This week Michelle and Monique talk with Anastasia McLean about Bipolar Disorder. Anastasia is the host of The Bipolar Diaries podcast. In this episode we cover what actually is Bipolar and Anastasia shares her experiences through adolescence, getting a diagnosis, and into adulthood. We talk about the difficulty teasing apart personality and neurodivergence, the overlap of some of the cognitive traits of Bipolar and ADHD, trauma, her experiences with friendships and relationships, and her medication journey. Anastasia shares her key behavioural and lifestyle strategies, and also the strengths that have come with her neurodivergence.



Anastasia talks about her experiences with such openness and grace – it was such a pleasure to have her on the podcast!



Listen to Anastasia’s podcast – The Bipolar Diaries – wherever you get your podcasts. Follow her on Instagram @thebipolardiaries_



Contact us at ndwomanpod@gmail.com, or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com



Email us your questions for our Q&A episode by November 7th!



Visit our websites to attend upcoming client and professional development webinars:

Michelle's website: https://www.michellelivock.com/

Monique's website: http://moniquemitchelson.com.au/



We are on Patreon! Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod

This week Michelle and Monique talk with Anastasia McLean about Bipolar Disorder. Anastasia is the host of The Bipolar Diaries podcast. In this episode we cover what actually is Bipolar and Anastasia shares her experiences through adolescence, getting a diagnosis, and into adulthood. We talk about the difficulty teasing apart personality and neurodivergence, the overlap of some of the cognitive traits of Bipolar and ADHD, trauma, her experiences with friendships and relationships, and her medication journey. Anastasia shares her key behavioural and lifestyle strategies, and also the strengths that have come with her neurodivergence.
 
Anastasia talks about her experiences with such openness and grace – it was such a pleasure to have her on the podcast!
 
Listen to Anastasia’s podcast – The Bipolar Diaries – wherever you get your podcasts. Follow her on Instagram @thebipolardiaries_
 
Contact us at <a href="mailto:ndwomanpod@gmail.com">ndwomanpod@gmail.com</a>, or visit our website: <a href="http://www.ndwomanpod.com">www.ndwomanpod.com</a>
 
Email us your questions for our Q&amp;A episode by November 7th!
 
Visit our websites to attend upcoming client and professional development webinars:
Michelle's website: <a href="https://www.michellelivock.com/">https://www.michellelivock.com/</a>
Monique's website: <a href="http://moniquemitchelson.com.au/">http://moniquemitchelson.com.au/</a>
 
We are on Patreon! Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod">www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod</a>

A podcast for neurodivergent women, hosted by clinical psychologist Monique Mitchelson and clinical neuropsychologist Michelle Livock. Covering Autism to ADHD and everything in between, we aim to educate and inspire women who think differently.

The Neurodivergent Woman

Bipolar Disorder with Anastasia McLean

For our final episode of the season we welcome Sonny Jane Wise to the podcast, to share their wisdom on all things neurodivergence. This is a fabulous ep to start with if you’re new to the neurodiversity affirming model, and also if you’ve been here a while!



Sonny Jane is a trans, multiply neurodivergent & disabled public speaker, advocate and author. Sonny was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as a child and grew up only hearing a deficit narrative about their neurodivergence. Since then, they have gone on to build an audience of over 100, 000 people online, have written The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills and We’re All Neurodiverse and has worked with organisations and services around Australia and the world to help change the narrative around neurodivergence and create a more neurodiversity affirming society.



In this episode we cover:
Key definitions of neurodiversity affirming practice, including the difference between ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergence’ and between the pathologising / medical model of practice and the neurodiversity affirming model.
Sonny Jane’s experience of being early diagnosed under a pathologising model and the lifechanging impact of discovering neurokin and the neurodiversity affirming community.
Disability and ableism and neuronormativity (oh my!)
The intersectional impact of different aspects of Sonny Jane’s identity, their neurodivergences, and their disabilities, and how this intersectionality impacts their access to services.
The future of neurodiversity affirming practice.





You can find out more about Sonny Jane and access their content through their website. 



Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 



Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.

For our final episode of the season we welcome Sonny Jane Wise to the podcast, to share their wisdom on all things neurodivergence. This is a fabulous ep to start with if you’re new to the neurodiversity affirming model, and also if you’ve been here a while!
 
Sonny Jane is a trans, multiply neurodivergent &amp; disabled public speaker, advocate and author. Sonny was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as a child and grew up only hearing a deficit narrative about their neurodivergence. Since then, they have gone on to build an audience of over 100, 000 people online, have written <a href="https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/store">The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills</a> and <a href="https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/store">We’re All Neurodiverse</a> and has worked with organisations and services around Australia and the world to help change the narrative around neurodivergence and create a more neurodiversity affirming society.
 
In this episode we cover:
<ul>
<li>Key definitions of neurodiversity affirming practice, including the difference between ‘neurodiverse’ and ‘neurodivergence’ and between the pathologising / medical model of practice and the neurodiversity affirming model.</li>
<li>Sonny Jane’s experience of being early diagnosed under a pathologising model and the lifechanging impact of discovering neurokin and the neurodiversity affirming community.</li>
<li>Disability and ableism and neuronormativity (oh my!)</li>
<li>The intersectional impact of different aspects of Sonny Jane’s identity, their neurodivergences, and their disabilities, and how this intersectionality impacts their access to services.</li>
<li>The future of neurodiversity affirming practice.</li>
</ul>
 
 
You can find out more about Sonny Jane and access their content <a href="https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/">through their website</a>. 
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them <a href="https://www.ndwomanpod.com/transcripts">here</a>. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod">www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.</a>

The Future of Neurodiversity Affirming Practice with Sonny Jane Wise

We are thrilled to have Rosemary Richings on the podcast today, to chat with us about her experience of dyspraxia. Rosemary is a writer, editor, and public speaker specialising in disability and neurodiversity, and she is the author of Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia. Rosemary is on the board of trustees of Dyspraxic Me, a charity for dyspraxic young adults.



In this episode we cover:
What is dyspraxia?
How is dyspraxia diagnosed?
Rosemary’s experience of dyspraxia from childhood to adulthood.
The mental load of neurodivergence.
What has been helpful in accommodating and supporting dyspraxia for Rosemary.



You can find Rosemary through her socials here, and through her website.



You can access more information on dyspraxia through the Developmental Coordination Disorder Australia website.



Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 



Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.

We are thrilled to have Rosemary Richings on the podcast today, to chat with us about her experience of dyspraxia. Rosemary is a <a href="https://www.rosemaryrichings.com/writing.html">writer</a>, <a href="https://www.rosemaryrichings.com/editrosemary-richings.html">editor</a>, and <a href="https://www.rosemaryrichings.com/neurodiversityspeaking.html">public speaker</a> specialising in disability and neurodiversity, and she is the author of <a href="https://www.rosemaryrichings.com/stumbling-through-space-time-dyspraxia.html">Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life With Dyspraxia</a>. Rosemary is on the board of trustees of Dyspraxic Me, a charity for dyspraxic young adults.
 
In this episode we cover:
<ul>
<li>What is dyspraxia?</li>
<li>How is dyspraxia diagnosed?</li>
<li>Rosemary’s experience of dyspraxia from childhood to adulthood.</li>
<li>The mental load of neurodivergence.</li>
<li>What has been helpful in accommodating and supporting dyspraxia for Rosemary.</li>
</ul>
 
You can find Rosemary through her socials <a href="https://linktr.ee/rosemary_richings">here</a>, and through her <a href="https://www.rosemaryrichings.com/">website</a>.
 
You can access more information on dyspraxia through the <a href="https://dcdaustralia.org.au/what-is-dcd-2/">Developmental Coordination Disorder Australia website</a>.
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them <a href="https://www.ndwomanpod.com/transcripts">here</a>. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod">www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.</a>

Dyspraxia with Rosemary Richings

In this week's episode we chat about compassionate practice. We have both been super keen to do an episode on compassion for a while now, given compassion is a core tenant of our practice. In this ep we went through some of the core features of compassion, how this can be used therapeutically, and developing self-compassion. We loved putting this episode together for you!



We cover:
What is compassion and what are the benefits of compassionate practice?
What does it mean to be in an active state of compassion.
How compassion fits into the ‘haunted house’ of our brain.
Working with the inner critic.
Compassionate practice and neurodivergence.
Strategies for compassionate practice and for activating a state of ‘rest’ in our nervous system.



Resources on compassionate practice:
The Compassionate Mind – by Paul Gilbert
Fierce Self Compassion – by Kristen Neff
Online compassion quiz 
Preorder Monique’s book - The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate. 
Access Michelle’s three part course on compassionate practice exclusively through our Patreon (‘Buy us a Wine’ tier).
Check out the study Monique mentioned mentioned on Autism and self compassion. 



Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here. 



Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.

In this week's episode we chat about compassionate practice. We have both been super keen to do an episode on compassion for a while now, given compassion is a core tenant of our practice. In this ep we went through some of the core features of compassion, how this can be used therapeutically, and developing self-compassion. We loved putting this episode together for you!
 
We cover:
<ul>
<li>What is compassion and what are the benefits of compassionate practice?</li>
<li>What does it mean to be in an active state of compassion.</li>
<li>How compassion fits into the ‘haunted house’ of our brain.</li>
<li>Working with the inner critic.</li>
<li>Compassionate practice and neurodivergence.</li>
<li>Strategies for compassionate practice and for activating a state of ‘rest’ in our nervous system.</li>
</ul>
 
Resources on compassionate practice:
<ul>
<li>The Compassionate Mind – by Paul Gilbert</li>
<li>Fierce Self Compassion – by Kristen Neff</li>
<li><a href="https://self-compassion.org/self-compassion-test/">Online compassion quiz </a></li>
<li>Preorder Monique’s book - <a href="https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-neurodivergence-skills-workbook-for-autism-and-adhd-jennifer-kemp/book/9781648483073.html?source=pla&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwh4-wBhB3EiwAeJsppA8CLKQapKGVmG68AAe8DVjQ_Qk2utdTCrWbqo97mgVsw_7zPGpK4BoCkD8QAvD_BwE">The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD: Cultivate Self-Compassion, Live Authentically, and Be Your Own Advocate</a>. </li>
<li>Access Michelle’s <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod">three part course on compassionate practice</a> exclusively through our Patreon (‘Buy us a Wine’ tier).</li>
<li>Check out <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613221136752">the study Monique mentioned mentioned on Autism and self compassion</a>. </li>
</ul>
 
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them <a href="https://www.ndwomanpod.com/transcripts">here</a>. 
 
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod">www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.</a>

Bipolar Disorder with Anastasia McLean

The Neurodivergent Woman

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips