Episode 144: Enhancing Neurodiversity-Affirming Events and Inclusive Care [featuring Molly Herold & Reese Ramponi]

In this episode, Patrick Casale talks with Molly Herold and Reese Ramponi about the essential practices for creating neurodiversity-affirming environments in retreat and event settings as well as in clinical spaces. Here are 3 key takeaways: Intentional Support Structures: Emphasized the importance of having dedicated support and decompression strategies at events to ensure sustainability and avoid burnout. Patrick shared how his neurotypical retreat co-host manages social interactions, creating a balanced dynamic. Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices: Molly and Reese detailed the creation of a neurodiversity-affirming training course for ADHD diagnosis and evaluation. They stressed the urgency to bridge gaps in understanding and support, offering comprehensive education to mental health professionals. Strategic Event Planning: From selecting event locations and vendors to providing sensory-friendly environments, intentionality plays a critical role in ensuring the comfort and security of neurodivergent individuals. More about Molly and Reese: Molly Herold is a white, nonbinary queer mental health therapist in private practice living on unceded Cherokee East land outside of Asheville, NC. As a therapist, Molly specializes in intersectional identity exploration, with a focus on trans/nonbinary folks, folks who’ve experienced trauma and neurodivergent people. Reese Ramponi (they/them) is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner providing queer and neurodiversity-affirming evaluations, group therapy, and psychiatry to their clients in a community health setting for over 5 years. In addition to their full-time work, Reese supports the development, design, and implementation of multiple courses for NeuroAbundant, LLC, and is a ketamine-assisted therapist. Reese is dedicated to creating accessible, collaborative spaces where clients are given agency to make informed decisions about their health. NeuroAbundant came from my desire to connect with and support neurodivergent people outside of the therapy room. It’s a true labor of love and it combines many of my nerdiest special interests including AuDHD coaching, writing, collective collaboration, social justice, art, teaching & facilitating, the magic of shared identity group work, well-organized travel and adventure! Facebook: facebook.com/NeuroAbundantLLC Neurodivergent Business Builders Retreat - August 6th-13th in Homer Alaska. Several spots left. More information here: neuroabundant.com/alaska-2024 –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🎙️Listen to more episodes of the All Things Private Practice Podcast 🎙️Spotify 🎙️Apple 🎙️YouTube Music ▶️ YouTube ✈️ Learn about Retreats 🗨️ Join the free Empowered Escape FB Community 🗨️ Join the free All Things Private Practice FB Community –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Thanks to Our Sponsors: The Receptionist for iPad & Freed ✨ The Receptionist for iPad: I want to thank The Receptionist for iPad for sponsoring this episode. The Receptionist offers an iPad list check-in option where clients can scan a QR code to check in, which negates the need for you to buy an iPad and stand. Go to thereceptionist.com/privatepractice and sign up for a free 14-day trial. When you do, you'll get your first month free. And don't forget to ask about our iPad list check-in option. ✨ Freed: I want to thank Freed for sponsoring this episode. Do you dread doing your notes every day? Freed.AI listens, transcribes, and writes medical documentation for you. It's written in your style and ready the moment the visit is over. Imagine leaving the office at the same time as your last patient. Freed is HIPAA compliant, secure, and takes less than 30 seconds to learn. Artificial intelligence cannot replace you, but it can do the administrative work that no one needs to be subjected to. Get back to doing what you love—helping your patients—and let Freed.AI do the rest. Go to getfreed.ai and use code ATPP for your first month for free.