In this poignant conversation, Liz Zhou & Halle Thomas explore why the medical model (which assumes that health = the “absence of illness”) is not the only paradigm. We discuss ways to make therapy safer for queer, BIPOC, & neurodivergent folks; and how to weave ancestral & cultural practices into the healing process.

We’ve all heard how important self-care is — but actually building a self-care plan that works for your brain is a whole other story. If the typical advice, like “take a bubble bath!” or “have you tried meditating?”, simply doesn’t work for you: let’s explore options that feel more accessible & authentic to you.

Neurodivergence, like autism & ADHD, is often stigmatized in Western mental health. They’re seen as pathologies in need of a “cure.” But what if we viewed neurodiversity through a curious & affirming lens, acknowledging both the challenges AND gifts?

Endless productivity is not realistic, yet many of us carry the burden of feeling “lazy,” like we’re not doing enough. This blog post explores why rest is a need, not a reward; how capitalism & culture impact our relationship to work; and what it means to move at the speed of your nervous system — not at the speed of capitalism.

If you have an inner voice that tells you, “I’m unworthy,” “I don’t matter,” or “I’m crazy/too sensitive”... let’s explore why these beliefs may come from the systems of oppression around us — and how we can relate to ourselves in a more compassionate way.

When does it feel safe to be you? If you’ve heard the advice “just be yourself” and felt frustrated by how generic it was, I want to share a more nuanced framework that acknowledges personal identities & lived experiences: masking vs. unmasking.

Community is essential for nervous system health, especially in times of injustice and collective transition. Let’s explore how to build community in ways that align with our needs, capacity, & available resources.

The care you receive – whether in therapy, coaching, or other healing spaces – shouldn’t require you to mask. It should allow space for your authentic self, autonomy, and choice in every step of the process.

Dysregulation isn’t a bad thing — it’s just information. In this blog post, I explain what the nervous system is, what nervous system regulation means, and why the goal isn’t to be 100% regulated all the time, but rather to have a FLEXIBLE nervous system. 

Being a human in this world, in these times, is to hold grief in one hand & joy in the other. How do we acknowledge suffering, without losing ourselves in it?

As neurodivergent (autistic, ADHD, highly sensitive) people, we face an uphill battle when it comes to regulating our nervous systems: the stressors of everyday life, the weight of collective traumas, and a world that wasn’t built for our wiring.

Our bodies hold subconscious & intergenerational information. Your ancestors play a role in the story of your nervous system.

Here’s what it means to trust our nervous systems — even if healing feels unbearably slow sometimes. Neurodivergent therapist Liz Zhou shares insights on healing complex PTSD.

Learn how grief shows up for late-diagnosed autistic & ADHD adults. Discover neurodivergent-friendly self-care practices, and the best therapies for processing grief (Brainspotting and IFS).

Feeling like you’re running on empty? Learn about autistic burnout and how to manage it. We’ll explore different types of rest needed for recovery — from sensory breaks to social boundaries — providing actionable strategies to restore your energy.

Constant overstimulation, burnout, and meltdowns don’t have to be your norm. A neurodivergent therapist shares 4 simple changes that can help you regulate your nervous system and develop a flexible capacity to handle stress.

Many neurodivergent adults (autistic, ADHD, highly sensitive) experience emotional intensity, sensory overload, and social challenges that dysregulate their nervous systems. This blog post explores 6 unique ways ND folks can care for their nervous systems through sight, sound, taste, smell, touch, and the crucial practice of taking breaks from sensory input. 

Let’s explore the 4 phases of CPTSD recovery. Here’s why you might feel worse before you feel better, and why you might feel more neurodivergent (more autistic, more ADHD) as you heal from complex trauma.

Before you ever process a distressing memory through EMDR, you’ll first build your toolkit of resources. One essential tool is the Calm Place practice, designed to soothe and stabilize your nervous system. In this blog post, we’ll share creative examples of calm places and offer guidance for those who struggle with visualization.

How do you go from realizing you have complex trauma to actually healing from it? Learn how trauma-focused modalities like Internal Family Systems and Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing can help you get to the other side of complex trauma — toward more fulfilling relationships & connection with your authentic Self.