Neurodiverse Love with Mona Kay

Eva is a psychotherapist, an ASD specialist and the author of several books, including "Marriage and Lasting Relationships with Asperger's Syndrome (Autism Spectrum Disorder).-Successful Strategies for Couples or Counselors.  During this episode Eva shares so much valuable information for both partners in a Neurodiverse Love relationship.  Our conversation addresses ways to avoid meltdowns and shu...

During this episode, Alix and Roy share so many of the lessons they have learned together since their friendship began in 2008.  After building a wonderful friendship for 5 years they started dating in 2013 and have been married since 2018.  Alix shares opening about her misdiagnosis and how at 13 she was placed in a facility that led to trauma that continues to impact her today.  A...

Our triggers provide opportunities for us to heal and grow or they continue to create situations that we react to, rather then respond to.  Unfortunately, this can create lots of resentment and anger, as well as unintentional pain and hurt.  During this episode, Mona and Manecia talk about the triggers they have had in their neurodiverse relationships and how some of those are connected...

Sira Busch received her formal autistic diagnosis a year ago and during this podcast episode she and her partner Marcel share their lived experience before and after the diagnosis.  They were both interested in math and that was one of the things that attracted them to each other.  Sira talks about the relationship she has had with herself for the last 28 years and how she fully accepted all the d...

Do you wonder why your partner doesn't understand your needs?  Do you have challenges communicating your boundaries effectively in your Neurodiverse Love relationship? Do you know what emotional intelligence is and how it can help you communicate more effectively with your partner?  These are some of the important topics that Paul Micallef addresses in this fantastic podcast episode!&nbs...

When Stephanie Bethany married her husband at 19 she didn't know she was autistic, however when she was diagnosed at 23, things began to make more sense.  Working together she and her husband have grown and learned so much.  During this episode, Stephanie shares how understanding neurodiversity has helped her and her husband let go of so many misunderstandings they had in the earlier yea...

It was a pleasure to talk with Dan Jones, the creator of The Aspie World about how he is thriving in life and in his Neurodiverse Love relationship. When Dan was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at 26, he didn't know what that meant and began searching for information that would help him better understand his diagnosis.  After finding limited content about neurodiversity and adult autism, h...

This is the first collaborative podcast between members of the " Neurodiverse Love " team and the " Loving Difference " team.  We will be doing collaborative podcast episodes throughout the year and look forward to sharing our different perspectives and the lived experiences we have had, as we all address both the strengths and differences in our neurodiverse relationships.  During this...

During this episode, Leslie Sickels, LCSW shares so many important strategies for creating a strength based, successful "Neurodiverse Love" relationship.  Leslie talks about how important it is to ground your relationship in neurodiversity and understand that having different brains means each partner will have an opportunity to learn and grow in ways that will help them succeed individually and i...

Dr. Valerie Gaus is a clinical psychologist whose focus is on treating mental health issues in adults with autism spectrum disorder, including depression, anxiety, stress and trauma. She is also the author of " Living Well on the Spectrum. How to Use Your Strengths to Meet the Challenges of Asperger Syndrome/High-Functioning Autism" and  " Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults with Autism S...

During this episode, two of the most well-known experts in autism and neurodiverse relationships, Professor Tony Attwood and Dr. Michelle Garnett, share key tips and tools that will help both partners thrive in a Neurodiverse Love relationship   There are so many nuggets of gold in this conversation, that we hope neurodiverse couples will listen to this episode together.  Whether yo...

Dr. Thomas Lucking, Ph. D., LMFT, started his career in technology and then chose to pivot and become a therapist.  Having these two areas of expertise gives Dr. Thomas a unique and important perspective on neurodiverse relationships.  During this episode, Dr. Thomas provides a wealth of important information and concrete strategies to help neurodiverse couples understand each other better, while...

Michael John Carley has spent many years as an advocate, educator and collaborator.  He is the author of several books and he joined us on the podcast to talk about his book titled "The Book of Happy, Positive, and Confident Sex for Adults on the Autism Spectrum and Beyond" that was published in 2020 by Neurodiversity Press. From 2003-2013 Michael was the founder and Executive Director of GRASP (G...

When Margot Alexis found out that she was in a "Neurodiverse Love" marriage she began to focus on the only person she could change..."herself". In this episode, Margot shares that when a friend of hers suggested that her husband might be autistic,  that took her on a journey to learn everything she could about neurodiverse relationships and autism spectrum disorder.  After more then 20 years of ma...

During this episode Grace Myhill, MSW shares her extensive experience on ways in which neurodiverse couples can gain better understanding of each others perspectives, learn how to check for understanding to reduce communication challenges and learn how to share and support each others expectations.  In addition, she also discusses important strategies for working together effectively as a cou...

Jodi Carlton, M.Ed. is an internationally recognized autism relationship and neurodiversity expert and coach.  During this episode she shared her own lived experience and how she is helping neurodiverse couples around the world find better ways to understand each others strengths and differences.  She shares how important it is to value and respect each other's perspective and has create...

Dr. Harry Motro spent the earlier part of his career in technology and then chose a second career in counseling.  HIs passion to take the best tools and strategies and combine them to help neurodiverse couples move from "barely surviving" to "thriving" is so enlightening and inspirational.  During this episode, you will learn the value of the "red, yellow and green cards" to proactively...

Happy New Year to all our listeners!  This episode provides a lot of food for thought and great information that can help you make improvements in yourself and in turn, in your neurodiverse relationship During this episode, we talk about how  important it is for us to communicate and maintain our boundaries for our mental, emotional and spiritual health.  We also discuss how underst...

In this episode, Manecia interviews Mona as she shares about some of the experiences she had when she did not know she was in a neurodiverse marriage. She and her ex loved each other very much, but that was not enough to get them to a place of understanding, which was what was greatly needed in their marriage.  Not knowing you are in a neurodiverse relationship can lead to SO much confusion a...

Psychotherapist and Professor Alina Kislenko is redesigning therapeutic models for neurodivergent individuals and neurodiverse couples.  She is committed to training other therapists so that ableism and oppressive views of neurodiversity became a thing of the past.  Alina shared how her "PI" model of "Parts Inclusion" can create new words and ways of communicating emotions in neurodiverse relation...

We learned SO much during this episode with Carole Jean Whittington who is "The Social Autie' on social media.  Carole Jean received an ADHD diagnosis in early adulthood, but wasn't diagnosed as autistic until she was 39. Her "neurodistinct" journey has led her to help so many other late diagnosed autistic adults go from burnout to balance.  Carole Jean's honesty and vulnerability provid...

Joe is a therapist and Mike is an engineer and in many ways they might be considered opposites.  However, during this episode they share how during their almost 30 years together, they have learned how to navigate their differences and focus on each others strengths.  When they started getting serious in their relationship Joe moved into Mike's house and Joe shares some of the challenges that pres...

Mona and Manecia had such a wonderful time talking to Michelle and Andrew learning about their "Neurodiverse Love" journey.  After they met on a dating app, they were friends for a year before they started dating.  Michelle shared that she almost broke up with Andrew twice and she shares why.  Fortunately, while reading a book chapter about "Autistic Echos" Michelle recognized many...

During this episode, Mona and Manecia talk openly and honestly about some of the unintentional hurt and pain that they have both caused in their relationships, as well as what their partners may have done in past or present relationships.  When you don't know you are in neurodiverse relationship, or you know, but don't have the skills and tools needed to navigate the challenges and difference...

Join us for this fantastic episode where we have an opportunity to talk with Dr. Kim Bolling.  Kim is a couples therapist and provides counseling and coaching for neurodiverse couples.  Kim talks with us about how she uses Internal Family Systems (IFS)  and Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) to help individuals and neurodiverse couples learn more about the "parts" that can create c...