Reframing the Language of Disorders

Welcome to Season 6 of Therapod Podcast: Beyond Words.

This season continues our deep dive into how communication and language affect every part of our lives, from education to our internal sense of safety. I am joined by co-host Carolyn Gelenter, an advisory teacher for speech, language, and communication needs.

Our guest for this episode is Jamie Galpin, a developmental psychologist and researcher who is challenging the way we view "disorders". Jamie works to move education systems away from a "barrage of acronyms" and toward a model of inclusive design that fosters a sense of belonging for all children.

The core of our conversation centers on a powerful realization: uncertainty is the primary difficulty underpinning anxiety. Whether it is a child refusing to go to school or an adult panic-buying during a pandemic, these behaviors are often not the "problem"—they are an individual's solution to unmanageable uncertainty.

Jamie introduces us to the Three S’s of Uncertainty:
• Sensory: Specifically interoception, our internal sensory pathway that tells us how our body feels (heart rate, breathing, hunger).
• Social: How we navigate interactions with others.
• Structure: The predictability of our environments and tasks.

What is most striking is Jamie’s insight into interoception as the "port in a storm". If a child cannot understand their internal signals, they cannot effectively regulate their emotions.

Tune in to hear how we can move toward a "post-diagnostic world" where we see common humanity instead of "disordered" individuals.

#Uncertainty #Neurodiversity #SensoryProcessing #TherapodPodcast #Interoception #InclusiveEducation #MentalHealth