In this insightful episode, Dr. Jodi Richardson sits down with Jodie (Jordana) Wassner, a neuro-affirming Educational and Developmental Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working with young people and their families across Melbourne and Sydney.

Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal lived experience with neurodivergence, Jodie shares her unique approach to supporting neurodivergent youth through radical acceptance and values-based strategies. As an author, speaker, and clinician who divides her time between direct client work and educational training for professionals and families worldwide, Jodie brings a wealth of practical wisdom to this conversation.

The discussion takes a refreshing turn when addressing social challenges for young people with autism. Rather than prescribing generic social skills training, Jodie explains her values-first approach—helping neurodivergent youth define what meaningful friendship looks like specifically for them before determining steps toward connection. This personalised method honours individual differences while providing practical pathways to fulfilling relationships.

Listeners will appreciate Jodie's candid exploration of "worry habits" and her perspective that anxiety isn't something to eliminate but rather to understand and accommodate. She challenges traditional symptom-reduction approaches to stress, instead offering tools to help young people recognise their specific anxiety patterns and develop sustainable coping strategies.

Throughout the episode, Jodie weaves together insights from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with her extensive experience supporting autism and attention differences, creating a compassionate framework for parents, educators, and clinicians supporting neurodivergent youth.

Whether you're a parent seeking to better understand your neurodivergent child, a professional working with diverse young people, or someone interested in progressive approaches to mental health, this conversation offers valuable perspectives on embracing neurodiversity while building meaningful lives.

Jodie Wassner's book mentioned: https://www.woodslanehealth.com.au/products/9781839975820?srsltid=AfmBOorhVwFFObgAD0RWw76jrEEMKSsYh36ST4-fMTr-CBFUfXEOnuUD

More on Jodie's work:

https://www.curiouskidspsychology.com.au/our-team

Connect with me:

https://linktr.ee/drjodirichardson?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabqDVAw_zhoG3IXGRhgjn-J14BFJy50ztJbCHywMfZobVH12nX1USMbisI_aem_QViUbKkXHlwbD3y4kGcvGQ