ADHDebrief | Podcast in RSS.com

ADHDebrief

di Kaleigh Smith

Miglioramento personale Salute mentale

Stagione 1

Episode 7: Understanding Eating Disorders Through a Neurodivergent Lens

In this episode, I sit down with Emma Heutschi, a friend and fellow RP to explore her deeply personal journey with an eating disorder — one that ultimately led to her own diagnosis of ADHD. Together, we unpack the complex ways eating disorders can intersect with neurodivergence, including both ADHD and autism. In this episode we discuss: How different eating disorders can present Why neurodivergent brains may be more vulnerable What works (and what doesn’t) in therapy The importance of individualized treatment How recovery is possible with the right support About this week's guest: Emma is the founder and director of Ask Psychotherapy Hub, a space she created specifically for psychotherapy. Emma values the collective and individual needs of clients by ensuring their experience in therapy is purposeful and safe. She is a late-diagnosed ADHDer and passionate psychotherapist, beginning her career focused on treating eating disorders, which lead to a specialized practice in neurodivergence. Emma’s motivation behind Ask Psychotherapy Hub was to offer a neurodivergent-affirming community for therapists and their clients to have an authentic and growth-fostering experience. You can find out more about her at https://www.asktherapyhub.ca/

Episode 6: When the Sirens Stop: Bringing the Badge into Therapy

First responders are trained to run toward chaos — but what happens when the chaos catches up with them? In this episode of ADHDebrief, we’re sitting down with Christina Crowe, RP, and clinic director of Dig a Little Deeper, and someone with deep experience supporting police, paramedics, firefighters, and other first responders. Together, we’re talking about what it really looks like to support this community in therapy — from stigma and shutdown to moral injury, burnout, and the weight of it all. This conversation is about humanizing the people behind the badge, exploring how therapy can be adapted for those who aren’t used to feeling safe enough to feel, and sharing what we’ve learned from working with people who carry so much, yet rarely get asked how they’re really doing. Because being strong shouldn’t mean being silent — and healing doesn’t have to start with having the right words. About this week's guest: Christina Crowe is a Registered Psychotherapist (Ontario, Canada), an entrepreneur and relentless mental health advocate. In 2015, Christina founded Dig A Little Deeper, Psychotherapy & Counselling, which has grown into a modern, self-managed, group practice, offering psychotherapy, clinical supervision, counselling and coaching services to Ontario and PEI. DALD is headquartered in Caledon, ON, with virtual service across Ontario and Prince Edward Island. Christina maintains her own private practice and provides clinical supervision to graduate counselling interns and other therapists. Christina also provides business coaching, keynote speaking and consulting through Dig Deeper Coaching, for business leaders and teams looking to increase their competitive edge with behavioural science.

Episode 5: Stimulants and Sobriety: When ADHD Meets Addiction Recovery

In this episode of ADHDebrief, I sit down with my brother to talk about something that’s personal, powerful, and often not talked about enough: the intersection of ADHD and addiction. We get into his journey through sobriety and the 12-step program, what it was like finally seeking an ADHD diagnosis after getting sober, and how those two paths—recovery and neurodivergence—intertwine in messy, unexpected ways. We also tackle the complicated conversation around taking stimulant medication after addiction, and what it means to redefine recovery when your brain’s been wired for dopamine chaos all along.

Episode 4: ADHD and Biploar Disorder: Understanding the Dual Diagnosis

In this episode of ADHDebrief, I sit down with my friend, former colleague, and passionate mental health advocate to talk about her journey with both ADHD and bipolar I disorder. She shares candidly about what it was like to receive a bipolar diagnosis after already navigating life with ADHD, how her experience of mania led to hospitalization, and what she's learned about medication, self-compassion, and recovery along the way. We unpack the overlap and confusion that can come with a dual diagnosis, the stigma that still surrounds bipolar disorder—even in mental health spaces—and why telling these stories matters. If you or someone you love has ever felt misdiagnosed, misunderstood, or caught between labels, this conversation offers honesty, insight, and hope.

Episode 3: Brain Fog and Big Feels: PMDD & ADHD

What happens when your hormones and your executive dysfunction start tag-teaming your brain? In this episode of ADHDebrief, I sit down with my assistant Trish — and let’s just say, it’s not your average work meeting. We get into her journey of being diagnosed with both ADHD and PMDD, two conditions that are often misunderstood on their own, and even more confusing when they show up together. Trish shares what it was like trying to make sense of her mood swings, fatigue, and crashing self-esteem — especially when it all seemed to come and go with her cycle. We talk about what PMDD actually is (because no, it’s not just “bad PMS”), how it can amplify ADHD symptoms, and why so many people are left struggling without the right language or support. This is a conversation about hormones, mental health, and learning to work with your brain instead of against it. If you’ve ever found yourself crying in the bathroom at work for no clear reason — this one's for you.

Episode 2: Wait, There's a Coach for This? ADHD Coaching Explained

In this episode of ADHDebrief, I sit down with ADHD coach, Craig Marsh, to talk about what coaching actually is, how it works, and why it’s not just another to-do list in disguise. We explore how coaching can support executive function, reduce overwhelm, and help you work with your brain instead of constantly fighting it. Whether you're an ADHDer or just wondering what a coach can do beyond shouting “focus!” — this one’s for you. Craig's ADHD Story: I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2015 at the age of 36. My wife noticed that I exhibited the symptoms and tried to get me to talk to my doctor about it, but I didn't feel like that made any sense. If I had ADHD, then what was I supposed to do about it? Surely I am who I am. Eventually, relationship challenges overwhelmed me, and I spoke to my doctor because I was desperate for solutions. My doctor confirmed that my symptoms were typical of ADHD but said that a diagnosis would require more testing. A specialized clinic in Toronto confirmed our suspicions and started working with me on treatment. YES! There was treatment! The clinic and I started exploring a regimen of medication, coaching, and daily exercise. My struggles with organization, focus, impulsivity, and memory were turned on their head. While these challenges have waxed and waned over the years, the message is that there is hope. My background is in coaching sales and management personnel, but my move to Barrie presented an opportunity for change. Having transformed my life primarily through coaching, I wanted to give back in the same way. Having studied Advanced ADHD Coaching at the ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA) I now practice as an ADHD coach to help you find your way back to hope. You can contact Craig at info@the.adhd.company or https://coach.adhd.company/

Episode 1: Return of the Diagnosis. Managing ADHD in Adulthood

In the pilot episode of ADHDebrief, I sit down with my husband and one of my oldest friends to talk about what happens when the ADHD diagnosis you got as a kid circles back with a vengeance in adulthood. We get into what it was like to grow up with the label, why we spent years pretending it didn’t apply anymore, and the turning point that made them say, “Okay... maybe it’s time for meds.” It’s a real and relatable look at late-in-life acceptance of ADHD.