Episode 56: Neurodivergence, Labels, and the Cost of Oversimplified Psychology

Guest Elizabeth Morrison is a licensed therapist, MS, LPC, in Texas, that specializes in treating Neurodivergent individuals.We talk through what’s happening as mental health language goes mainstream: it’s helping more people seek support, but it’s also creating confusion, oversimplification, and “pop psychology” that gets repeated as fact. We unpack what neurodivergence and neurodivergent actually mean, why traits aren’t the same thing as diagnoses, and how real clinical work depends on nuance, context, and felt safety. The conversation also zooms out to schools and families, exploring how kids’ behavior often reflects unmet needs, overstimulation, and a lack of support rather than “badness.”Why social media spreads both awareness and misinformation about mental healthNeurodivergence vs. neurodivergent vs. neuroinclusive (and why the labels matter)Bottom-up vs. top-down processing and how that changes therapy approachesCommon neurodivergent presentations discussed: autism, ADHD, OCD (and the broader spectrum)Stimming and fidgets as regulation tools, not “bad habits”Burnout, dopamine/energy drain, and why everyday tasks can cost more for ND brainsThe difference between having traits and meeting diagnostic criteria (clinical significance)Limits of assessments: masking, self-awareness gaps, and the nuance tests can missMedication basics: what it should and shouldn’t do, and when to revisit dosage/prescriptionsSchool systems, missed support, and why behavior is often communicationPractical parenting ideas: reducing demands after school and asking better questionsHow family patterns repeat across generations and how therapy helps revise the “old contract”Send us Fan Mail Support the showHave any questions or insights about this episode? Reach out to us at [email protected]