SEND Parenting Podcast

Deciding whether to try ADHD medication can feel overwhelming for many parents.
 There is a huge amount of misinformation online, and the decision can feel heavy, emotional, and confusing.
In this episode, I sit down with Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Giovanni Giaroli to break down what ADHD medication actually does in the brain — in clear, parent-friendly language.
We explore:
• How ADHD medication works in the prefrontal cortex and executive brain
• The difference between stimulant and non-stimulant medications
• Why finding the right medication is often a journey of careful titration
• Common side effects and what parents should realistically expect
• How medication interacts with autism, anxiety, OCD and PDA profiles
• Why medication alone is not the whole picture — and how sleep, exercise, nutrition and support work alongside it
Dr Giaroli also explains why ADHD medication has one of the strongest evidence bases in child psychiatry, while still requiring a personalised approach for every child.
If you are navigating this decision for your child, this conversation will help bring clarity, reassurance, and science to the discussion.
Giaroli Clinic
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.
⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me
If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

Why does everything suddenly feel harder when puberty begins?
In this powerful and honest conversation, I am joined by Dr Jess Morgan — former NHS paediatrician and now educator — to unpack what is really happening in the brain and body when puberty meets neurodivergence.
We explore:
Why emotional outbursts are developmental, not defiance
How hormonal changes amplify ADHD and sensory sensitivities
The brain science behind mood swings and impulsivity
Why masking becomes more exhausting in adolescence
The hidden mental health toll of “trying to fit in”
Practical ways to support regulation without escalating conflict
What happens when puberty collides with parental menopause
If you have felt blindsided by the intensity of adolescence — particularly with a neurodivergent child — this episode will help you understand the why behind the behaviour, and offer compassionate, practical ways to respond.
Because this is not about bad parenting.
 It is about brain development, hormones, and learning to tread gently — with our children and ourselves.
The survive and thrive collective
Dr Jess Morgan TedX on reconnecting with your inner child
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.
⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me
If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

In this powerful and honest conversation, Dr Olivia Kessel is joined by parenting coach Alison Solomon to explore one uncomfortable truth: what if the biggest shift in our child’s behaviour has nothing to do with them and everything to do with us?
Alison shares the moment she calls the “arrow through the heart,” when she realised her child was not the problem, her reaction was. From that moment, everything changed.
In this episode, we explore:
• What actually happens in the brain when a child is dysregulated
 • Why adding logic to an emotional brain makes things worse
 • The power of silence and when to stop talking
 • How to create emotional safety at home
 • Why oppositional traits may be future strengths
 • The “golden apology” and how modelling accountability builds resilience
This is not about blame. It is about empowerment.
Because when we regulate first, everything else begins to shift.
If you have ever found yourself talking more and getting nowhere, this episode will land.
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.
⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me
If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

This week is a short solo half-term check-in.
It is GCSE options time in our house, and I know many of you are feeling the same fear.
In this episode, I talk about:
• The 30% executive function delay in ADHD and what that really means
 • Why GCSE choices can feel overwhelming for neurodivergent teens
 • How to choose subjects based on interest, not pressure
 • The bigger life picture beyond exams
 • Successful neurodivergent entrepreneurs including Jo Malone, Richard Branson and Ingvar Kamprad
GCSEs matter — but they are not destiny.
If you are sitting at the kitchen table staring at options forms, this episode is for you.
A calm reset for half term. 💛
Register for the ADHD Medications Unmasked Masterclass with Dr Giovani on Tuesday, February 17th @ 8 PM
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.
⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me
If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.

Choosing how to get an ADHD or autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming — and confusing. But the pathway you choose does not just affect how long you wait. It affects your child's support, medication access, and long-term outcomes.
In this episode, Dr Olivia Kessel is joined by Reemz — a member of the SEND Parenting community with direct experience working inside NHS CAMHS and supporting a family member through Right to Choose.
Together, they break down:
The NHS CAMHS diagnostic pathway
The Right to Choose pathway — what it really offers and where families get stuck
Private assessments — benefits, risks, and hidden costs
Why diagnosis is not a “label,” but a tool for understanding and support
What parents need to know before starting any pathway
This episode is for parents who are:
Unsure which route to take
Already on a waiting list
Worried about making the “wrong” decision
Seeking clarity, not opinions
You are not failing.
 You are navigating a complex system — and knowledge changes everything.
🔗 Helpful Resources & Guidelines
As mentioned on Podcast Reemz has kindly shared two worksheets that you can print and use at home:
ASD Diagnostic criteria worksheet
ADHD Diagnostic criteria worksheet
Right to Choose (England)
Clear explanations of the process, providers, and current waiting times:
 👉 ADHD UK – Right to Choose Guide

📘 DSM Diagnostic Criteria
Understanding what clinicians are actually assessing can help you advocate more effectively.
👉ADHD Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)
 

👉Autism Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-5-TR)
 
(These criteria explain why traits must be present across settings and over time.)
If this episode helped you, please share it with another parent who might be quietly stuck.
 And stay tuned — next week’s episode, “Shut the Fluff Up,” dives into how parent regulation changes everything when our children are dysregulated.
You are not alone. 

 You are doing the hardest job  ❤️ Dr Olivia
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a free, safe, welcoming space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand the realities of neurodiverse family life.
⚡ Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Membership — a paid membership space with group coaching with Dr Olivia, access to masterclasses with neurodiverse experts, monthly self-care and real connection. You don't have to navigate this journey alone.
📩 Contact Me
If you would like to get in touch, you can email me directly at [email protected]

I would genuinely love to hear from you, especially about the topics you would like covered and the guests you would love to hear from in 2026.