Honoring Your Neurotype with Amy Bryant
Honoring Your Unique Creative Brain without Throwing Yourself Under the Bus of Shame
ADHD and Neurodiversity are the topics this week. This week we are talking with Amy Bryant. Amy is a licensed therapist and has been one of my best friends since I was 13. She has helped many people who are neurodivergent like me understand how to shine and how to navigate this world.
This week in Episode 467 on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 we will be talking about some ways to explain the things “normal people” might not struggle with like: organization and tidiness. She sent me this screen shot she had saved and I thought it was so appropriate!
Brandy shared a few links during the live show, about the wall-of-awful concept, thanks Brandy!
Amy Bryant, MS, EdS, LPC a licensed and board certified mental health therapist dedicated to helping women and emerging adults (age 15+) struggling with social and test anxiety, depression, OCD, High Sensitivity (HSP), overwhelm, self-esteem, chronic pain, gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, and navigating the world with a neurodivergent brain. She also helps parents and professionals who live or work with kids and teens who struggle with OCD, school refusal, suicidal ideation, cutting and other forms of NSSI, anxiety, depression, and trying to figure out their place in the world, plus those who are exploring their sexual and/or gender identity. Amy is LGBTQ+ and Neurodivergent affirming and inclusive, and always learning more.
Questions for Amy
- Amy, can you give everybody a little background about what you do and who you work with as a professional counselor?
- Last time we talked about executive functioning skills and how that always confused me about exactly what that means and what it is. This time we are going to talk about how we can better understand our differences and how to navigate it in a world where some people don’t understand.
When I was a designer in the marketing department at a corporate company I had awesome boss Theresa who taught me a lot. We were encouraged to have tidy desks. I spread as I work and tidy was not how I would describe my station. Theresa always had my back though and she would say is it hurting diane’s ability to perform? Is she missing deadlines? The answer was No to all but I was different. I didn’t even notice til years later she told me that.
Is being tidy or orderly an aspect of a lot of neurodivergent people or are we just messy? - How would you encourage or advise someone in a similar situation?
Honestly I think, is it more important that I do a better job and am on time and serving my client OR is it more important for me to keep my space tidy? I always choose client/deadline. - Let’s dive into how different neurtotypes organize things like information? spaces?
My brain can feel really scattered and loud. Often I drive in complete silence because my brain is so active and loud it fills the silence and I don’t even notice the lack of radio. - Keeping it short today because this is a new series we will be exploring once a month for the rest of the year. What are some ways we can advocate for ourselves?
- What are some adjustments we can make if we need to conform to standards?
Connect with Amy
Website: WildChildCounseling.com
IG: @WildChildATL
FB: https://www.facebook.com/wildchildcounseling/
Email: amy@WildChildCounseling.com