I am Steph! Thank you for being here! I am an occupational therapist, reiki master, specialised kinesiologist, and above all, a human being learning to express my authentic self! I specialise in neurodivergent affirming practice and trauma informed care. I am an AuDHDer (Autistic and ADHD) I also have CPTSD and a dissociative disorder. This podcast was named Alphabet Soup after I looked at my diagnosis rap sheet! I then realised none of this defined me, and I felt called to share with you my ...
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Chrissie Davies, affectionately known as The Child Charmer, is on a mission to change the way the world views children's behaviour. Every week on this podcast, Chrissie will use her 26 years of knowledge to educate, inspire and guide families and educators on how to use therapeutic approaches to support behavioural responses in children. In Chrissie's world, there is no such thing as bad or naughty children. Just some gorgeous little human beings looking for connection, guidance, empathy, an ...
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Masking and Unmasking Reflection and Checklist
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4:46Check out this new resource- Masking and Unmasking Reflection and Checklist! It's completely Free! Let me know what you think! Get your copy HERE Connect with me, Steph: www.sgroccupationaltherapy.com Email: [email protected] Come and join us on the socials: Instagram: www.instagram.com/sgroccupationaltherapy/ Facebook: www.facebook.…
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Welcome back for 2025! Just a little life update in this one :) Connect with me, Steph: www.sgroccupationaltherapy.com Email: [email protected] Come and join us on the socials: Instagram: www.instagram.com/sgroccupationaltherapy/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/SGROccupationalTherapy Facebook group- The Neurodiversity Empowerment Movement…
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Autistic Identity with Chelsea Luker, Autistic/ADHDER Psychologist and Author
1:00:27
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1:00:27Let's explore Autistic Identity with Chelsea Luker. Chelsea Luker is an Autistic/ADHDer psychologist, author, and parent of two neurodivergent children. With a passion for neurodiversity-affirming practice, Chelsea draws on both her professional and lived experience to support Neurodivergent individuals and their families. Through her work at Conne…
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NDIS Myths and Mistakes with Anna Commons from Commonground Disability
1:29:56
1:29:56
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1:29:56NDIS Myths and Mistakes with Anna Commons from Commonground Disability! Need I say more!? In this episode Anna and I address the following Myths and Mistakes: Myth: NDIS don't fund Core supports for children because it is parental responsibility. Myth: You need a diagonsis to get access to NDIA after the age of 7. Myth: The NDIS don't fund sensory …
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Invitation to Peer-led panel discussion: Recognising Responding to Sexual Abuse and Violence- Hosted by Yellow Lady Bugs
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12:52This is so important! Let's learn how to support our children by Recognising Responding to Sexual Abuse and Violence and also understanding how we can help our children be empowered to proect themselves. Find out more: www.yellowladybug.com.au Live Panel Discussion: Recognising and Responding to Sexual Abuse and – Yellow Ladybugs Connect with me: w…
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Neurodivergent Sex, Intimacy and Relationships with Annelil Desille, Clinical psychologist
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55:01Join me on this important deep dive into all things sex, intimacy, connection and relationships for neurodivergent folk! Lil and I don't hold back in addressing the things that often get swept under the rug and not addressed in relation to wholistic welllness... and yes, I am talking about sex and intimacy! Connect with Annelil: Instagram: https://…
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Regulation and Communication with Christina Schmidt, Speech Pathologist
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1:14:50In this episode I had the pleasure of talking the the incredible Christina Schmidt! Christina Schmidt (she/her/hers) is an AuDHD, multiply-dialectal, and multicultural Black woman. She lives, works, plays, and creates on the unceded lands of Wurundjeri Country in Naarm (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). Born in the US, Christina has spent the majori…
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In this episode I am sharing some really interesting information I have learnt about the experience of dissociation in autistic and ADHD people. This is an area that often gets overlooked and I think this is a consideration that is important to take notice of when supporting neurodivergent people. I was having a 'word finding difficulty' kind of da…
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The Experience of Autistic Burnout with Michael Coles
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29:59
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29:59Michael Coles is kind enough to share his experience of autistic burnout and discuss supports that are helping him to recover and reengage in meaningful occupations. Connect with Michael and listen to the Deep Dive Podcast: https://linktr.ee/michaelcoles Find out more about Annie Crowe and the NeuroAccess Network that we mention in the chat www.neu…
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Being a Neurodivergent Therapist with Claire Britton
1:07:49
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1:07:49In this episode Claire and I explore what it's like being a neurodivergent occupational therapist and the role lived experience plays in supporting out neurokin. Claire is an experienced OT and director of NeuroInclusion based in Western Australia. Connect with Claire here: Home | Neuroinclusion | Allied Health Claire | Neurodivergent OT & Mum (@th…
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In this episode I talk about my own spiky profile and fluctuating capacity and how this may apply to many neurodivergent folk. Link to free Neurodivergent Masking webinar: https://connect.sgroccupationaltherapy.com/nd-masking-webinar Link for information on upcoming Embracing You course: https://connect.sgroccupationaltherapy.com/embracing-you-cour…
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Exploring the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and Autism with Psychologist Amanda Moses
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42:13The topic of the diagnostic criteria for autism and ADHD seems to be coming up a lot lately and so I thought what better way to explore than to consult an expert like Amanda Moses! Not only is Amanda a diagnosing psychologist but she specialises in the more internalised presentation of ADHD and Autism which can so often go unrecognised. Enjoy! Conn…
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Exploring Affirming Practice in Rural Health Care with Holly The OT!
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59:50In this chat with Holly we explore neurodivergent affirming care in rural health. Holly has such an incredible and unique role working in some very remote areas and she explains how important building relationships is when developing a true understanding of the needs of a community. Holly is such a breath of fresh air to listen to and she always sh…
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Debunking Dissociative Identity Disorder with Tarese and Co
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1:10:45
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1:10:45Welcome to what I hope to be the first of many chat with the wonderful Tarese and Co, DID system! After my recent chats about dissociation and trauma with Kizzy, I was keen to keep the ball rolling and talk to Tarese and co about their experience! As well as being a qualified therapist, Tarese and Co are also a fashion designer and social media per…
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Matrescence and Neurodiversity with Nicole Amery
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46:45
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46:45Join me as I have a deep and enlightening conversation with Nicole Amery, OT, mother, and passionate advocate for affirming practice. Nicole speaks to us about matrescence; the journey of shift in identity that one goes through when becoming a mother. Nicole expresses that her work takes place in the intersection of matrescence and neurodivergence.…
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Front Loading: A must have therapeutic tool in education
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13:54Have you ever heard of the therapeutic tool called 'Front Loading?" There’s a really strategic approach to front loading -and the entire purpose it to set kids up for success – not heighten them or push them to escalation. It is about providing children with just the right amount of information, setting clear and achievable expectations, providing …
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What we can all learn from Augie Pullman & Mr Tushman
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12:03
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12:03If you recognise the names Augie Pullman & Mr Tushman, then chances are you may know what this solo episode is centred on. An amazing book titled "Wonder." Chrissie shares during this solo episode the importance of parents relinquishing control and encouraging their children to step out in the big wide world away from the safety of the family nest.…
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This episode comes with a trigger warning for discussion of sexual assault and victimisation. This was another uplanned episode, brought about by a recent discussion I had. I was reminded of a horrifying ststistic. That 9 in 10 autistic woman have experienced sexual abuse, domestic abuse or rape in their life. This is part of my story and a reflect…
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Diving into Dissociation with Kizzy Searle, Trauma Informed Speech Therapist
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52:26Join me and Kizzy in this dive into the experience of dissociation and how this links in with the neurodivergent experience. Kizzy and I always end up in such a flow state when we connect and share our experiences. Connect with Kizzy at www.attunedspeech.com.au LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/ Instagram is @attunedspeech Kizzy also…
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Why language matters so much for our PDAers with Steph Robertson
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1:12:58
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1:12:58Buckle in - this is is a bit of a longer one - as our topic of Pervasive Drive for Autonomy(PDA) is so complex, we needed more time to unpack this at times, perplexing, nervous system disability, and how it shows up in our kids at home and in school. Both Chrissie & Steph have lived experience of raising a little PDAer, and they have learnt so much…
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Exploring Trauma Informed Care with Kizzy Searle, Speech pathologist
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1:01:12In this episode I am sharing an interview with the amazing speech pathologist Kizzy, from Attuned Speech, about all things neurodivergent affirming and trauma informed practice! This inerview was conducted last year (2023) and I share in anticipation for our new episode coming soon! In this chat we cover: The importance of pets and animals :) Kizzy…
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Autistic people are often ‘monotropic’. Monotropic minds tend to have their attention pulled more strongly towards a smaller number of interests at any given time, leaving fewer resources for other processes. It seems not only autistic people may experience monotropism and it may be more widly experienced by neurodivergent people, such as ADHDers. …
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The Contrasts at the Intersection of Being an Autistic ADHDer- Chat with Adina Levy
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1:19:35In this casual chat, Adina and I talk about our lived experience of being both autistic and an ADHDer, also known as an AuDHDer. In what ways do they complement each other? In what ways do they contradict each other? Listen to find out! Come and have a laugh with us! Connect with Adina here: www.playlearnchat.com Neurodivergent Business Coaching & …
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10. Regulation Rituals with Sally Galloway
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40:22
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40:22We use the term dysregulated ALOT when it comes to our kids and their big emotions - but what does this actually mean? And why are we expecting kids to have their emotions sorted by the age of 6 once they hit formal education, when most adults find keeping their cool in stressful situations difficult? Are we expecting way too much, too soon from ou…
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9. Let's teach kids the way their brain learns with Kristy Hayworth
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23:56
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23:56What if we taught children the way the brain actually learns? The days of a one size fits all model in education are OVER, and it is time that we started to really understand the importance of adapting our educational practices to be more aligned with a child's actual neurotype. We have go to work with them - NOT against them. In fact, the more we …
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7. The importance of debriefing after a crisis in the classroom
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12:18Today, The Child Charmer is educating us about the importance of professionally debriefing in education after a critical incident. It is a supportive tool that has been used in Specialist Educational settings for decades. Chrissie explains just how important they are when working with volatile kids- and why we simply MUST be adopting this protocol …
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8. Supporting communication through Social Stories with Dr. Kathryn Hackman
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34:08
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34:08What is a social story and HOW can it be of benefit to kids in schools? Today we are learning more about this powerful, but incredibly under utilised therapeutic tool that can be easily embedded in our educational practices as a way of ensuring that our communication is not being lost in translation. Used by the Autistic community for many years, i…
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Interview with neurodivergent sparkle, Adina Levy!
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51:57
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51:57This chat with Adina from Play Learn Chat and Neurodivergent Business Coaching and Consulting is just beautiful! We spoke about finding true joy in small moments and how we can learn to understand our unique needs across environments. Adina shares about her experience of discovering her own neurodivergence and how this has shaped her experience as …
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5. Educational Change Makers with Em Gentle
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34:54
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34:54Teacher retention is one of the leading challenges we are facing in our current Education System, with our incredible pre-service educators not lasting longer than 3-5 years in the profession. If we are to have any hope of creating educational change within our school system, it really starts with looking at how our beginning teachers can not only …
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6. Why we need more music in our classrooms with Pip Reid
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29:56
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29:56The research is in folks - brains LOVE music and if you aren't convinced, after this amazing episode with Pip Reid from Using Music you absolutely will be! There is so much research around the many benefits of incorporating more playfulness, tunes, movement and music to support nervous system regulation in classrooms and schools. AND- for our littl…
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1.Who is the Child Charmer and what does she stand for?
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9:00
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9:00'Chrissie Davies comes from an extraordinary position of being able to provide perspectives from so many complex angles including as a Behaviour Specialist, parent, advocate and voice for neurodivergent children who need our compassion the most, as an experienced educator, plus her own lived experiences. There's a reason why people far and wide ado…
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4. What does it mean to be trauma informed with Rebecca Harris
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33:15
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33:15We use the term 'trauma informed' in education ALOT - but what does it actually look, sound and feel like on the ground in the classroom? Trauma informed practices centre more around a state of 'being, rather than doing' and it comes back to our own nervous system regulation, and our ability to "See the child NOT the behaviour." It means that we us…
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3. Neurodiversity affirming teaching with Claire Britton
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39:28
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39:28What does it mean to be a neurodiversity affirming educator? Well, it starts with having a set of principles and values that you bring to your classroom and the way in which you view each and every student in your care. It centres around having core beliefs that all communication styles and unique ways of learning are valid. It also means that you …
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In this episode, Chrissie Davies - child behaviour specialist, shares her very raw, but important message about the importance of schools, teachers and families working together. She speaks openly and honestly, from her heart, as a mum who really just wanted to try to get an education for her kids. Chrissie and her family were met very abruptly wit…
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If you live with kids, work with kids or care about kids - then this podcast is for you! Let's revolutionise the way the world views and discusses children behaviour with Chrissie Davies: Child Behaviour Specialist. Chrissie Davies has been putting the 'chill' into children for 26 years, and she brings a wealth of knowledge to her consultancy pract…
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In this episode I share about beginning treatment for my scoliosis. I address the feelings associated with having an invible disability suddenly become a whole lot more visible! Another raw one here... Thanks so much for listening. Connect with me :) www.sgroccupationaltherapy.com Email: [email protected] Come and join us on the soci…
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Interview with Zara, neurodivergent mother, therapist and all round goddess!
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36:57Join me and the beautiful Zara as we talk about parenting neurodivergent children, discovering our own neurodivergence along the way and the amazing power of connection with those we feel safe around! Zara is such a soothing presence, and her energy is such a pleasure to be around! You can find Zara and her powerful work on Instagram and Facebook j…
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The Intersection of Neurodiversity and Grief
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27:14
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27:14This was another uplanned episode, brought about by a loss in my family. Here I explore the experience of grief for neurodivergent people and how this can look different to what we might expect. If you are experiencing grief, it is okay to ask for help. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 Connect with me :) www.sgroccupationaltherapy.com E…
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Interview with Tilby; OT and founder of Connected Brain Body
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47:04
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47:04In this epic chat, Tilby (OT) and I dive into the concept of living the way we teach, walking the walk, showing ourselves the compassion and nurturing that we need in order to fill our cup and be our best selves for those we serve. We spoke about the core of OT as being a part of who we are, not just a profession and how our own experiences of the …
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Here we explore neurodivergent connection styles or neurodivergent culture... I chat a bit about info dumping, special interests, parallel play, body doubling, penguin pebbling and support swapping. Do these resonate with you?! HERE is the link to get the new Neurodivergent Friendly Self Identity Exploration Tool https://connect.sgroccupationalther…
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Interview with Rhiannon Crispe, founder of The OT Lifestyle Movement
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49:41
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49:41Join me and the amazing and inspiring Rhiannon Crispe, founder of the OT Lifestyle Movement, as we discuss the importance of moving from a model of dependence to a model of dignity and how we can empower all people to be explore their true authenticity and purpose. Rhiannon shares her journey of how she came to embody her connection to what it mean…
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This episode was not the plan... But it is real. It explores the concept of radical self acceptance. I share how things are going; the good the bad and the ugly. I also share some persecttives that help me get through when it feels a bit tough. Thanks for listening and for holding space for me to unmask and begin to practice radical self acceptance…
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Interview with Natalia from Innersense OT!
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42:32
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42:32Join me and occupational therapist, Natalia as we explore all things holistic OT, neurodiversity, spirituality, unique expression, connection and humaness! Natalia is based Darwin in the Northern Territory and shares generously about her own experiences and how this has shaped the way she practices. We explore the importance of therapeutic use of s…
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This is a little a reflection on the effects of masking, the burnout that can come from it, the retreat into isolation and then the feeling of wanting to seek connection again... Does this resonate with you? HERE is the link to the webinar I mentioned, Authenticity and Connection. Feel free to share your thougts! Big love, Steph Occupational Therap…
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Interview with Bree Ridgeway; late diagnosed autistic, and down-right brilliant, woman!
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1:01:46Join me in this inspiring interview with Bree Ridgeway. Bree is a 33-year-old lawyer who loves animals, being outdoors and generally learning in any capacity! Bree was identified autistic at 28 years old and openly shares her journey of discovering how she fits in the world and how her autistic gifts have helped her get to where she is today! Thank…
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This audio guides you through a body scan to practice getting in touch with your body and listening to your body cues about regulation. When we can listen to our body and understand our sensory needs we begin to learn how to meet our needs before the body and brain become dysregulated. You can do a quick body scan anywhere and I recommend doing the…
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In this episode I begin exploring the concept of masking for neurodivergent people. What is it? Why does it happen? Why is it so draining? What does that mean long term? Of course, there's another analogy in there too! Thank you for being here! Big love, Steph Occupational Therapist Here is the link to the Authenticity and Connection Webinar I ment…
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iPhone vs Android analogy and the Double Empathy Problem
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17:47
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17:47Do you use an iPhone or an Android phone? What about a Mac or PC computer? This episode explores the concept of the Double Empathy Problem using a basic technology example! I have also linked a PDF all about this which you can share with anyone you think may benefit from learning more about the Double Empathy Problem. Stay safe and curious! Steph x…
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Welcome to the Alphabet Soup Podcast where we will explore all thing neurodiversity.
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21:14Welcome to the Alphabet Soup Podcast! In this bite sized episode, I give you an introduction to who I am, what we're doing here (or the plan anPodcast | SGR Holistic Occupational Therapy (sgroccupationaltherapy.com)yway) and a story behind how I decided on the name 'Alphabet Soup!' I am super excited to go on this journey with you! Thank you for be…
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