clinical practice, lived experience, and real-world examples, Aaron unpacks how neurodivergent characteristics are not inherently strengths or weaknesses — they simply are, and their impact depends on context, environment, and support. Through personal reflections on relationships, conflict, professional problem-solving, and past military service, Aaron illustrates how the same traits can contribute to both challenge and capability. The episode also examines the limits of deficit-based and medical models, the role of diagnosis and privilege, and how stratifying support needs can unintentionally fracture neurodivergent communities. This episode offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on how clinical psychology and neurodiversity affirmation can sit side-by-side, helping individuals build stronger self-concepts, resilience, and community connection. Key Themes & Takeaways
Support the Show If you enjoyed this episode, please like, follow, subscribe, and share The AuDHD Psych Podcast across your platforms. Your support helps broaden neurodiversity-affirming conversations and reach those who need them. Have questions, reflections, or topic suggestions? We’d love to hear from you — your voices help shape future episodes. Keywords: neurodiversity affirming, AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent traits, different not less, autism support needs, ADHD lived experience, deficit vs strengths model, clinical psychology podcast, neurodivergent identity, Howearth Psychology Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 6: AuDHD Psych NYE Special - The Quiet Between Years. Reflecting, Resetting & Reimagining | 01 janv. 2026 | 00:26:10 | |
“The new year doesn’t need to fix you — you were already doing your best.” In this reflective New Year’s themed episode of AuDHD Psych, Aaron and Uma explore the quiet space between years — a time often filled with pressure to reset, improve, and reinvent. Through a neurodivergent lens, they unpack why traditional New Year’s resolutions can feel overwhelming or harmful for autistic and ADHD people, and why slow, values-aligned change is often more sustainable. The conversation reframes growth as internal, incremental, and deeply personal, highlighting quiet wins, self-compassion, and progress that doesn’t need to be visible or performative. Rather than chasing arbitrary milestones, this episode invites listeners to honour what worked, question unhelpful beliefs, and move into the new year with curiosity instead of self-criticism. Takeaways
Keywords Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 5: AuDHD Psych Neurospicy Holidays - Comfort, Chaos & Connection | 25 déc. 2025 | 00:26:09 | |
“The absence of a reminder doesn’t mean the love isn’t there.” In this festive episode of AuDHD Psych, Aaron and Uma explore how the holiday season can uniquely impact neurodivergent folk. While celebrations are often framed as joyful and meaningful, they can also bring sensory overload, disrupted routines, social pressure, emotional fatigue, and heightened expectations. Drawing on lived experience and clinical insight, the conversation unpacks masking, burnout, gift-giving stress, overthinking, and the delicate balance between connection and self-preservation. This episode offers permission to slow down, take breaks, set boundaries, and approach the holidays in a way that honours individual needs — reminding listeners that there is no single “right” way to celebrate. Takeaways
Keywords Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 4: Understanding AuDHD: Traits, Truths, & Lived Experience | 24 déc. 2025 | 00:25:04 | |
🎙 Episode 4: Understanding AuDHD: Traits, Truths, & Lived Experience “When I’m told I’m lazy or unmotivated, I start to believe it — and that belief becomes part of who I think I am.” In this episode of AuDHD Psych, Aaron and Uma explore what AuDHD can look like beyond stereotypes and diagnostic labels. Aaron shares his lived experience as an AuDHD clinical psychologist, unpacking why ADHD and autism were historically seen as mutually exclusive, how this has shaped diagnostic practices, and why many people have had parts of their neurodivergence misunderstood, minimised, or overlooked. The conversation examines co-occurrence, diagnostic bias, categorical versus dimensional thinking, and the importance of self-understanding — whether through formal diagnosis or self-identification — as a foundation for meaningful, affirming support. Takeaways: - ADHD and autism frequently co-occur, even though they were historically excluded from being diagnosed together - AuDHD presentations can mask or complicate how characteristics are recognised and supported - Diagnostic systems often miss nuance, particularly when relying on rigid, categorical frameworks - Understanding both strengths and difficulties leads to more effective and affirming support - Identity, diagnosis, and self-identification should be guided by individual goals and needs Keywords: Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 3: Understanding ADHD: Traits, Truths, & Lived Experience | 10 déc. 2025 | 00:20:26 | |
🎙Episode 3: Understanding ADHD: Traits, Truths & Lived Experience “You’re not inherently broken. Your characteristics aren’t disordered — they just don’t always match what the environment demands.” Summary: Takeaways: - ADHD is defined clinically by impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity, but lived experience goes far beyond these criteria. - Internalizing ADHD (common in women and quieter kids) often shows up as daydreaming, anxiety, stress, and masking — not disruptive behaviour. - Early messages like “lazy” or “not trying hard enough” become internalized beliefs that shape self-worth. - ADHD traits are not inherently disordered — difficulty appears when the environment demands something mismatched to the person’s natural wiring. - Culture and gender expectations influence how ADHD is expressed and who gets diagnosed. - Social stereotypes and TikTok trends capture tiny fragments of ADHD but often romanticize or oversimplify it. - Impulsivity and inattention can lead to challenges (like overspending) and strengths (like creativity, hyperfocus, career pivots). - Neurodiversity-affirming practice reframes ADHD as a difference, not a defect. - The right environment can turn traits that look “disordered” in one context into superpowers in another. - You are not broken — you simply have a brain that works differently from the societal default. Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 2: Understanding Autism: Traits, Truths & Lived Experience | 25 nov. 2025 | 00:27:59 | |
🎙 Episode 2: Understanding Autism: Traits, Truths, and Lived Experience Summary: Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||
| Ep 1: Understanding AuDHD - Lived Experience, Clinical Insight, Different-not-Defective. | 31 oct. 2025 | 00:16:09 | |
When viewed through the lens of difference, rather than disorder, we often find that it's expectations that warrant changing, not humans. 🎙️ Episode 1: Understanding AuDHD - Lived Experience, Clinical Insight, Different-not-Defective. Episode Summary Welcome to the first episode of The AuDHD Psych Podcast — hosted by Aaron Howearth, a clinical psychologist, queer, non-binary, and proudly neurodivergent (AuDHD) individual (the co-occurrence of autism and ADHD). In this powerful introductory episode, Aaron explores what it means to live, work, and thrive as an AuDHD person — blending clinical psychology, lived experience, and the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm. Aaron dives into why understanding AuDHD is vital for both clinicians and the neurodivergent community. Aaron shares their personal and professional journey — from 23 years in the Royal Navy to founding Howearth Psychology, a therapeutic space serving neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ communities. With honesty and humour, Aaron reflects on how their unique perspective helps bridge the gap between traditional clinical psychology and the affirming lens that celebrates difference rather than pathologising it. Key Themes & Takeaways
Keywords: AuDHD podcast, autism and ADHD, neurodivergent psychologist, neurodiversity affirming, Howearth Psychology, queer psychologist, autism diagnosis, ADHD awareness, lived experience, neurodivergent mental health, clinical psychology podcast | |||