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

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

Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions

🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group

💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]

🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf