Complex Kids, Simple Solutions

Dr. Kristen Williamson — Rewriting the Neuro-Spicy Rulebook for Parents and Late-Diagnosed Adults

Michelle Choairy Season 1 Episode 20

Send us a text

In this conversation, Michelle welcomes therapist and EmpowerMind Solutions founder Dr. Kristen Williamson to bust the myth that ADHD and autism are deficits—and to show both parents and late-diagnosed adults how to turn “weird” traits into everyday superpowers.

Kristen shares:

  • The diagnosis after 30 that changed everything. A lifetime of “too much” finally made sense when Kristen received back-to-back ADHD and autism confirmations at 38 and 39—then realized her entire family tree was “neuro-spicy.”
  • Why girls (and moms) get missed. Early screening tools were built for 8-year-old white boys; masking, cultural norms, and medical gas-lighting leave women and people of color labeled “anxious” or “lazy” instead of autistic.
  • Lawn-mower parenting vs. life skills. Clear every obstacle and your complex kid never learns to fold laundry, shower, or self-advocate. Kristen explains how to swap “mowing down struggles” for bite-size checklists and visual timers.
  • 100 percent failure, 100 percent restart. ADHD brains abandon routines—and that’s OK. From alarm sounds to shower visors, Kristen demonstrates how curiosity beats shame every time a system breaks.
  • Humor as a sensory aid. Why walking backward down the street, laughing at grocery-store meltdowns, and telling the story without passive-aggressive digs defuses stigma for kids and adults alike.

Quote to tape on the fridge:
“Your brain isn’t broken—it just writes in its own language. Learn the language, and the superpowers come online.”

Whether you’re parenting a meltdown-prone eight-year-old or wondering why your own coping skills collapsed at menopause, Kristen’s roadmap proves it’s never too late to ditch shame, get curious, and build a life that fits.

👤 About Dr. Kristen Williamson
A Licensed Professional Counselor and founder of EmpowerMind Solutions LLC, Kristen specializes in supporting neurodivergent adults—especially those diagnosed with ADHD or autism later in life—through self-compassion, practical strategies, and neurodiversity advocacy.

🔗 Connect with Kristen
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristensmith0045
TikTok: @empowerminds.solu

#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #NeuroSpicy #LateDiagnosis #LawnMowerParenting #ADHDAutism #LifeSkills