Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child at School and Home

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt like you've already said something three times - and it's still not sticking? It's not always about attention or effort, but about working memory. In this quick, practical episode, I'm breaking down what's really going on when kids struggle to hold onto information, and why repeating yourself in attempts to help them "memorize" isn't the solution. You'll also walk away with 5 simple tips for how to "support smarter" rather than try harder. If you've ever wondered, "Why can't they just do what I asked?" - this episode is for you. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at SchoolforUsCommunity@gmail.com or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so it's more likely to get to listeners who also need it. Thank-you! xo Ivanna Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Many kids who are bright, curious, and capable still struggle in school - and it can be confusing for the adults supporting them. In this episode, we explore why intelligence doesn't always translate into success in the classroom, and how factors like executive functioning, processing differences, and anxiety can impact a child's ability to feel successful at school. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at SchoolforUsCommunity@gmail.com or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so it's more likely to get to listeners who also need it. Thank-you! xo Ivanna Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What does the word Neurodivergent actually mean - and why has it become such an important part of how we understand children? In this episode, we explore the concept of neurodivergence, what it includes, and why it can shift the way we think about learning, behaviour, and support. This episode focuses on moving beyond labels and toward a more complete understanding of how different brains works - and what that means for supporting children at school, at home, and in everyday life. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at SchoolforUsCommunity@gmail.com or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so it's more likely to get to listeners who also need it. Thank-you! xo Ivanna Support the show

Send a text Welcome to the very first episode of Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child. In this episode, we're starting with an important foundation: 5 things neurodivergent kids really need the adults in their lives to understand. Children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, exceptionality, dyslexia, giftedness, learning differences, anxiety, and other forms of neurodivergence are often navigating environments that weren't designed with their brains in mind. When adults shift how we interpret behaviour, learning, and regulation, we can support these kids in more effective and compassionate ways. Whether you're a parent, an educator, or a clinician, this episode explores key ideas that can help us better understand and support neurodivergent kids at school, at home, and in everyday life. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at SchoolforUsCommunity@gmail.com or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so it's more likely to get to listeners who also need it. Thank-you! xo Ivanna Support the show

Send a text Today marks the final episode of the School Psych Podcast - but don't worry, the podcast itself isn't ending. It's evolving! Over time, I realized that while the original title of the podcast reflected my profession as a school psychologist, it didn't fully capture what these conversations are really about: understanding and supporting your neurodivergent children. Starting with the next episode, the podcast will continue under a new name: "Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child" The mission stays the same - helping the adults in kids' lives better understand how they learn, regulate, and thrive at school, at home, and beyond. If you're already subscribed, you don't need to do anything. The next episode will simply appear in your feed under the new title. Thanks for being part of this learning journey! If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send a text Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns in children, teens, and adults - and is one of the most misunderstood. In this deep dive episode, I walk you through what anxiety actually is (from both a clinical and practical lens), how it shows up in real life, and where to begin if you or your child are struggling. Whether you're a parent, an educator, or someone navigating anxiety personally, this replay episode will help you understand what's happening in the brain and body - and what actually helps. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send a text This episode is a follow-up to the "Fall Start-Up" episode (#82). If you are a licensed educational psychologists (LEP), school psych, or school clinician, you're going to want to listen to this one. Winter is not coming... winter is HERE, and we are officially halfway through the school year. It's time to take stock of our to-do list for the school year, and how much we've been able (or not) to achieve so far. The point of this is not just to celebrate how far we've come but also to re-evaluate our priorities for the rest of the school year and what we realistically have time for. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send a text This episode is a message for the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Colombia, who have recently experienced a tragedy at their secondary school. To the people of Tumbler Ridge, the hearts of Canadians and people all over the world are with you. We are so deeply sorry for your loss. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover on the podcast, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send a text Join me as I sit down with school psychologist (with over 20 years of experience) David Krasky, to talk through some of the common parenting struggles we've all been through or are about to go through! This episode is for parents and caregivers who are interested in some tips and "perspective" (i.e., hard truth) for how we foster independence in our kids. This journey of "Raising Future Adults" is not for the faint of heart, and that's why Dave wrote a book about it (see below for the link). In this episode, we explore: - Why being an educator or parent nowadays might feel harder - How chronic stress impacts the body - Small, realistic ways to support your nervous system - Why regulation is collective - not something you're meant to do alone To learn more about David Krasky, visit the website: ABOUT ME | Raising Future Adult His book, "Raising Future Adults," is available here: Raising Future Adults If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text This conversation isn't about fixing kids, improving outcomes, or adding a bunch of new strategies to your plate. It's about what happens to our nervous systems when the environment feels unsettled - and why feeling irritable, exhausted, or checked out is not a personal or professional failure. We explore: - Why being an educator or parent nowadays might feel harder - How chronic stress impacts the body - Small, realistic ways to support your nervous system - Why regulation is collective - not something you're meant to do alone This episode is for educators, school staff, and caregivers who feel stretched thin and are wondering why it's feeling harder to access patience, problem-solving, and energy. I hope this episode helps you feel a little more seen, validated, and human. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text One of the most common and emotionally loaded questions parents ask after a diagnosis is whether to tell their child. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are weighing the benefits and risks of sharing diagnostic information with their child. We explore why there isn't a single "right" answer, but also how factors like age, understanding, and context matter. I'll also cover what parents are often really worried about when they ask this question. Rather than offering a script or a rule, this episode helps parents think through the purpose of sharing, the values guiding their decision, and how diagnosis can be framed in ways that support identity rather than limit it. If you're feeling unsure, conflicted, or afraid of saying the wrong thing, this conversation is meant to help you think clearly and compassionately about next steps. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text Many parents are surprised by how heavy things can feel after a diagnosis - sometimes heavier than before. Even when the diagnosis brings clarity or relief, it can also come with grief, worry, or a sense that everything suddenly feels more complicated. In this episode, I'm speaking to parents who expected things to feel easier by now and are wondering why that hasn't happened yet. We talk about why this reaction is so common, how diagnosis changes what parents notice and why increased awareness can temporarily make things feel harder. This episode is not about pushing through or staying positive. It's about understanding what's happening beneath the surface and why this phase is often a meaningful - if uncomfortable - part of the adjustment process. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text After a new diagnosis, many parents feels pressure to start making changes everywhere - at home, at school, and in between. But trying to do everything at once often leads to more overwhelm, not more support. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are wondering where to begin. We explore a helpful question - where is my child working hardest right now? - and why the answer isn't always a s straightforward as it seems. .If you're unsure where to put your energy, this episode offers a way to think clearly and compassionately about what you and your child need most right now. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text January has a way of making everything feel urgent - especially if your child has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, a learning difference, or another form of neurodivergence. In this episode, I'm speaking directly to parents who are in teh early days after a diagnosis and feeling pressure to have a plan, make changes, or "get it right" as the new year begins. If you're feeling overhwlemed, behind, or unsure about where to start, this conversation is for you. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text In this New Year's episode, I share a few of my own New Year's resolutions - not as goals to strive for, but as intentions grounded in care, sustainability, and realism. I also reflect on my hopes and wishes for parents and educators as we move into a new year together: wishes for gentler expectations, more compassion for ourselves and one another, and systems that better support the humans within them. This episode isn't about productivity, perfection, or "doing more." It's about naming what matters, letting go of what doesn't, and entering the year with curiosity, clarity, and care - for ourselves and for the children and learners we support. Whether you're feeling energized by the new year or already a little weary, this conversation offers a grounded place to pause and reset. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text In this episode, I share a more personal reflection about how I began to recognize the early signs of burnout in my own life - and the small but meaningful shifts I'm making to climb out of it. As caregivers and educators, we're often skilled at noticing stress in others while minimizing it in ourselves. This episode explores what burnout can look like before it reaches a breaking point, how our values and roles can quietly push us past our limits, and why recovery isn't always about dramatic change. I talk candidly about what helped me pause, reassess, and begin to rebuild in a way that feels sustainable and compassionate - not perfect. If you're feeling stretched thin, questioning your capacity, or wondering whether what you're experiencing "counts" as burnout, this conversation is an invitation to slow down and reflect, rather than push through. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text Self-care is often talked about as something we do - but rarely as something we define ourselves. In this replay episode, I invite parents, caregivers, and all educators to pause and consider what self-care truly means in the context of caring for others. By asking a series of gentle, thought-provoking questions, this episode encourages you to reflect on your needs, your values, and what actually helps you feel resourced and grounded. Whether you're caring for children at home, in the classroom, or in both spaces, this episode offers space to think differently about self-care - and to consider what support might look like for you. If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text Welcome to the world of Social Thinking by Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke! In this episode, I tell you about Social Thinking, and introduce you to some key terms used in Social Thinking resources, such as the book "You Are A Social Detective!" I love using this resource in collaboration with classroom teachers, but I've heard of it being used in homeschool settings, small groups, private practices, or just parents reading it to their kids at home. This episode is not sponsored - I am simply sharing a resource I find to be helpful in supporting both neurodivergent AND neurotypical kids to develop socially. To visit the Social Thinking website to learn even more , click here: https://www.socialthinking.com/ If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text Although this episode would be beneficial to parents, teachers, school clinicians, educational consultants, etc... it's really one of those topics that's relevant for anyone who is a human living on planet Earth. Our heart-work (hard work!) in better understanding how to promote equity, inclusion and anti-racism in the systems we work in is never done. In this episode I list 4 resources that are great starting points in this journey, and I dive deeper into explaining one of them (i.e., The Wheel of Privilege and Power). This resource is an excellent way to understand intersectionality and how everyone's life experiences are going to provide differing amounts of earned and unearned power and privilege. Resources discussed in this episode: 1. The book "The Skin We're In," by Desmond Cole 2. The book "White Fragility," by Robin DiAngelo 3. The book "Me and White Supremacy," by Laayla F. Saad 4. The Wheel of Privilege and Power If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show

Send us a text If you are a parent, teacher, educational assistant, principal, or school clinician, you need to hear this. I recorded this episode to encourage us all to reflect on which of our basic needs we have been neglecting lately. Sleep? Nutrition? Moving our body? Connection/belonging? That last one IS a basic human need - there are historical psych studies confirming this. It's time for us to return to prioritizing ourselves - we're worth it! If you have any questions or topics you want me to cover, please email me at schoolpsychpodcast@gmail.com, direct message me on Instragram @SchoolPsychPodcast, or click "Send Us a Text" in this episode description. If you like the School Psych Podcast or find it helpful, please share it with a friend (or 5!), or follow the podcast, so others are more likely to find it. Thank-you! Support the show