Episodios

  • 328: Behavior Is a Signal: How to Decode What It’s Telling You, with Penny Williams

    328: Behavior Is a Signal: How to Decode What It’s Telling You, with Penny Williams
    Sep 18 2025
    Behavior isn’t random. It’s not about disrespect, laziness, or a “bad attitude.” Every outburst, shutdown, or refusal is your child’s nervous system sending a signal.

    In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I’m unpacking what those signals really mean and why the labels we often put on behavior — defiance, aggression, avoidance — miss the mark. You’ll learn how to look past the surface to see the need underneath, and how shifting from control to curiosity changes everything.

    When you learn to decode behavior as a signal, you stop fighting the symptom and start supporting your child where they actually are. That’s the foundation of raising regulated, resilient kids who feel seen and understood.

    Press play and discover how to start listening to the signals beneath your child’s behavior.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/328

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    18 m
  • 327: How Animal Instincts Signal What's Underlying Behavior, with Penny Williams

    327: How Animal Instincts Signal What's Underlying Behavior, with Penny Williams
    Sep 10 2025
    What if your child’s meltdowns weren’t about defiance, disrespect, or “bad behavior” at all—but simply their nervous system doing what it was designed to do? In this episode, I unpack how animal instincts like Lumi the Owl, Prickles the Porcupine, Bolt the Cheetah, and Tuck the Possum signal what’s happening beneath the surface. When you learn to spot the state and meet the need, you stop wrestling with behavior and start tending the roots.

    We’ll talk about how to recognize each instinct, what your child actually needs in those moments, and how to support without shame, blame, or power struggles. These aren’t loopholes; they’re nervous-system-savvy ways to bring safety and connection back online.

    Take a deep breath with me. Let’s step into a gentler, more effective way to parent your beautifully complex child.👉 Tune in now to learn how animal instincts can transform the way you respond to your child’s behavior.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/327

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    30 m
  • 326: Hidden in Plain Sight: Misdiagnosis & Missed Diagnosis with Monica Garty Juice, PNP, PMHS

    326: Hidden in Plain Sight: Misdiagnosis & Missed Diagnosis with Monica Garty Juice, PNP, PMHS
    Sep 4 2025
    Your child’s biggest struggles might be the very things no one else sees.

    In this powerful conversation with pediatric nurse practitioner and mental health specialist Monica Garty Juice, we explore how subtle signs of neurodivergence often get dismissed, misdiagnosed, or go completely unnoticed — and what that means for our kids. Monica shares why so many complex kids are “hidden in plain sight,” how masking shows up in daily life, and what it looks like to finally be seen.

    We also talk about how parents often become the “quarterback” of their child’s care team — even when they’re exhausted and overwhelmed — and why slowing down and tuning into the full picture is one of the most powerful things we can do.

    If your child looks like they’re holding it together, but then melting down at home… this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

    Listen now and let this be your reminder: You’re not imagining it. You’re not alone. And you can trust your gut.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/326

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    37 m
  • 325: Unlocking the Best Possible Outcomes in Special Education, with Michelle Pianim

    325: Unlocking the Best Possible Outcomes in Special Education, with Michelle Pianim
    Aug 21 2025
    Ever walk into a school meeting and feel like you're already behind before you even sit down?

    In this episode, I’m talking with special education consultant Michelle Pianim about how we shift from feeling powerless in IEP meetings to taking proactive, confident steps for our neurodivergent kids. We unpack the culture of inclusion (or the lack thereof), how to become the expert in the room about your child, and what to do when you feel like you've hit a wall with your school team.

    Michelle brings decades of experience — and serious wisdom — to this conversation, including practical strategies to ask for what your child needs, gather the right data, and advocate with clarity instead of conflict.

    This episode is for every parent who’s ever walked out of a school meeting thinking, “What just happened?

    ”🎧 Listen now and open the door to better outcomes, stronger advocacy, and a team that works with you — not around you.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/325

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    32 m
  • 324: How to Step Back Without Letting Go, with Kristin Lombardi, MA & Christine Drew, Ph.D.

    324: How to Step Back Without Letting Go, with Kristin Lombardi, MA & Christine Drew, Ph.D.
    Aug 14 2025
    What if the way you help your child is actually holding them back?

    In this powerful conversation with Kristin Lombardi and Christine Drew, co-authors of Spectrum of Independence, we unpack the hard-to-navigate space between support and overdoing. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Am I empowering or enabling?” — this episode is a must-listen.

    We explore how to slowly and compassionately fade our support, why independence isn’t about going it alone, and how morning and bedtime routines can become moments of growth instead of daily battles. With real talk, gentle truth-telling, and deeply empathetic strategies, we help you make space for your child’s autonomy without sacrificing connection.

    Listen now to start shifting from doing it for them to teaching them how.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/324

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    34 m
  • 323: Using Breathwork to Facilitate Regulation, with Kurtis Lee Thomas

    323: Using Breathwork to Facilitate Regulation, with Kurtis Lee Thomas
    Aug 7 2025
    What if the most powerful regulation tool for your child has been sitting right under their nose all along?In this episode of Beautifully Complex, I’m joined by breathwork facilitator and trainer Kurtis Lee Thomas to talk about the overlooked power of the breath — not just for calming down in the moment, but for deep emotional healing and nervous system regulation. Kurtis breaks down how breathwork helps both parents and kids release stuck emotions, build emotional intelligence, and move from chaos to calm.

    We also explore:
    • Why breathwork works fast
    • How to simplify it so even your reluctant teen or sensory-sensitive kid can engage
    • Easy rituals to incorporate it into your family’s daily life
    • Why your child’s self-awareness starts with your breath
    Plus, you’ll walk away with three simple breath practices you can use anytime, anywhere.

    This episode is full of practical wisdom, deep insight, and a fresh take on what emotional regulation really looks like. Take a deep breath, literally, and come listen in.

    Tune in now and experience the power of the breath.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/323

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    30 m
  • 322: Your Child’s Big Emotions Are the Way Through, Not the Problem, with Tosha Schore

    322: Your Child’s Big Emotions Are the Way Through, Not the Problem, with Tosha Schore
    Jul 31 2025
    In this powerful episode, I sit down with parenting coach and boys' emotional ally, Tosha Schore, to unpack something most of us were never taught: our emotions — especially the messy, loud, uncomfortable ones — hold the key to healing.

    We talk about what it really looks like to bear witness to our child’s (and our own) pain, why your “just calm down” instincts might be backfiring, and how to show up for your neurodivergent child in a way that builds emotional intelligence, resilience, and lasting connection.

    And parents, we go there: the shame, the silence, the struggle to “fix” things that feel out of control. You’ll walk away with simple, profound shifts that don’t require perfection — just presence.

    ✨ If you’ve ever wondered, How do I help my kid without losing myself? this episode is for you.

    Listen now and discover the healing power that’s already within reach.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/322

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    32 m
  • 321: Your Kid’s Quality of Life Starts with You, with Nancy Gilette

    321: Your Kid’s Quality of Life Starts with You, with Nancy Gilette
    Jul 24 2025
    Your child’s behavior isn’t the problem — it’s the clue.

    So often we’re handed behavior plans, sticker charts, and systems that totally ignore what our neurodivergent kids are trying to tell us. In this powerful conversation with RDI Consultant Nancy Gilette, we dig into what really shapes your child’s quality of life — and spoiler alert: it starts with you.

    We talk about shifting from task-based parenting to experience-based connection, what “feeling good” actually looks like for neurodivergent brains, and how slowing down can speed up growth in the long run. You’ll hear practical ways to create co-regulation, why safety (not compliance) is the key to learning, and how to build a home that feels good for everyone.

    This one is equal parts validation, insight, and heck yes, I can do this.

    🎧 Don’t miss it — press play and let’s rethink how we support our kids, from the inside out.

    You can find additional resources at parentingadhdandautism.com and Regulated Kids.com — because it’s not just about the struggles, it’s about progress, one step at a time.

    Show notes and more resources at parentingadhdandautism.com/321

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
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    34 m