The Empowered Parent with Dana Baltutis – Details, episodes & analysis

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Dana's reflections on 2025.

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What changes when a child’s wellbeing takes the lead and everything else rearranges around it? In this series finale with Paige Carter of Inclusive Oak, we follow a family through unschooling and burnout recovery, anchored by one unforgettable moment: a teacher who shows up at a caravan park simply to say hello, offer a gift, and hold the thread of belonging. No pressure, no performance—just proof that connection travels.

You’ll leave with three anchors to navigate your own journey: educate yourself about your child’s neurotype and what actually helps, connect with people who truly get it, and invest in your own healing so you can stop pushing past capacity and start trusting your gut. If this conversation helped you reframe, share it with a friend, subscribe for more grounded stories, and leave a review to help others find the show. What quiet win are you celebrating this week?

inclusiveoak.com.au

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A five-minute visit can hold a whole season of hope. I sat down with Paige Carter of Inclusive Oak to trace the delicate return of motivation after school burnout, and name a stage many families live inside: curiosity without capacity. Oakland asked to see his friends, stepped into the classroom, then stepped back out, overwhelmed but determined enough to hug classmates in the hallway. We call that progress, and we talk about how changing our expectations changes a child’s nervous system.

We also untangle language that matters in practice. De-schooling is the rest-and-repair bridge between school and any home education model; unschooling is the child-led learning that may follow. Paige shares how releasing academic demands helped her son regulate, then rediscover interest through technology. From iPad downtime to active PlayStation sessions and YouTube walk-throughs, we explore how authentic learning shows up when a child truly cares about the goal: decoding letters to search, transferring steps into gameplay, and building confidence one solved problem at a time.

Parallel to this home shift runs a major advocacy effort. Paige takes us inside her months-long push to address the “grey area” in education, children who don’t qualify for special education but can’t access mainstream classrooms safely or consistently. After building a campaign, gathering expert input, and meeting the Premier, she shares the emotional toll and why deep rest afterward wasn’t indulgence but maintenance. Looking ahead, the family is packing up their home to travel Australia for a year. The kids get choice over what to keep and how to set up their bunks, and a purpose-built stroller remains a crucial support for safety and regulation in public spaces.

If this story resonates, whether you’re navigating de-schooling, advocating for grey-area learners, or rethinking what “success” looks like - come along. Listen, share with someone who needs a gentler lens, and leave a review to help more families find this conversation.

danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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What happens when a clinical psychologist with ADHD parents two neurodivergent children? A uniquely insightful perspective on navigating family life with different brains. Dr. Claire Milligan opens up about her journey from struggling parent to practice director of Maple Leaf Psychology and Allied Health, sharing the moment when everything changed - when her pediatrician asked, "Which one of you has ADHD?"

That question sparked what Claire calls her "kaleidoscope moment" - suddenly her entire life made sense through an ADHD lens. With refreshing honesty, Claire shares both professional wisdom and personal struggles, including a meltdown that happened just hours before our conversation. Her vulnerability reinforces what many parents need to hear: perfection isn't possible, but repair always is.

Claire explains the crucial differences between tantrums and meltdowns, offering practical strategies for each. She introduces Internal Family Systems therapy, which views our personalities as different "parts" working together like a symphony when well-coordinated. This approach helps parents develop compassion for themselves, especially after difficult moments.

For daily life management, Claire recommends specific tools like Family Wall app for shared calendars and AnyList app for grocery shopping. Her family motto - "If it's not in Family Wall, it isn't happening" - reduces the cognitive load for ADHD brains. She emphasizes the importance of working with your brain's needs rather than against them, whether that means wearing earplugs during sensory overwhelm or giving extra warnings about schedule changes.

The greatest hope for neurodivergent families? Seeing children develop self-awareness about their needs, like when Claire's son recently said, "I need more warning." By embracing our unique brain wiring and teaching our children to do the same, we create families where differences aren't just accommodated - they're celebrated. Ready to transform your understanding of neurodivergent parenting? Listen now and discover how knowing your brain can change everything.

https://mapleleafpsychology.com.au/

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What if the bravest thing you could do for your child’s education was to stop pushing and start listening to their nervous system? That’s the pivot Paige Carter makes as she chooses unschooling to help her autistic son, Oaklan, recover from severe burnout - replacing schedules and demands with safety, curiosity, and radical patience.

We dig into what autistic burnout really looks like at home: fragile tolerance, lost interests, and a body that reads every expectation as a threat. Paige traces the turning point from a small, supportive classroom to a mid-year intake that tipped the balance - more peers, more noise, more unpredictability - and why a quieter, specialist-informed environment makes all the difference. Along the way, “screen time” gets reframed as a lifeline. Minecraft, Star Wars, and deep-dives into animal facts become low-demand gateways to confidence, language, problem-solving, and calm. The difference between homeschooling and unschooling comes into focus too: one submits a curriculum; the other follows the child’s capacity, catching learning in the cracks of real life.

Paige also opens up about medication: risperidone’s early wins, hard side effects, and the search for alternatives amid epilepsy management, MRI results, and halted assessments. Through it all, her daily non-negotiables- five pages of reading, ten minutes of journaling, mantras, a healthy lunch, and brief breathwork or a walk- model how carers stay grounded when days swing from peaceful to stormy in minutes. And there’s advocacy in motion: a meeting with South Australia’s Premier to press for small classes, trained staff, stable cohorts and policies that recognise autistic burnout as a genuine health event, not a behaviour problem.

If you’ve ever wondered whether healing can come before homework - and still lead to real learning - this story offers a map and a measure of hope. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs this perspective, and leave a review to help more families find the support they deserve.

danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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What happens when we reframe neurodivergence not as a deficit, but as a natural variation in brain architecture? Sarah Eagle, founder of Joy Diving Australia and late-diagnosed autistic woman with ADHD, offers a refreshing perspective that celebrates brain differences rather than pathologizing them.

After losing her brother Ben during a psychotic episode in 2001, Sarah channelled her grief into walking 600 kilometres along Western Australia's Bibbulum Track to raise awareness for mental health. Years later, following her own neurodivergent diagnosis, she created Joy Diving Australia—a name inspired by both her love of scuba diving and her mission to help others discover what brings their unique brains joy.

Sarah speaks candidly about the shame many late-diagnosed adults carry after years of being told they need to be "normal." Through her work, she helps clients develop what she calls "sensory lifestyle medicine"—practical adjustments to their environment that support nervous system regulation. For families, she introduces polyvagal theory as a framework to understand behaviours as communications of the nervous system, fostering non-blaming language around regulation and dysregulation.

The conversation explores how workplaces can better accommodate neurodivergent employees, with Sarah highlighting the importance of environmental adjustments and the new psychosocial legislation that can support these changes. She's developing resources to help neurodivergent individuals navigate workplace accommodations and financial challenges, recognising that many late-diagnosed people face significant economic disadvantages.

Perhaps most touching is Sarah's ability to approach her own neurodivergent experiences with curiosity and compassion rather than shame. She shares a story about mistaking an optical illusion for a glass door—a perceptual "glitch" that she views not as a deficit but as a fascinating insight into how her brain works.

Listen to discover how understanding and embracing your unique brain type can transform your experience of life, reduce shame, and open doorways to joy you never thought possible. How might your life change if you approached your own brain differences with curiosity instead of judgment?

danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

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What happens when cultural identity meets neurodiversity? Psychologist Anushka Phal knows this intersection intimately as a Fijian Indian, born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, who received her own ADHD diagnosis as an adult. This revelation sparked both personal healing and a passionate mission to create mental health spaces where multicultural, neurodivergent individuals truly belong.

"When I got diagnosed, I looked back at life and realized there was an explanation for all the things impacting my self-worth," Anushka shares. "It's like watching a thriller movie for the second time – suddenly all the clues make sense." This newfound self-compassion transformed not just her life but her approach to therapy at Unmeed Psychology, the culturally responsive practice she founded in Melbourne.

The conversation explores fascinating questions many clients bring to therapy: "How much of this is my ADHD and how much is just being Asian?" Anushka unpacks how certain traits might be celebrated in some cultures while pathologized in others. Cultural context profoundly impacts how neurodivergence presents – she notes that in Fiji, her ADHD symptoms feel less problematic than in Melbourne's fast-paced environment.

Beyond clinical work, Anushka has created vibrant community spaces where people with intersectional identities can connect authentically. From South Asian queer gatherings to women's circles, these "third spaces" address the disappearance of natural community connections. "When you come from a collectivistic background, having your community makes such a difference to mental health," she explains.

For parents, therapists, and neurodivergent individuals, Anushka offers practical wisdom: strategic whiteboards for capturing thoughts, collection baskets throughout the house, and a profound mindset shift for preventing burnout – "Every time I say yes to something, I'm saying no to something else." Her "spider web thinking" demonstrates how neurodivergent traits can become superpowers when embraced with compassion and understanding.

Listen in for a conversation that might forever change how you view the beautiful intersection of culture, neurodiversity, and the healing power of belonging. Has your experience with therapy acknowledged all aspects of who you are?

https://www.umeedpsychology.com.au/anushkaphal

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What happens when the professional becomes the parent? Despite 14 years working in the disability sector, Paige Carter found herself completely lost when her son was diagnosed with autism at age two and a half. That moment sparked a powerful realization: if someone with her experience felt overwhelmed, how do families with no prior exposure to disability navigate this journey?

Paige shares her family's remarkable story of discovery- how her son's diagnosis eventually led to recognizing autism and ADHD in her husband, daughter, and finally herself. With refreshing honesty, she describes this journey not as a burden but as "magic" that transformed her understanding of neurodiversity.

"Neurodivergent people, the way their brains operate, is just incredible," Paige explains, bringing a perspective that celebrates different ways of thinking rather than pathologizing them. As founder of Inclusive Oak, she's created the support system she desperately needed as a new autism parent- a blend of education, community, and connections she calls "the recipe for success."

For parents feeling isolated or overwhelmed, Paige offers practical wisdom: find your tribe, even if that starts online; advocate confidently knowing you're the expert on your child; and recognize when you need rest without self-judgment. Her ADHD gives her "this never-ending energy source" when passionate about something, yet she's learning to honor her need to retreat and recharge when advocacy depletes her.

The conversation vibrates with possibility as Paige discusses her expanding mission to make support accessible to all family members, not just mothers, at affordable rates without NDIS dependence. Her message resonates with hope: as more neurodivergent families connect and advocate collectively, we move closer to a world where neurodiversity isn't just accommodated but genuinely celebrated.

Listen now to discover how finding your community can transform your neurodiversity journey from isolation to empowerment.

Paige's Free Online Masterclass: https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/findingyourvoice/

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What happens when we truly embrace neurodivergence as a fundamental part of human diversity? Joanne Hatchard, founder of Better Being Me and creator of the "Be Me Completely" course, brings profound wisdom from both personal and professional experience to this conversation about acceptance, connection, and living authentically.

Diagnosed with dyslexia at 16 and later recognizing her own autistic identity through her son's diagnosis, Joanne shares how self-acceptance freed her from exhausting masking behaviors. She offers a refreshing cosmic metaphor—neurodiversity as the universe with each diagnosis representing a planet—emphasizing that every neurological variation has value and purpose within the whole.

The conversation dives deep into practical approaches for supporting neurodivergent individuals, particularly the power of acceptance from parents. "If the parents don't have it, it's really hard for the child to have it," Joanne explains, highlighting how mixed messages create confusion and anxiety. She distinguishes between avoiding labels versus embracing accommodations, showing how families can develop their own language around neurodivergence without shame or secrecy.

Perhaps most valuable is Joanne's candid advice against seeking a single guru with all the answers. "One theory doesn't have all the answers," she emphasizes, encouraging parents to understand their own values before selecting from diverse perspectives. Her signature blend of professional knowledge and lived experience allows her to "connect the dots" between abstract research and practical strategies families can actually use.

With humor and compassion, Joanne reminds us of the ultimate freedom in self-acceptance: "You're not dead. You can do it again tomorrow, different, if you want to." This grace-filled perspective offers both hope and agency to anyone navigating a neurodivergent journey, whether for themselves or someone they love.

Share this episode with anyone seeking to understand neurodivergence more deeply or create more accepting spaces for neurodivergent individuals to thrive authentically.

https://betterbeingme.com.au/

https://betterbeingme.com.au/blog/

https://go.betterbeingme.com.au/bbmecompletely295544

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"Sometimes I feel things very intensely," reveals Violeta Abarzua Vasquezas she shares her journey of discovering neurodivergence in both herself and her children. This revelation transformed not only her understanding of her family but sparked the creation of Mingle Co – an organisation dedicated to building genuine connection for neurodivergent people.

After 21 years working across the disability sector, Vee noticed a critical gap: many neurodivergent individuals desperately wanted meaningful connections but found traditional social spaces overwhelming and alienating. Drawing from her own experiences of feeling "complicated" and "quirky," she designed events where sensory needs are anticipated, fidgets are welcomed, and deep conversations replace uncomfortable small talk. The result? Spaces where people can truly be themselves – sometimes for the first time in their lives.

Vee's approach to parenting her neurodivergent children offers powerful insights for families. When her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD at 18, V reflected on the words she'd spoken years earlier: "I love how you see the world. Don't change for anyone." These simple words had profoundly impacted her daughter who had always felt "out of place." Similarly, understanding her four-year-old son's PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) transformed daily challenges by respecting his need for autonomy.

Perhaps most inspiring is Vee's vision for the future – a world where inclusivity isn't an afterthought but fundamentally woven into our schools, workplaces, and social spaces. "Inclusivity helps everyone, absolutely everyone," she emphasizes. Through her events, podcast, and award-winning documentary celebrating neurodivergent stories, Vee isn't just talking about change – she's creating it, one connection at a time.

Discover how embracing different ways of seeing the world can transform lives. Listen now and consider: how might we all contribute to creating spaces where everyone truly belongs?

mingleco.com.au

https://mingleco.com.au/community-podcast/

Documentary Information on Mingleco website

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