Embracing Neurodiversity with Chelsea Luker, Psychologist & Author
Release Date: 11/01/2024
3 Life Changing Habits To Adopt These School Holidays
EMpowered
Welcome back beautiful human! In this episode, I’m sharing three simple habits that can truly improve your wellbeing over the holidays and into 2025. These strategies are designed to help you relax, recharge, and step into the new year with clarity, calm, and purpose. Here’s what you’ll learn How these three habits can help you process the year, find clarity, and connect with the person you want to become. Simple techniques to regulate your nervous system, reduce stress, and avoid burnout. How shifting your mindset can improve your relationships, reduce stress, and boost your overall...
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How to End the Year on a High
EMpowered
In this episode, I want to help you wrap up the school year with intention and positivity. Whether 2024 has been your best year yet or one filled with challenges, this episode will guide you through reflecting, processing, and planning so you can head into the holidays rested and recharged. Here’s what you’ll learn Learn how to celebrate your successes, process what didn’t go as planned, and uncover lessons to carry forward into 2025. Practical tips for closing the classroom from organising, letting go of emotions that no longer serve you because you deserve to start the new year with a...
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Becoming a Trauma-informed Restorative Educator with Marg Thorsborne & Joe Brummer
EMpowered
In this episode, I sit down with Marg Thorsborne and Joe Brummer, two incredible thought leaders in trauma-informed and restorative practices. Together, they’ve written two books, Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator and Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative School - Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behaviour. It’s all about creating safer, more connected classrooms that focus on collaboration and wellbeing rather than compliance and punishment. We talk about the critical shift from punitive approaches to relational ones, how trauma-informed and restorative practices work...
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3 Ways Teachers Can Reduce Stress NOW
EMpowered
In this episode of The EMpowered Podcast, we’re diving into a topic every teacher can relate to: stress. While a little bit of stress can be healthy, chronic stress can leave us feeling overwhelmed, dysregulated, and depleted. I’ll share three actionable strategies to help you reduce your stress levels, balance your body, and feel more in control of your wellbeing. What You’ll Learn: How to notice when your body budget is out of balance and what to do about it. How to regulate quickly using your breath Simple ways to decompress after school and leave work stress behind. How to...
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Beginning Teachers: Your Questions Answered!
EMpowered
In this episode of The EMpowered Podcast, I’m diving into some of the most common questions I hear from beginning teachers, especially as they prepare for their first year. This one is for all my new and graduate teachers feeling the overwhelm of getting started, don’t worry, I’ve got you! We cover everything from setting up your classroom and planning lessons to prioritising your wellbeing and navigating behaviour support. It’s a jam-packed episode filled with practical tips and encouragement to help you thrive in your first year of teaching. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to...
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Unpacking Consequences in the Classroom: Do Students Need Them?
EMpowered
Consequences in the classroom - where do you even start? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the biggest questions I get from teachers: “How can I support student behaviour without falling back on punishments?” I go through what really works (and what really doesn’t) when it comes to behaviour, boundaries, and creating a connected classroom. I know that as educators who are committed to supporting children’s wellbeing, there can be a lot of confusion around how to handle consequences, boundaries, and behavioural support without leaning into punitive methods. Here’s what...
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How to Find the Right School 'Fit'
EMpowered
Today, I’m diving into how to find a school that truly matches your philosophy on non-punitive, trauma-informed practices. If you want to work somewhere that values real student and teacher wellbeing, but don’t know where to start, this one’s for you. Here’s what you’ll learn How to use CRT (Casual Relief Teaching) as a way to ‘test drive’ a school’s culture before committing long-term. Why the right leadership and wellbeing focus are essential in creating a school environment that truly supports teachers and students. What key questions to ask and what to look for in a...
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Embracing Neurodiversity with Chelsea Luker, Psychologist & Author
EMpowered
In this episode, we welcome Chelsea Luker, an Autistic ADHD psychologist, author, and advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Chelsea dives deep into what it means to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming approach, her journey as a parent to neurodivergent children, and her impactful work at Connect Us Psychology. Chelsea also discusses her book, Square Me Round World, a collection of stories designed to reflect and validate the experiences of neurodivergent children. From addressing the challenges in mainstream education to advocating for more inclusive environments, Chelsea offers...
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You're Not Supposed to Go it Alone
EMpowered
This episode is a personal one about why we’re not meant to do it all, and what happens when we try to keep going without help. Parenting isn’t meant to be a solo act. Especially when life throws in a few curveballs or even just the regular chaos of life. If you’ve ever found yourself losing it with the kids or feeling like you’re juggling too many balls (and dropping a few), this episode is for you. Here’s what you’ll learn: Why knowing all the emotional intelligence tricks is one thing, but actually applying them is a different story. The importance of connection over correction...
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Supporting tweens and teens with Michelle Mitchell
EMpowered
In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Michelle Mitchell, who’s spent years working with teens, tweens, and their families. Supporting kids at this stage can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like they’ve got that wall up and are shutting you out. There is so much more going on beneath the surface. Michelle Mitchell is a former teacher turned tween and teenage expert, with years of experience running youth programs, mentoring young people, and supporting families. She’s all about helping adults to see what’s really going on in the hearts and minds of tweens and teens...
info_outlineIn this episode, we welcome Chelsea Luker, an Autistic ADHD psychologist, author, and advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practices. Chelsea dives deep into what it means to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming approach, her journey as a parent to neurodivergent children, and her impactful work at Connect Us Psychology. Chelsea also discusses her book, Square Me Round World, a collection of stories designed to reflect and validate the experiences of neurodivergent children. From addressing the challenges in mainstream education to advocating for more inclusive environments, Chelsea offers invaluable insights for educators, parents, and anyone interested in supporting neurodivergent individuals.
Resources Mentioned:
- Chelsea’s Book: Square Me Round World - Fictional stories designed to resonate with neurodivergent children and their families.
- Connect Us Psychology Website: Connect Us Psychology
- Yellow Ladybugs: Resources supporting autistic women and gender-diverse individuals in Australia.
- Reframing Autism: Free courses and materials on neurodiversity and autism for educators and parents.
Connect with Chelsea:
- Connect Us Psychology – Explore her services, book resources, and access the educator’s guide for neurodivergent support.
- If you’re a teacher, leader or work with children and you want to learn more about how to build your emotional intelligence, support your children or your students in the classroom with their emotions, and how to understand why you react the way you do to behaviours and emotions, then I have a course for you. You can find out more HERE
- ‘Creating Conscious and Compassionate Classrooms Bundle’ FIND HERE
Connect with Em
- Website: emmagentle.com.au
- Instagram: @em_gentle