Mindful Speechies

"If the pain is quiet, then people can miss it really easily... The ways in which we express our distress might be subtle, but it doesn't mean that that distress is not there underneath."  - Asami Koike
---
In this episode, registered music therapist Asami Koike joins Andrew and Kizzy to break down how Eurocentric frameworks dominate standard allied health practices and directly impact speech pathology. When clinicians set goals around assertiveness or immediate boundary-setting without considering a client's cultural identity, they can inadvertently enforce individualistic values onto collectivist family systems. This disconnect leads to quiet micro-ruptures, causing families to disengage from therapy without the clinician understanding why.
The conversation addresses the model minority myth and the reality of invisible distress within the Asian Australian community. Kizzy reflects on her own lived experience of masking severe psychological struggles behind a wall of academic compliance during school, illustrating how easily quiet struggling can be missed. By looking past surface-level behaviour and learning to value alternative clinical outcomes - such as prioritising peace of mind - SLPs can create true relational safety for Asian communities.

About Our Guest
Asami Koike is a registered music therapist and the founder of Shapes and Sounds, Australia’s leading voice for Asian mental health. Her work focuses on normalising mental health conversations within Asian communities while training health professionals to build culturally responsive, safer practices. Outside of systemic advocacy, Asami spends her time running long distances and hanging out with her Shiba Inu, Hugo.

In This Episode
Audit Goals for Individualistic Bias: Question whether your communication goals assume a Western, individualistic family structure, or if they respect collectivist family dynamics.
Look Beyond Surface-Level Compliance: Recognise that a quiet, "rule-following" client may be highly masking severe distress or unmet neurodivergent needs.
Adapt Clinical Language to Lower Barriers: Consider how shifting terminology away from heavily stigmatised words can drastically change service engagement.
Broaden Metrics of Progress: Expand assessment frameworks to value outcomes like "peace of mind" and collective safety over individualistic independence.

Resources Mentioned
Shapes and Sounds 
Website: https://justshapesandsounds.com/
Resources and Trainings: https://justshapesandsounds.com/learning-centre
The Asian Mental Health Podcast: https://justshapesandsounds.com/find-us-online
Culture, Trauma and Mental Health Group: https://www.monash.edu/turner-institute/laura-jobson-lab

Contact Asami / Shapes and Sounds
Their website: https://justshapesandsounds.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/justshapesandsounds

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/justshapesandsounds

Asami’s personal LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/koikeasami

——— 

The Mindful Speechies Podcast:Instagram: @mindfulspeechies

Connect with Your Hosts:
Andrew Watt
Website: www.unitytherapy.com & andrewwatt.com.au
Email: andrew@unitytherapy.com
X: https://x.com/SLPAndrew 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acwatt/ 

Kizzy Searle
Website: www.attunedspeech.com.au
Email: kizzy@attunedspeech.com.au
Instagram: @attunedspeech⁠ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/ 

———

Enjoy the episode!

"There can be this oversimplification - ‘just unmask, just be yourself' - but that's terrifying for people. Masking is a safety strategy. You can't just stop." — Jess Farrell

—

In this month’s episode, senior speech pathologist Jess Farrell returns to explore the profound emotional landscape of late-in-life neurodivergent diagnosis. Shifting away from the pathologising lens of the traditional medical model, Jess, Kizzy, and Andrew share their own lived experiences with ADHD and trauma. Together, they unpack the profound relief that comes with "the power of knowing," transforming a lifelong narrative of personal failure into a systemic understanding of what it means to survive in a world built for neurotypical brains.

The conversation centres on a vital clinical shift for Speech Pathologists: moving past the well-intentioned but dangerous oversimplification of the "just unmask" narrative. Jess reframes masking not as a deficit to be eradicated or a compliance goal to be praised, but as a protective safety strategy. By viewing clinical cases through the lens of the Double Empathy Problem and monotropism, this episode challenges SLPs to move away from fixing the individual and focus instead on modifying the environment and building true client autonomy.

About Jess
Jess Farrell is a senior speech pathologist within a public multidisciplinary mental health team in Geelong, Victoria, specialising in neuro-affirming autism assessments for youth and adults. With over a decade of clinical experience spanning both public and private sectors, she is a passionate advocate for creating neuro-inclusive, accessible mental health spaces. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer and a mother of twins, Jess blends professional expertise with rich lived experience to support clients who have long felt unseen or unheard.

In This Episode, We Unpack:
The emotional reality of late diagnosis
Why "Just Unmask" is a dangerous oversimplification
Clinical curiosity vs. compliance-based goals
Applying the double empathy problem in session
Reimagine the SLP toolkit

Resources Mentioned:
Television Series: Please Like Me by Josh Thomas (recommended as a clinical tool for analysing neuro-type communication differences and perspective-taking).
Core Concepts: The Double Empathy Problem and Monotropism.

—

To Connect with Jess:
Instagram: @neuro.inclusivecommunication
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-farrell-4a4b0454/ 

—

The Mindful Speechies Podcast:
Follow us on Instagram at @mindfulspeechies to connect and learn more about
Remember to subscribe for updates on your favourite podcast platform

Connect with Your Hosts:
Kizzy Searle
Website: www.attunedspeech.com.au
Email: kizzy@attunedspeech.com.au
Instagram: @attunedspeech 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/ 

Andrew Watt
Website: www.unitytherapy.com
Email: andrew@unitytherapy.com
X: https://x.com/SLPAndrew 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acwatt/

"Our brain created this incredible adaptation to allow us to get through... I don’t think we would be where we are today if it weren’t for the incredible skill our mind had in using dissociation as a coping mechanism. I’m really grateful for what our brain has done."

—

In this profound episode, Kizzy and Andrew sit down with Steph Robertson, a neurodivergent Occupational Therapist, to explore the lived experience of navigating the world as a plural system (having multiple parts or alters within one mind/body). Steph provides insight into DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), moving the conversation away from sensationalised media tropes toward a reality grounded in her experience of survival, safety, and therapeutic progress.

The discussion bridges the gap between traditional pathology and neurodiversity affirming care, highlighting how amnesia and identity shifts exist on a spectrum rather than as rigid checkboxes. For SLPs and health professionals, this episode is a call to move toward relational, curious practice, emphasising that the most powerful tool in a clinician’s kit is the willingness to believe a client's internal reality without judgment.

About Our Guest
Steph Robertson is an autistic ADHD, CPTSD individual and plural system who works as a neurodivergent Occupational Therapist and advocate. With over a decade of experience, she focuses on challenging neuronormativity and supporting families through a trauma-responsive, transdisciplinary lens.

Inside This Episode
Redefining amnesia (it’s not always a black hole).
The "Passenger Seat" analogy for co-consciousness.
Why "gentle curiosity" is one of your best clinical tools.
And so much more :)

Resources Mentioned
Film: Petals of a Rose
Series: The Crowded Room
Tools: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for DID — The Workbook by Johanna Knyn
Concepts: Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR).
Training: 
April 2026 Webinar with Steph Robertson and Christina Keeble on Interoception as a Protective Factor: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1533624 
Wilde Consulting: https://wildeconsulting.com.au/services/training-workshops/
Guided Healing Psychology: https://www.guidedhealingpsychology.com.au/theteam

Connect with Steph Robertson:
Instagram: @sgroccupationaltherapy
Email: hello@sgroccupationtherapy.com 
Website: https://www.sgroccupationaltherapy.com/

—

Kizzy's Webinar on Trauma-Informed Practice:
Learn more: https://webinar.attunedspeech.com.au/registration_tip_210526

—
The Mindful Speechies Podcast:Instagram: @mindfulspeechies

Connect with Your Hosts:
Kizzy Searle
Website: ⁠www.attunedspeech.com.au⁠
Email: ⁠kizzy@attunedspeech.com.au⁠
Instagram: @attunedspeech 
LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/⁠ 
Andrew Watt
Website: www.unitytherapy.com
Email: andrew@unitytherapy.com
X: https://x.com/SLPAndrew 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acwatt/ 

—

Enjoy the episode!

"Kids are always trying their best, and behaviour is always telling us something about how a child's nervous system is feeling."

———

In this episode, dual-qualified therapist Kate Broderick joins Andrew and Kizzy to discuss her twenty-year evolution from a traditional, "expert-led" clinician to a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed leader. Kate reflects on how her own neurodivergence and journey as a parent to four unique children reshaped her understanding of therapy, moving her away from rigid professional boundaries toward a model centred on genuine human connection and "therapeutic use of self".

The conversation dives deep into the practicalities of trauma-informed practice, including how to set goals that prioritise quality of life and nervous system safety over standardised "impairment" scores. Kate shares insights from her upcoming 2026 picture books, emphasising that when we view challenging moments through a relational lens - viewing behaviour as communication rather than opposition - we foster faster solutions and more resilient therapeutic alliances.

Kate Broderick is a dual-qualified Speech Pathologist and Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience, serving as the neurodivergent CEO of Spot Therapy Hub. She is the creator of the NeuroWay platform for professional and parent education and is a passionate advocate for relationship-based approaches in both clinical and home settings. Kate is also the author of two upcoming 2026 picture books designed to teach trauma-informed principles to children and caregivers.

———

Connect with Kate:
Instagram: Follow @katebroderick.official for updates on her upcoming picture books (2026).
Podcast: Listen to the Spot Life Podcast for more insights into the intersection of OT and SP.
NeuroWay: Access webinars and courses for parents and professionals.
Spot Therapy Hub: For therapy services or neuro-affirming support work, visit www.spottherapyhub.com.au or follow @spottherapyhub.

——— 

Resources Mentioned:
Authors and Clinicians: Dr. Ross Greene; Gordon Neufeld; Deborah McNamara; Mona Delahooke; Maggie Dent
Outcome Measures: AusTOMs

——— 

The Mindful Speechies Podcast:
Follow us on Instagram at @mindfulspeechies to connect and learn more about
Remember to subscribe for updates on your favourite podcast platform

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kizzy Searle
Website: www.attunedspeech.com.au
Email: kizzy@attunedspeech.com.au
Instagram: @attunedspeech 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/ 

Andrew Watt
Website: www.unitytherapy.com
Email: andrew@unitytherapy.com
X: https://x.com/SLPAndrew 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acwatt/

"My practice is completely different now. I spend a long-time building rapport and asking, 'What's that unmet need?'. How do I first meet that need before we even think about goals."

———

In today’s episode, we explore the intersection of mental health and speech therapy with Caitlyn Weber, a passionate speech pathologist who brings a trauma-informed and neuro-affirming lens to her work in both private practice and with the for-purpose organisation, ACT for Kids.

Caitlyn is a speech pathologist dedicated to helping children and young people find their voice and use it with confidence. She is passionate about supporting kids to express their thoughts, feelings, needs, and ideas, bringing compassion, creativity, and connection to her work. Grounded in a trauma-informed and neuro-affirming foundation, she ensures each child feels respected, understood, and safe to be their authentic self. Alongside her clinical practice, Caitlyn is a member of Speech Pathology Australia's trauma and mental health advisory group and provides clinical supervision for early career speech pathologists.

Caitlyn shares her journey from a traditional, goal-oriented clinician to a practitioner who prioritises relational safety, co-regulation, and meeting the child’s unmet needs above all else. We dive into the neurobiology of trauma, discussing how adverse experiences impact a child's sensory systems, brain development, and their ability to feel safe in the world.

This episode is packed with invaluable insights and practical strategies, from using narrative as a core therapeutic tool to empowering children to set their own goals. Caitlyn introduces powerful analogies like the "lizard brain" and the "Coke bottle" to help clinicians, families, and children understand and manage overwhelming sensory and emotional experiences.

———

Connect with Caitlyn:
Website: speakeasytherapyservices.com
Email: caitlyn@speakeasytherapyservices.com

Caitlyn runs her private practice, Speakeasy Therapy Services, and works as a speech pathologist in the Integrated Therapy Service team for the for-purpose organisation, ACT for Kids, in Adelaide.

——— 

Resources Mentioned:
Black Sheep Press resources by Becky Shanks
Story Champs
Jenny Baker (WA) and the "story mountain" concept
Yellow Ladybugs Conference
Dan Hughes' PACE model
Caitlyn's clinical bite, "Keeping your practice trauma informed," is available on the Speech Pathology Australia Learning Hub

——— 

The Mindful Speechies Podcast:
Follow us on Instagram at @mindfulspeechies to connect and learn more about
Remember to subscribe for updates on your favourite podcast platform

Connect with Your Hosts:
Andrew Watt
Website: www.unitytherapy.com
Email: andrew@unitytherapy.com
X: https://x.com/SLPAndrew 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acwatt/ 

Kizzy Searle
Website: www.attunedspeech.com.au
Email: kizzy@attunedspeech.com.au
Instagram: @attunedspeech 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/