SEND Parenting Podcast

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 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 Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey.
📩 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.

Sleep problems are one of the most overlooked — and misunderstood — parts of ADHD.
In this episode of the SEND Parenting Podcast, Dr Olivia Kessel breaks down the science behind ADHD and sleep, explaining why up to 70% of children with ADHD struggle with sleep, and why this is not behavioural, it is biological.
Drawing on research and lived experience, Dr Olivia explains how delayed melatonin release and circadian rhythm disruption affect the ADHD brain, and why many children are simply not biologically ready for sleep at conventional bedtimes.
This episode was created after a conversation inside the ADHD Warrior Mum community, where a mum shared that her child was still full of energy at bedtime — and that her doctor questioned the evidence behind melatonin. That question prompted a deep dive into what the research actually shows.
In this episode, you will learn:
Why sleep difficulties are so common in ADHD
How melatonin works (and what it does not do)
What the research says about safety and effectiveness
Why addressing sleep can transform emotional regulation, focus, and family life
Dr. Olivia also shares her personal journey navigating over a decade of severe sleep disruption with her daughter — and how understanding the biology changed everything.
🎧 Recommended resource:
Dr. Olivia references research and clinical insights from Dr Russell Barkley, including his YouTube talk on ADHD and sleep.
👉 Link to Dr Russell Barkley’s YouTube video on ADHD and sleep
📘 Free resource:
Download the free 30-Day Sleep Guide at
www.SENDParenting.com/Sleep
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a 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 Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey.
📩 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 do children with ADHD seem exhausted by the end of the day?
 Why do meltdowns often hit after school?
 And why does it feel like they are constantly craving sugar?
In this episode, adapted from a live masterclass inside the ADHD Warrior Mum community, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by Lucinda Miller, founder of NatureDoc and author of Brain Brilliance, to explore how brain fuel affects energy, focus, emotional regulation, and behaviour in children with ADHD.
We discuss:
Why the ADHD brain uses more energy than a neurotypical brain
How blood sugar crashes drive dysregulation and meltdowns
Why breakfast matters more than most parents realise
How nutrition can support ADHD medication and sleep
Practical, low-pressure strategies that work in real families
This is not about perfect diets or restriction.
 It is about understanding your child’s brain and supporting steadier days.
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a 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 Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey.
📩 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.

Applying for an EHCP can feel overwhelming, intimidating, and emotionally draining — especially when your child is already struggling.
In this episode, Dr. Olivia Kessel is joined by Dr Abigail Fisher and Eliza Fricker, co-authors of The Essential EHCP Guide for Parents and Carers, to gently demystify the EHCP process and remind parents of one crucial truth:
You are not failing. The system is hard.
Together, we break down what an EHCP really is, when to apply, and the common myths that delay support — including the belief that you need a diagnosis before starting. We explore how to advocate for your child without burning out, what makes an EHCP meaningful (and what makes it ineffective), and how parents can protect their own mental health while navigating a deeply flawed system.
This is not just a conversation about paperwork and plans.
 It is about trust, instinct, advocacy, and hope.
If EHCPs are part of your life — or you are wondering if they should be — this episode will help you feel less alone, more informed, and more empowered.
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a 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 Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey.
📩 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, I am joined by Michael McLeod, internationally recognised ADHD and executive function specialist and founder of GrowNOW ADHD, to unpack what ADHD really is and why so many children and families are being failed by outdated models of support.
We explore why ADHD is best understood as a developmental executive function disorder, with emotional regulation at its core — not laziness, defiance, or lack of willpower. Michael explains why traditional approaches like talk therapy, worksheets, and constant verbal prompting often make things worse, and what actually helps children build the skills they need for life.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why emotional dysregulation is one of the most overlooked signs of ADHD
The four pillars of executive function and how delays show up at home, school, and socially
Why screens are so dysregulating for the ADHD brain — and why “balance” is often unrealistic
How parenting language, structure, and boundaries can either escalate or reduce meltdowns
Why executive function predicts long-term success more than grades or academic performance
Practical strategies parents can use immediately, including reducing verbal prompts and creating more structure at home
This is a deeply validating episode for parents who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning whether they are doing something wrong. It reframes ADHD with clarity, compassion, and evidence — and offers a way forward that feels realistic rather than punitive.
 📘 Michael’s book The Executive Function Playbook
 🌍 Grow Now ADHD Website
  ▶️ Russell Barkley YouTube
💬 Connect with Us
🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a 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 Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve as you navigate this journey.
📩 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.