54: Small steps after autistic burnout. How to learn to listen to your body with Jasmine Lares

How do we make neuroaffirming care truly inclusive across different languages and cultures? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Sharen Lui, a neurodivergent Clinical and Developmental Psychologist and founder of Sprout Psychology Melbourne. Together, they explore why neuroaffirming practice can't simply be translated word for word across languages and cultures. Sharen shares how the Chinese term for autism can shape a family's first understanding of their child, and why professionals need to look beyond labels to understand the people in front of them. They also talk about cultural expectations, the strengths of extended families, and why what looks like resistance or denial might actually be fear, uncertainty or an attempt to protect someone they love. At the heart of their conversation is a simple reminder: connection isn't secondary to the work. It's the foundation. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 7 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why neuroaffirming language doesn't always translate across cultures 🧠 How the words we use can shape a family's understanding of autism 🧠 Why hesitation doesn't always mean denial 🧠 The importance of connection before recommendations 🧠 How extended families can be a source of strength and advocacy 🧠 Why cultural humility matters more than having all the answers 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Sharen Lui is a neurodivergent Clinical and Developmental Psychologist, Chinese-speaking parent, and founder and Director of Sprout Psychology Melbourne, with practices in Burwood and Hawthorn. Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin and English, Sharen has been conducting autism and ADHD assessments in Chinese since 2015. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between multicultural families and professionals through neuroaffirming practice, cultural humility and connection. Alongside her team, she has developed Chinese-language resources that help families understand neurodivergence through a more affirming lens. Sharen and Laetitia met at the Neurodiversity Affirming (Un)Conference in August 2026, where they joined the panel What Families Actually Want from Professionals. 💻 Website: www.sprout-psychology.com.au/ 📸 Instagram: @multilingual.psych | @sproutpsychology ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host. She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra. Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children. Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

What happens when you're doing everything for everyone else, but your own body is running on empty? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Caitlin Hooper, the Unmasked Naturopath, an Autistic ADHDer, mum, naturopath and nutritionist supporting neurodivergent women. Drawing on her own experiences of chronic health challenges, parenting and burnout, Caitlin shares why feeling constantly exhausted isn't always as simple as needing more rest. Together, they explore the connections between hormones, gut health, sleep, stress and nervous system regulation. Caitlin also explains why health advice needs to consider someone's actual capacity, especially when they're already overwhelmed. From simplifying routines to learning to ask for help, this conversation is a reminder that looking after yourself shouldn't become another exhausting task. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 7 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why burnout is more than just feeling tired 🧠 How hormones, gut health and sleep can affect our wellbeing 🧠 Why health support needs to match your actual capacity 🧠 Why doing less can sometimes be the best place to start 🧠 Recognising the signs that you're becoming overwhelmed 🧠 Learning to ask for help and share the mental load 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Caitlin Hooper is the Unmasked Naturopath, an Autistic ADHDer, mum, qualified naturopath and nutritionist who brings both lived experience and professional knowledge to her work. After navigating her own chronic health challenges while raising a neurodivergent child with a physical disability, Caitlin built a practice focused on supporting neurodivergent women, particularly mums, with hormones, gut health, mood and burnout. Her approach is evidence-informed, personalised and neuroaffirming, combining nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle support while recognising that everyone's needs and capacity are different. Caitlin also offers individualised three- and six-month support packages and is developing an online course for neurodivergent women, covering hormones, nervous system support and gut health. 💻 Website: www.unmaskednaturopath.com.au 📸 Instagram: @unmaskednaturopath ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host. She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra. Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children. Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

What happens when you know something is different, but the people around you keep telling you not to worry? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Jessica Otter, the autistic mum behind Aussie Autism Family and Social Spoons. Jess shares the early years of wondering whether her son was autistic, being told to “wait and see”, and how hard it was when professionals and family members dismissed what she was noticing. She also opens up about recognising her own neurodivergence, being assessed as autistic in 2024, and how understanding herself gave her permission to parent differently, lowering demands, supporting sensory needs and letting go of some of the rules around what family life is “supposed” to look like. Together, Jess and Laetitia talk about trusting yourself, finding community, building work around your energy and creating a family life that works for the people actually living it. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 7 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Trust yourself when something feels different 🧠 Why “wait and see” can be so hard for families 🧠 Finding permission to parent differently 🧠 Lowering demands can support the whole family 🧠 Why flexibility matters for neurodivergent families 🧠 Finding work that fits your energy, not the other way around 🧠 The power of finding people who understand 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Jessica Otter (she/her) is an autistic mum of two near Newcastle and the person behind Aussie Autism Family, an online community she created after searching for other Australian families like hers. After supporting her son through his autism assessment, Jess began wondering about her own neurodivergence and was assessed as autistic in 2024. Sharing her family’s experiences online has helped her build the community she was looking for in those early years. Jess also runs Social Spoons, a social media management business built around energy and flexibility. As she puts it: “Support that doesn’t account for your energy isn’t really support at all.” In August 2026, Jess joined the What Families Actually Want from Professionals panel at the (Un)Conference, chaired by Laetitia. 📸 Instagram: @aussieautismfamily | @social.spoons ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host. She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra. Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children. Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

What if supporting an autistic child starts with curiosity, rather than having all the answers? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Maisie Soetantyo, an openly autistic family and inclusivity consultant who has worked alongside autistic people and their families for more than 30 years. Together, they explore why mindset matters more than method, and why parents don’t need to know everything to support their child well. Maisie shares the importance of radical acceptance, staying curious, trusting yourself as a parent and giving neurodivergent children and teens space to discover who they are in their own time. They also talk about family dynamics, special interests, creating safe spaces at home and letting go of the pressure for neurodivergent children to follow a predetermined version of success. As Maisie puts it: “Before you can be anything, you have to be you first.” ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 7 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why mindset can matter more than method 🧠 Staying curious when you don’t have the answers 🧠 Why home needs to be a safe place to be yourself 🧠 Accepting what you don’t understand yet 🧠 Why special interests don’t need to become careers 🧠 Letting autistic identity belong to the autistic person 🧠 Finding small moments to slow down as a caregiver 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Maisie Soetantyo, M.Ed., is an openly autistic family and inclusivity consultant based in California who has worked alongside autistic people and their families for more than 30 years. After beginning her career as a behaviourist, Maisie moved into relationship-based practice and spent two decades coaching families at home. She later founded Autism Career Pathways, helping autistic people build meaningful career paths and supporting businesses to create more sensory-friendly spaces. Maisie is also a customised employment specialist and curriculum designer, bringing neurodivergent voices — including AAC users and spellers — into her work. At the heart of her approach is nurturing autistic authenticity as the foundation for self-advocacy and a meaningful life. She also spoke at the Yellow Ladybugs 2026 Conference, where Laetitia first heard her speak about why mindset matters more than method. 💻 Website: www.autismcareerpathways.org | www.gemacademy.us 📸 Instagram: @maisiesoetantyo | @autismcareerpathways | @guidingextraordinaryminds ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host. She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra. Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children. Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

What does communication look like when we stop expecting it to happen in one particular way? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Kayla Ireland, an AAC user, disability advocate, podcast host and co-author who uses her platforms to amplify lived experience and challenge perceptions around disability and communication. Kayla shares how she went from being interviewed as a podcast guest to running and co-hosting three shows of her own all through her iPad. Together, Kayla and Laetitia explore how she prepares interviews using Proloquo2Go, what makes someone a supportive communication partner, and why patience and flexibility matter more than expecting one particular communication style. They also have an important conversation about language, identity and autonomy. Their conversation is a reminder that neuroaffirming practice includes listening to how people describe their own lived experience rather than deciding for them. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 7 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why there’s no one “right” way to communicate 🧠 What makes someone a good communication partner 🧠 How Kayla prepares and hosts three shows using AAC 🧠 Why Kayla chooses the term “non-verbal” for herself 🧠 Why communication doesn’t need to be polished to be meaningful 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Kayla Ireland is an AAC user, podcast host and disability advocate with cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Using her iPad, she hosts Kindly Neurodivergent with Kay, co-hosts Rock the World with Kay and Michelle, and co-founded The Inside Scoop of Living with Cerebral Palsy with Marci Silver and Catrina James. She is also office manager at Silver Speech, a communication assistant at Little Britches Therapeutic Riding, and a co-author of Living with Cerebral Palsy. An experienced therapeutic rider, Kayla now focuses on para dressage with her pony, Lucy. Kayla’s podcasting journey began as a guest during the pandemic and grew into co-hosting, hosting her own show and booking guests. She recently interviewed Laetitia for Caregiving: The Lived Experience of the Invisible Load — and in this episode, they turn the conversation around. The Inside Scoop of Living with CP 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinsidescoopoflivingwithcp 📸 Instagram: @theinsidescoopoflivingwithcp | @silver_speechservices 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinsidescoopoflivingwith5847 📧 Email: [email protected] Kindly Neurodivergent with Kay 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557110001400 📸 Instagram: @kindlyneurodivergentwithkay 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kindlyneurodivergentwithkay 📧 Email: [email protected] Rock The World with Kay and Michelle 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571583441350 📸 Instagram: @rocktheworldwithkm 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kaymichelle-l5r 📧 Email: [email protected] 📖 Living with Cerebral Palsy - https://www.amazon.com/Living-Cerebral-Palsy-Kyle-Scott/dp/1738873404 ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host. She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra. Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children. Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.