Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child at School and Home

Send us Fan Mail Ever notice how some kids can want to start something... and still seem completely stuck?  In this episode, we're unpacking task initiation: the executive functioning skill that helps us begin tasks, get going, and push past the "starting friction". When kids struggle here, it's often misunderstood as laziness, avoidance, or lack of motivation - but there'...

Send us Fan Mail If your child or student(s) struggle when it's time to leave the park, turn off the tablet, start homework, or get ready for bed- you are not alone.  In this episode, we're talking about why transitions can feel so hard for many kids (especially neurodivergent kids), and what adults can do to make those moments smoother and less stressful for everyone involved. I share 4...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt like you've already said something three times - and it's still not sticking? It's not always about attention or effort, but about working memory.  In this quick, practical episode, I'm breaking down what's really going on when kids struggle to hold onto information, and why repeating yourself in attempts to help them "memorize" isn&apo...

Send us Fan Mail Many kids who are bright, curious, and capable still struggle in school - and it can be confusing for the adults supporting them.  In this episode, we explore why intelligence doesn't always translate into success in the classroom, and how factors like executive functioning, processing differences, and anxiety can impact a child's ability to feel successful at school. If...

Send us Fan Mail What does the word Neurodivergent actually mean - and why has it become such an important part of how we understand children?  In this episode, we explore the concept of neurodivergence, what it includes, and why it can shift the way we think about learning, behaviour, and support. This episode focuses on moving beyond labels and toward a more complete understanding of how differe...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the very first episode of  Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child.   In this episode, we're starting with an important foundation: 5 things neurodivergent kids really need the adults in their lives to understand.  Children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, exceptionality, dyslexia, giftedness, learning differences, anxiety, and other forms of neurodivergence are often nav...

Send us Fan Mail Today marks the final episode of the School Psych Podcast - but don't worry, the podcast itself isn't ending. It's evolving! Over time, I realized that while the original title of the podcast reflected my profession as a school psychologist, it didn't fully capture what these conversations are really about: understanding and supporting your neurodivergent child...

Send us Fan Mail Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns in children, teens, and adults - and is one of the most misunderstood.  In this deep dive episode, I walk you through what anxiety actually  is  (from both a clinical and practical lens), how it shows up in real life, and where to begin if you or your child are struggling.  Whether you're a parent, an educator, or someo...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a follow-up to the "Fall Start-Up" episode (#82). If you are a licensed educational psychologist (LEP), school psych, or school clinician, you're going to want to listen to this one. Winter is not coming... winter is HERE, and we are officially halfway through the school year. It's time to take stock of our to-do list, and how much we've be...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is  a message for the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Colombia, who have recently experienced a tragedy at their secondary school.  To the people of Tumbler Ridge, the hearts of Canadians and people all over the world are with you. We are so deeply sorry for your loss.  If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at sch...

Send us Fan Mail Join me as I sit down with school psychologist (with over 20 years of experience) David Krasky, to talk through some of the common parenting struggles we've all been through or are about to go through! This episode is for parents and caregivers who are interested in some tips and "perspective" (i.e., hard truth) for how we foster independence in our kids. This journ...

Send us Fan Mail This conversation isn't about fixing kids, improving outcomes, or adding a bunch of new strategies to your plate. It's about what happens to our nervous systems when the environment feels unsettled - and why feeling irritable, exhausted, or checked out is not a personal or professional failure.  We explore: - Why being an educator or parent nowadays might feel harder - H...

Send us Fan Mail One of the most common and emotionally loaded questions parents ask after a diagnosis is whether to tell their child.  In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are weighing the benefits and risks of sharing diagnostic information with their child. We explore why there isn't a single "right" answer, but also how factors like age, understanding, and...

Send us Fan Mail Many parents are surprised by how heavy things can feel after a diagnosis - sometimes heavier than before. Even when the diagnosis brings clarity or relief, it can also come with grief, worry, or a sense that everything suddenly feels more complicated.  In this episode, I'm speaking to parents who expected things to feel easier by now and are wondering why that hasn't ha...

Send us Fan Mail After a new diagnosis, many parents feels pressure to start making changes everywhere - at home, at school, and in between. But trying to do everything at once often leads to more overwhelm, not more support.  In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are wondering where to begin. We explore a helpful question - where is my child working hardest right now? - and w...

Send us Fan Mail January has a way of making everything feel urgent - especially if your child has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, a learning difference, or another form of neurodivergence. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are in teh early days after a diagnosis and feeling pressure to have a plan, make changes, or "get it right" as the new year begin...

Send us Fan Mail In this New Year's episode, I share a few of my own New Year's resolutions - not as goals to strive for, but as intentions grounded in care, sustainability, and realism. I also reflect on my hopes and wishes for parents and educators as we move into a new year together: wishes for gentler expectations, more compassion for ourselves and one another, and systems that bette...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share a more personal reflection about how I began to recognize the early signs of burnout in my own life - and the small but meaningful shifts I'm making to climb out of it.  As caregivers and educators, we're often skilled at noticing stress in others while minimizing it in ourselves. This episode explores what burnout can look like before it reaches...

Send us Fan Mail Self-care is often talked about as something we do - but rarely as something we define ourselves. In this replay episode, I invite parents, caregivers, and all educators to pause and consider what self-care truly means in the context of caring for others. By asking a series of gentle, thought-provoking questions, this episode encourages you to reflect on your needs, your values, a...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the world of Social Thinking by Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke! In this episode, I tell you about Social Thinking, and introduce you to some key terms used in Social Thinking resources, such as the book "You Are A Social Detective!" I love using this resource in collaboration with classroom teachers, but I've heard of it being used in homeschool...

Send us Fan Mail Although this episode would be beneficial to parents, teachers, school clinicians,  educational consultants, etc... it's really one of those topics that's relevant for anyone who is a human living on planet Earth . Our heart-work (hard work!) in better understanding how to promote equity, inclusion and anti-racism in the systems we work in is never done. In this episode...

Send us Fan Mail If you are a parent, teacher, educational assistant, principal, or school clinician, you need to hear this. I recorded this episode to encourage us all to reflect on which of our basic needs we have been neglecting lately. Sleep? Nutrition? Moving our body? Connection/belonging? That last one IS a basic human need - there are historical psych studies confirming this. It's tim...

Send us Fan Mail Trends in psych assessment are constantly evolving, depending on research findings, level of experience, or the context in which a psychologist works. In this episode I cover the (current) trends in assessing for ADHD as a school psychologist. If you are a parent, teacher, school psychologist, administrator, or generally interested in how psychologists assess for ADHD, this episod...

Send us Fan Mail You may have heard of a "helicopter parent" or a "lighthouse parent," but have you ever heard of a "Curling Parent"? This episode is all about reflections on my parenting, after attending a professional development event on anxiety and resilience, with psychologist Dr. Caroline Buzanko.  To listen to Dr. Buzanko's podcast, visit:  https://drcarol...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about using the acronym RIOT to reduce overwhelm when you are getting started on a new psych assessment. I'll share with you why after 10 years, I'm still using this acronym to ground me in my assessment practice. It will be helpful for you if you are a school psychologist or another school clinician who completes assessments and writes assessment rep...