SEND Parenting Podcast

Dr. Olivia Kessel

Welcome to the Send Parenting Podcast. I'm your neurodiverse host, Dr Olivia Kessel, and, more importantly, I am a mother to my wonderfully neurodivergent daughter, Alexandra, who really inspired this podcast.

As a veteran in navigating the world of neurodiversity, I have uncovered a wealth of misinformation, alongside many answers and solutions that were never taught to me in medical school or in any of the parenting handbooks.

Each week on this podcast, I will be bringing the experts to your ears to empower you on your parenting crusade.

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172 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes172

Newest first

January 6 · 17 min
EP 151: Mum Burnout
Christmas is often sold as magical and restorative. For many mums of neurodiverse children, it is exhausting. In this honest, deeply personal episode, Dr Olivia Kessel shares a raw Christmas Eve moment that reveals the hidden burnout so many mothers carry. This is a conversation about emotional regulation, guilt, shame, and the invisible labour of neurodiverse parenting. If you made it through the holidays feeling drained, snappy, or empty, this episode is for you. Burnout is not a failure. It is a sign you have been giving more than you have. You are not alone. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Dec 16, 2025 · 19 min
EP 150: Holiday Sleep Survival For Neurodiverse Kids
The holidays can be magical… and completely exhausting when your child has ADHD. Late nights, travel, sugar, screens, unfamiliar beds, and heightened emotions can quickly undo even the most carefully built sleep routine. If your child’s sleep falls apart during the holidays, you are not failing. This is genuinely harder for ADHD brains. In this episode, Dr. Olivia Kessel shares practical, realistic strategies to help you protect your child’s sleep during the festive season and gently reset routines when January arrives. In this episode, you will learn: Why holidays are especially disruptive to ADHD sleep How overstimulation, routine changes, and emotional intensity affect regulation What to pack in a holiday sleep toolkit How to protect wind-down time without becoming the “fun police” When and how to manage sugar and screen time What to do if sleep completely falls apart How to reset sleep routines calmly in the New Year This episode is for parents who are juggling family expectations, disrupted routines, and a child who struggles to switch off. You will leave feeling reassured, supported, and better prepared. 👉 Download the free Holiday Sleep Survival Guide Thank you for being part of the SEND Parenting Tribe. You are not alone in this. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Dec 10, 2025 · 35 min
EP 149: Surviving the Holidays
December promises twinkly lights and cosy moments, yet many parents feel like they’re sprinting through a minefield. I open up about the invisible load that spikes stress during the holidays—noise, judgment, lost routines, sensory overload—and explain why your nervous system interprets it all as danger. When the body tips into fight, flight, or freeze, calm isn’t a choice you’re failing to make; it’s a state you can learn to access with fast, reliable tools. We unpack the zones of regulation for parents—blue, yellow, red, and green—and walk through a relatable holiday scenario to show how we slide from steady to overwhelmed in small steps. Then I share a three-step reset you can use anywhere: notice, name, navigate. You’ll learn a one-minute breath pattern to switch off threat mode and a 5-4-3-2-1 grounding sequence to anchor back in the present. From there, we get practical about hotspots: setting boundaries for family gatherings, using code words and pre-planned exits, lowering the bar to get out the door, and choosing “good enough” bedtime routines after big days. The heart of this conversation is a reframe: you’re not a bad mum; you’re a tired human carrying a load most people can’t see. Perfection is brittle, but presence is resilient. Trade the Instagram script for small, humane choices that protect your energy and your child’s regulation—leave early, say no, order takeaway, let the outfit go, and pick connection over performance. If you’re craving steady ground, join the Seven-Day Calm Parent Challenge. For £10 you’ll get daily guidance, audio support, a private community, and a live Q&A to help you map triggers, practise resets, set boundaries, and release guilt. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more parents find these tools. Let’s choose present over perfect together. 👉 Join the 7-Day Keeping Calm Challenge (£10) 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Dec 2, 2025 · 51 min
EP 148: Parenting PDA: Strategies That Actually Work
If parenting your child feels like a constant battle—and every strategy you have been told to use only makes things worse—you are not alone. Many families live this struggle daily without realising there is a name for what they are seeing: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). In this episode, we speak with Rachel Crutcher and Sarah Stewart from the PDA Society, two experts who have walked this path both personally and professionally. Together, we uncover why everyday demands trigger such intense anxiety, why rewards and consequences backfire, and how a calm-first, collaborative approach can finally bring relief. You will hear the early signs many parents miss—demand avoidance even for things a child usually loves, the need for control, and the familiar pattern of fine at school, meltdown at home. Once you understand PDA through a can’t-not-won’t lens, everything begins to make sense. Your guides walk you through the practical steps that transform family life: • How to lower demands without lowering expectations • How to spot the hidden “micro-demands” that drain your child before the day has even begun • How humour, choices, and written prompts make requests feel safe • Why treating a PDA child like a “mini adult” (explaining the why, asking permission, collaborating) reduces anxiety instantly We also tackle one of the biggest pain points for PDA families: school. You will learn how masking works, which adjustments truly help, and what flexible, trauma-aware practice looks like in real life. If your school’s ethos is rigid, we help you recognise when it is not the right fit—and where to turn for support and SEND-law guidance. For families with siblings, we share a simple principle that reduces resentment and restores harmony: use collaborative, low-demand strategies with everyone. It is fair. It is kind. And it works. Finally, we show you where real, ongoing help exists—through the PDA Society’s free guidance service, moderated parent communities, self-paced learning hub, professional training, and bespoke school consultations. If you are exhausted, overwhelmed, or unsure what to try next, this episode will give you both clarity and hope. You can understand your child. You can reconnect. And things can get better. If this conversation supports you, follow the show, share it with your community, and leave a review—your story may be the encouragement another parent needs. PDA Society PDA Society Link Tree 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Nov 25, 2025 · 41 min
EP 147: Neurodiverse Futures: Work That Works
So many parents of neurodivergent children lie awake at night wondering the same thing: “What will happen when my child enters the workplace?” In this episode, Dr. Olivia sits down with Jenefer Livings, HR consultant, workplace needs assessor, and mother to a neurodivergent child, to demystify what neurodiversity at work really looks like. Together they explore how shifts in workplace culture, flexible working, and better understanding of executive functioning are transforming what is possible for neurodiverse adults. You will learn: Why traditional school subjects do not predict your child’s future career success How to identify strengths—not just struggles—in your teenager What reasonable adjustments and Access to Work actually mean How parents can support teens to self-advocate with confidence Why the right workplace can unlock your child’s brilliance (and how to spot the wrong one) The rising opportunities in self-employment and entrepreneurship for differently wired minds This is a hopeful, practical conversation for any parent wanting to help their child step into adulthood with confidence, clarity, and a sense of possibility. Click here for Silk Helix 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Nov 18, 2025 · 54 min
EP 146 Why Pregnancy Hits Harder for Neurodivergent Mums
You are not imagining it. Pregnancy, birth, and early parenting are more overwhelming for many neurodivergent mums — and no one tells you why. In this eye-opening episode, doula and neurodiversity advocate Alix Myers joins Dr Olivia to unpack the hidden challenges that make the perinatal journey feel so intense. If you ever wondered why you struggled more than other mums, this episode finally gives you the answers, validation, and tools you deserve. ✨ What You Will Learn 🧠 Sensory Overload in Pregnancy Why hormonal shifts amplify sensory sensitivities — and how to make your body feel safer and calmer. 🏥 Creating a Neuro-Safe Birth Plan How lighting, sound, communication style, and advocacy can completely change your birth experience. 🤐 The Hidden Danger of “Masking” in Labour Why so many neurodivergent women go quiet under stress, and how this leads to medical teams missing signs of distress. 🍼 Feeding Without Overwhelm Practical guidance for breastfeeding, chest feeding, or bottle feeding — without sacrificing your mental health. 🧩 Executive Function in Postpartum Why everything feels 100 times harder, and how simple systems can reduce chaos and protect your wellbeing. 🤝 How Partners Can Truly Support You From non-verbal cues to boundary-bouncing — what your partner really needs to know. 💛 Why This Episode Matters If pregnancy or early motherhood felt harder than it “should,” this conversation offers compassion, clarity, and solutions. You will walk away feeling understood, supported, and far less alone. Contact Alix Myers Virtual Doula 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Nov 11, 2025 · 1 hr
EP 145: Finding Their Tribe
Many neurodivergent children struggle to make and keep friends — not because they do not care, but because they experience the world differently. In this episode, Dr Olivia speaks with Kirsten, founder of Uncommon, a unique online community that helps neurodiverse children build friendships and confidence through shared interests like gaming, art, and creativity. Kirsten shares her personal journey to an autism diagnosis, why traditional social spaces often fail neurodivergent kids, and how Uncommon’s mentoring model is transforming lives. Together, they explore what true belonging means — and how finding your tribe can change everything. Whether your child is shy, anxious, or struggling to connect, this episode will give you hope, practical insights, and a new perspective on social growth for neurodiverse children. 🌐 Learn more about Uncommon 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Nov 4, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
EP 144: When School Doesn't Fit: The Homeschool Solution
What if the problem isn't your child—it's the system? If school mornings feel like a battlefield and your child is shrinking under constant pressure, this episode offers hope. Dr. Olivia sits down with Cassie Olguin—homeschooling mother of three (including neurodivergent twins) and Outschool education lead—to explore what learning looks like when you step outside the traditional classroom. Cassie's Journey: From early motor delays and night terrors to navigating autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety, Cassie shares the messy, real path many families walk. You'll discover how labels became tools for changing the environment—not verdicts on her daughter's potential. What You'll Learn: ✨ Charter homeschooling demystified – How oversight works without rigid timetables ✨ Personal pace over grade levels – Why your child doesn't need to "keep up" ✨ Practical strategies that worked – Delaying reading until readiness, reframing maths as everyday numeracy, using interest-led classes ✨ Outschool's magic – Live sessions with expert tutors (think: veterinary science with a practicing vet, maths through Minecraft, virtual history escape rooms) ✨ Redefining success – Why standardised tests don't measure intelligence, creativity, or resilience The Twin Perspective: Perhaps most moving: Cassie's twins are taking completely different educational paths through adolescence. One thrives with college-level work; the other flourishes at a gentler pace. Different tracks, equal worth. Key Takeaways for Parents: Start without decision paralysis—you don't need to figure it all out at once Find your support network and share resources Outsource subjects you don't love (yes, really!) Mastery-based learning vs. arbitrary grade levels Small online classes that respect sensory needs and attention spans If your child is struggling, this conversation offers relief, clarity, and a roadmap forward. 💡 Subscribe to never miss an episode 💬 Share this with a parent who needs hope ⭐ Leave a review to help more families find practical, compassionate support Click here for Outschool Coupon Code: SEND40 Terms: Offer expires 12/31/25 at 11:59 pm PDT. Registered Outschool account required. Enter code at checkout for $40 USD off a new membership. $40 off membership only valid for first-time memberships. Limited to the first 500 users. Cannot be combined with another offer. Subject to Outschool's Terms of Service 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Oct 28, 2025 · 48 min
EP 143: Stop Mothering Me! Understanding Your Teen’s Push for Independence
Half-term chaos, slammed doors, sharp words—if that sounds familiar, you are not alone. In this episode, Dr Olivia Kessel sits down with teen expert Kim McCabe to unpack why your once-snuggly child suddenly bristles at “How was your day?” and how to respond without losing your cool or your connection. From the teenage brain’s rebuild to the unique load neurodiverse teens carry, we explore what is really happening under the surface—and the simple shifts that can change everything at home. Kim explains why after-school meltdowns often land on parents, how masking drains emotional capacity, and what co-regulation looks like in real life. Together, we cover how to use short validating phrases instead of lectures, hold boundaries that reflect your core values, and create safe outlets for big feelings that do not harm anyone. You will hear why permissiveness can feel like indifference to teens, how to choose a few non-negotiables, and when to step back so your young person can save face and recover their balance. We also share low-pressure ways to rebuild closeness: monthly parent–teen “dates,” visiting their world first—whether that is gaming, football, memes, or TikTok—without judgment, and narrating your own self-regulation to model coping. Whether you are parenting girls or boys, mums or dads, neurotypical or neurodiverse, the principles hold true: be the parent, team up with other adults, and protect your own capacity. Calm and loving is your superpower—but it needs fuel. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a parent who needs a boost, and leave a quick review so more families can find these tools. And if you are ready for deeper support, check the show notes for details on the Recharge and Connect SEND Summit—join us in person or via live stream. 💬 Resources Mentioned in This Episode If today’s conversation with Kim McCabe resonated with you, you can find out more about her work at Rites for Girls , where she supports parents and teens through the transitions of adolescence. Explore her brilliant book, From Daughter to Woman: Parenting Girls Safely Through Their Teens , and discover her Weekend Retreat for Mothers of Daughters — a beautiful space to reconnect, reflect, and parent with greater awareness and ease. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Oct 21, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
EP 142 Saying yes until she failed changed everything
Burnout has a way of making even the smallest task feel impossible. We open with a lifeline for parents raising neurodivergent children, then sit down with campaigner and founder Agnes Agyepong to trace how postnatal depression and isolation became the spark for two powerful vehicles of change: the Glow Mama Awards and a research-led movement tackling maternal and SEND inequalities. Agnes shares the surprising role social media played in her recovery—authentic posts, wry humour, and micro-moments of solidarity that made her feel seen. That insight grows into Glow Mama, a people’s choice awards platform celebrating the creators who keep mothers going at 3 a.m. From there, Agnes dives into the Black maternal health crisis and the environmental factors that stack the odds against families long before labour begins, culminating in the Black Child Clean Air Report and cross-sector partnerships. The throughline is clear: these are public health problems that show up in clinics, classrooms, and on our streets. We dig into SEND inequity with lived experience. Agnes talks about being treated with suspicion when her son was self-harming, becoming a school governor to be heard, and the way adultification bias and rigid behaviour policies fast-track exclusions before support arrives. We challenge the outdated, industrial model of schooling and argue for personalised education that works for every brain. Practical guidance runs throughout: why a Year 3 screening won’t secure legal protections, how an Educational Psychologist’s report unlocks exam access and durable support, and how to build an evidence trail that proves whether a school can meet need. If you want clear next steps, we’ve got them: back petitions so policymakers see the data, write your MP so SEND rises in local triage, connect with specialist groups for Education Other Than At School pathways, and join community networks that share tactics without gatekeeping. Neurodivergent thinkers are not problems to be fixed; they are the innovators we need. Subscribe, share with a caregiver who needs hope, and leave a review to help more families find real tools and real change. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Oct 14, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
EP 141 Unschooling Yourself: Letting Go of the ‘Shoulds’ in Parenting
What if the problem was never your child—but the system itself? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Olivia sits down with Esther Jones, mindfulness teacher, mother of three, and author of The Parent’s Handbook to Unschooling Yourself, to explore what happens when we let go of the ‘shoulds’ that weigh parents down. From daily battles over school refusal to the pressure of academic milestones, Esther shares her family’s journey into unschooling—a path that focuses on curiosity, connection, and trust rather than control. Together, they unpack how mindfulness and self-compassion can transform not just how our children learn, but how we parent. Whether you are curious about alternatives to traditional education or simply looking for a way to bring more calm and joy into your home, this episode will help you see that the first step to helping your child thrive might just be learning to “unschool” yourself. Author & mindful parenting coach Book: The Parent's Handbook to Unschooling Yourself Podcast: The Unschool Space Website: www.esther-jones.com 👉 Join ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge Station Join Dr. Olivia Kessel and leading SEND experts at the Recharge and Connect Summit on 11 November 2025 at Phyllis Court, Henley-on-Thames (also livestreamed). A day to recharge, connect, and gain practical tools for raising neurodiverse children. 💛 👉 sendparenting.com/event 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Oct 7, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
EP 140: Meltdowns, Decoded
✨ Click here for SENsory Mother - Laura Ellis ✨ Click here for 30-day Guide to Better Sleep 👉 Join ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge Station What if the meltdown in your hallway isn’t defiance at all, but a terrified nervous system asking for help? We go straight to the heart of “challenging behaviour” with Laura, a teacher and mum of neurodivergent twins, who moved from daily crisis to a calmer, kinder home by changing how she understood panic, overload, and connection. Her story spans premature birth, early diagnoses, masking at school, and the moment everything fell apart—then slowly came back together. We break down the physiology of fight or flight in plain English—what rising heart rate, redirected blood flow, and sensory overwhelm do to a child’s thinking brain—and why sticker charts and lectures backfire mid-meltdown. You’ll hear the hidden social demands most of us miss: the chirpy morning greeting, the barrage of car-ride questions, the insistence on eye contact. We swap over-talking for visuals and scripts, and share a deceptively simple morning playlist that turned dread into momentum. Curiosity replaces blame through a great example of literal thinking (yes, he handed over the red and blue food colouring—because that’s what was asked). We also map the sensory layer—why kicking and slamming can signal a need for proprioception—and how a realistic sensory routine lowers baseline stress. A striking moment at a cricket match shows how the right environment can flip chaos to clarity in seconds. Boundaries still matter, but timing is everything: teach after calm, not during crisis, and make consequences predictable, visual, and discussed in advance. If you’ve felt hopeless, ashamed, or judged, this conversation will hand you language, tools, and the relief of being understood. Want more support and live coaching with neurodiversity experts? Join the ADHD Warrior Mom Recharge Station for weekly group coaching, monthly masterclasses, self-care sessions, and a community that gets it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope today, and leave a review to help more families find us. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Sep 30, 2025 · 46 min
EP 139: Why Punishments From 1846 Still Don't Work Today
Dr Olivia Kessel welcomes back co-authors Georgina Benger and Karen Price to discuss restorative justice as a compassionate, relationship-based approach that helps children understand the impact of their actions and repair harm. • Georgina's research at Cambridge University revealed schools still use the same punishment methods from 1846 despite their ineffectiveness • Traditional punishments fail to teach accountability and create patterns where children accept consequences without understanding impact • Restorative justice shifts focus from punishment to repairing relationships through a seven-step process • Creating a safe space, active listening, and acknowledging emotions are foundational steps in restorative practice • The approach encourages children to explore the impact of their actions and take accountability without forced apologies • Particularly beneficial for neurodivergent children who often experience disproportionate punishment in traditional systems • Implementing restorative practices in schools requires time initially but becomes embedded in culture and ultimately saves time • Children learn to resolve conflicts independently when these practices are consistently modeled • The core principles include prioritizing relationships, focusing on learning rather than labeling, and recognizing that healing should involve everyone If getting your child to sleep feels like a battle, download our free 30-day Better Sleep Starter Guide at sendparenting.com/sleep – designed with ADHD in mind but effective for all neurodiverse children. 📘 Click here for Willow's Day ✨ Click here for 30-day Guide to Better Sleep 👉 Join ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge Station 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Sep 23, 2025 · 46 min
EP 138: Anxiety, PDA and self-regulation with Caryn Price & Georgina Benger
If you're exhausted from daily battles with a child who seems to resist everything – even things they used to enjoy – this episode will change how you see their behaviour forever. Karen Price and Georgina Benger, leading PDA experts who've supported thousands of families, reveal why Pathological Demand Avoidance isn't defiance or manipulation – it's anxiety. Using the heartwarming children's book "Olive's Day" as their guide, they brilliantly illustrate how your child literally "can't, not won't," making this complex concept suddenly crystal clear. Discover why your child appears "perfect" at school but falls apart the moment they get home, and learn practical strategies that honour their neurological needs without creating chaos. Through the relatable story of Olive and her challenging day, Karen and Georgina demonstrate how visual choices, environmental modifications, and the power of co-regulation – literally "lending your nervous system" to help your child manage overwhelming emotions – can transform your family dynamics. You'll walk away understanding how to support your child's drive for autonomy through collaboration and flexibility, create classroom cultures that build empathy rather than entitlement, and transform daily conflicts into genuine connection. Plus, discover how "Olive's Day" can become a powerful tool for helping others understand your child's unique needs. Stop walking on eggshells. Stop questioning every parenting decision. Your child isn't broken, and neither are you – you just need different strategies for a different neurotype, beautifully illustrated through one little girl's very relatable day. This 45-minute conversation, brought to life through Olive's relatable journey, could save your family years of struggle. 📘 Click here for Olive's Day ✨ Click here for 30-day Guide to Better Sleep 👉 Join the waitlist for ADHD Warrior Mum: The Recharge Station 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Sep 16, 2025 · 49 min
EP 137: The broken UK SEND system with Rebecca Harrison, founder of SEN Home Ed Circle
The postcode lottery in UK's SEND system isn't just frustrating—it's devastating families. This raw, eye-opening conversation with Rebecca Harrison reveals the shocking truth about educational inequality across neighboring boroughs. Rebecca brings a uniquely powerful perspective as both a former SENCO and mother to two neurodivergent children. Despite her professional background and intimate understanding of the educational system, she's been unable to secure appropriate schooling for her autistic son—all because of where they live. While her local authority offers minimal provision through converted village halls and makeshift attachments to mainstream schools, just a mile away in neighboring boroughs, dedicated autism schools and comprehensive support services exist. The conversation exposes the painful reality many families face: diagnosis delays stretching years, mainstream schools excluding children after mere weeks, and the agonizing choice between relocating or accepting inadequate support. Rebecca shares her discovery of hidden NHS diagnostic quotas that arbitrarily limit autism diagnoses per financial year and reveals how government "Safety Valve Agreements" incentivize local authorities to keep children in-borough at any cost—even when appropriate educational settings don't exist. Yet this isn't just a story of systemic failure. Rebecca has transformed her frustration into action by creating the SEND Home Ed Circle, an online community providing resources, lessons and support for families educating neurodivergent children at home. Her three powerful tips—never give up, recognize that neither you nor your child are broken, and "don't let the bastards get you down"—offer a rallying cry for parents fighting similar battles. Join our WhatsApp community to connect with parents who understand these struggles. Together, we can support each other through the challenges of raising neurodivergent children in a system that wasn't built for them. SEN Home Ed Website Link to Subscription Click to Join our private SEND Parenting WhatsAPP Community 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Sep 9, 2025 · 54 min
EP 136: Education systems fail neurodivergent children with Julia Silver, founder of Qualified Tutor
Education systems often fail neurodivergent children, but the right support can transform their learning journey. Julia Silver, founder of Qualified Tutors and mother to five neurodivergent children, shares how tutoring can rebuild confidence and love of learning for children struggling in traditional education. • Understanding that schools can't meet every child's needs – even with the most dedicated teachers • How tutoring offers personalized support that goes to where the student is • The importance of rehabilitation periods when children are excluded from school • Finding tutors who build relationships with both parents and children • Seeing neurodivergent children as teaching us to rethink our assumptions about education • Recognizing that academic success doesn't equal life success • The value of offering children autonomy rather than demanding compliance • Teaching executive functioning skills to help children feel in control • Statistics showing 25% of UK children now use tutors, yet the profession remains unregulated • Research evidence that tutoring creates five months of academic progress • Building a child's ability to connect effort with attainment • How AI might complement human teaching for truly personalised learning • The importance of parents accepting they can't do it all Click here Julia Silver Qualified Tutor 'Love Tutoring, Be the Tutor Your Student Needs' Click here to download our free 30-Day Better Sleep Starter Guide Helping you to support your neurodiverse child's sleep challenges. Though designed with ADHD in mind, the strategies benefit all neurodiverse children. Click to Join our private SEND Parenting WhatsApp Community. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Aug 26, 2025 · 14 min
EP 135: ADHD affecting emotions - a girl's story
Download your free Guide by clicking here: The Zones of Regulation: A Parent's Guide to Understanding Big Emotions Ever felt like your child's emotions are too big for their body? In this tender final episode of our Alexandra ADHD En Masse series, my 13-year-old daughter Alexandra opens her heart about one of the most challenging aspects of living with ADHD – emotional regulation and friendship struggles. With remarkable self-awareness, Alexandra shares how overwhelming emotions can suddenly explode, leaving her feeling misunderstood and sometimes excluded from friendship groups. "They might judge you... and then you're excluded because they think you lose it too often or cry too much," she explains, capturing what so many neurodivergent children experience but struggle to articulate. The breakthrough came through learning the Zones of Regulation – a colour-coded emotional framework that Alexandra describes in detail. This simple but powerful tool transformed her ability to communicate feelings before reaching crisis point. Where once she would hide behind trees at school, unable to express her distress, she can now identify which "zone" she's in and get appropriate support. We explore practical de-escalation strategies that work at home, from creating calming spaces to keeping a family list of regulation techniques. Alexandra also shares her experience with medication adjustments, school friendship groups, and the anxiety-excitement mix of transitioning to a new school environment. Her insights reveal how interconnected emotional regulation, social acceptance, and academic success truly are for children with ADHD. Whether you're a parent seeking understanding, an educator looking for classroom strategies, or someone navigating neurodiversity yourself, Alexandra's voice offers both validation and hope. Download our free Zones of Regulation guide through the link in our show notes and join our community where neurodiversity is embraced, not merely accommodated. Click here to join our private free SEND Parenting WhatsApp community 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Aug 19, 2025 · 14 min
EP 134: ADHD and sleep struggles
Click here for the ADHD Sleep Guide - 30 days to better sleep Sleep deprivation became our unwelcome companion for eleven long years. My daughter Alexandra would lie awake for hours, plagued by anxious thoughts that seemed to intensify as darkness fell. When sleep finally came, it was fragmented – she'd wake repeatedly, finding her way to my bed most nights seeking reassurance. For families navigating ADHD, this scenario might sound painfully familiar. In this deeply personal conversation, Alexandra courageously shares what those nights felt like from her perspective: "Sleep was like a nightmare." She describes overwhelming anxiety that made sleepovers impossible, prevented me from having evenings out, and left us both perpetually exhausted. We candidly discuss how sleep deprivation amplified our challenges, leading to what Alexandra perfectly describes as "explosion time" – when our emotional regulation skills would crumble under the weight of fatigue. The turning point in our journey came unexpectedly. After trying countless strategies, from elaborate bedtime routines to consultations with sleep specialists, we finally found our answer in prescription melatonin. Alexandra describes the transformation as nothing short of miraculous – from hours of bedtime struggles to falling asleep within minutes. We explore the complementary approaches that support her sleep hygiene now, including technology boundaries, weighted blankets, meditation, and Emotional Freedom Technique for anxiety. Most touchingly, Alexandra shares how quality sleep has expanded her world, enabling her to manage overnight stays and wake feeling "recharged and ready for the day." Whether you're a parent, educator, or healthcare provider supporting a child with ADHD, this conversation offers both practical strategies and genuine hope. Download our free sleep resource sheet at sendparenting.com/sleep to begin implementing these life-changing techniques today. Because when sleep improves, everything else follows. Click here for the ADHD Sleep Guide - 30 days to better sleep 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Aug 12, 2025 · 18 min
ADHD Medication: a teen's experience
FREE GUIDE: ADHD Medication Made Simple 💊 Understand how ADHD medication works, the different options available, and how to talk to your child about it with confidence. 👉 Download your free guide here What's it really like to take ADHD medication as a teenager? Forget the clinical explanations—today my daughter Alexandra bravely takes us behind the curtain of her medication journey with refreshing honesty that only a young person living the experience can provide. The journey begins with Alexandra's genuine fear: "I can't take a pill. What if it gets stuck in my throat?" Using Tic Tacs as practice pills, we found our way through that first obstacle together. But the real challenges emerged during those initial ten days—a period of emotional turbulence that nearly led me to discontinue the medication altogether. This rarely-discussed "worse before better" phase is something every parent should know about before starting this journey. Alexandra's description of life before and after medication is striking in its clarity. Homework sessions transformed from battles requiring constant supervision to independent work. Morning routines shifted from chaotic to manageable. Even navigating school medication schedules created unexpected social connections with other students taking similar treatments. When we accidentally missed a dose one morning and attempted homework, the stark contrast reminded us exactly why this intervention mattered so much. As Alexandra enters her teenage years, our medication journey continues to evolve. We recently transitioned from a stimulant to a non-stimulant medication to address emerging anxiety symptoms—a change bringing its own set of challenges and adjustments. Through it all, Alexandra's perspective remains clear: "It wouldn't help me at all," she says when asked about stopping medication, recognizing how treatment enables her to function at her best despite the adjustments required. Download our free comprehensive guide "ADHD Medication: The Top Things to Know When You're Considering It" at sendparenting.com/medication. Next week Alexandra returns to discuss another challenge affecting many with ADHD—sleep difficulties and how we've navigated that aspect of her neurodivergent journey. 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...
Aug 6, 2025 · 18 min
EP 132: Mother and Daughter Navigate ADHD Together
FREE GUIDE for Parents of ADHD Girls 🎁 Discover the often-missed signs of ADHD in girls — so you can spot them early and get the right support. 👉 Download your free guide here Ever wondered what ADHD actually feels like from the inside? In this intimate first episode of our special summer series, I'm joined by my daughter Alexandra who courageously opens up about her experience living with ADHD before and after diagnosis. The morning battlefields we once faced will sound painfully familiar to many parents – shouted instructions, missed cues, and escalating frustration on both sides. Alexandra brilliantly articulates why seemingly simple tasks like "get ready for school" became impossible mountains to climb for her ADHD brain. "I would get distracted by my Alexa, my dog toys, even the slightest thing that made me out of place," she explains, painting a vivid picture of how environmental stimuli hijack attention. Her description of entering the "red zone" – those moments when emotions become uncontrollable storms – provides rare insight into emotional dysregulation that often accompanies ADHD. We explore how strategic supports from understanding teachers and breaking down instructions into manageable steps created turning points in Alexandra's journey. The transformation from our pre-diagnosis struggles to her current independence is nothing short of remarkable. Whether you're a parent suspecting your child might have ADHD, already navigating a diagnosis, or simply want to understand neurodivergent experiences better, this conversation offers both practical strategies and emotional resonance. Join us next week as we delve into Alexandra's experience with medication – the fears, questions and life-changing results that followed. And don't forget to download my free guide "The Five Most Misunderstood Signs of ADHD in Girls" through the link in the show notes! 📚 New Book — Out Now 👉 Order your copy Beyond the Label: Empowering Parents of ADHD Girls A powerful blend of science and lived experience to help you truly understand and support your daughter. 💬 Connect with Us 🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life. ⚡ Ready to go deeper? Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone. 📩 Contact Me If you wou...