Different, Not Broken: Learning to Speak Neurodiversity

This episode has the power to transform how we see neurodiversity. Nova’s passion mirrors my own: awareness, understanding, and perspective are the essential ingredients for creating a more compassionate world for anyone who doesn’t fit society’s mold. By viewing neurodiversity through a new lens, parents and children alike can recognize that there’s nothing “wrong” with them—they simply communicate differently. It’s our responsibility to learn that language and help bridge the gap. As a neurodivergent mother raising two neurodivergent children, Nova intimately knows what it’s like to feel boxed in, misunderstood, and judged—and then watch her own children face the same struggle. She’s uncovered the key insights into what it truly means to be neurodivergent and offers listeners a fresh, inclusive perspective. This is a heartfelt, essential conversation that you’ll want to absorb—and share with anyone who needs its inspiring message.

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, host Kathy sits down with Nova Rose—a neurodivergent-informed parent coach, and fierce advocate for families navigating autism, ADHD, and big emotions.

Nova supports neurodivergent tweens, teens, and parents through a blend of mindset work, nervous system tools, and practical strategies that help regulate emotions and build confidence. She brings science and soul to her work, helping families shift from chaos to connection.

Nova shares her personal story—the heartbreak of repeated meltdowns at playgroups, the guilt of feeling like a “bad parent,” and the eventual relief and empowerment that came with the discovery that both of her children—and herself—are neurodivergent.

Together we explore:

• The unique emotional regulation challenges neurodivergent boys face in neurotypical systems
• How labels like autism or ADHD can both help and hinder
• Practical tools like EFT “magic buttons,” mindset reframes, and nervous-system–based strategies
• Why shame often sits at the root of behavioral struggles—and how to shift it
• What educators need to understand about energy, communication, and support

Nova challenges the cultural narrative around “fixing” neurodivergent kids and invites us to see emotional outbursts not as bad behavior, but as communication. This conversation is packed with hard-won wisdom, emotional truth, and the tools parents need to feel less alone—and more empowered.

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Guest Bio

Nova Rose is a certified NLP Coach, Timeline Therapy® Practitioner, EFT (Tapping) Practitioner, Certified Youth Mentor, and Accredited Mental Health First Aider. After discovering that both of her children—and later herself—were autistic and ADHD, she retrained to fill the support gap she wished had existed for her family. Today, she helps neurodivergent tweens, teens, and parents regulate big emotions, heal from shame, and build self-esteem through a compassionate, science-backed, soul-centered approach.

Topics Covered

• What it really means to be neurodivergent vs. neurotypical
• The emotional toll of parenting undiagnosed ND kids
• Why traditional parenting strategies often fail neurodivergent children
• How Nova discovered her own neurodivergence through her children
• Emotional regulation challenges unique to neurodivergent boys
• Understanding meltdowns, shutdowns, and sensory overwhelm
• Tools like EFT “magic buttons” and nervous system resets
• What educators must understand about energy and emotional safety
• How shame impacts behavior—and how to shift from shame to self-worth
• Labels: how they can help, and how they can limit
• The crisis of self-esteem in neurodivergent boys—and how to rebuild it
• The power of blending science and soul in parenting support

🔗 Links 

Nova Rose Coaching (Website & Bookings): https://novarose.as.me

Instagram: @nova_rose_coaching

  Facebook: Nova Rose Coaching

For more support, reach out to sonhoodcoaching.com

What makes Season 3 Different?

Too many boys today feel lost, alone, and misunderstood. And far too often, the same is true for their parents.

Behind the troubling statistics is a generation of boys quietly longing to be seen, heard, and valued — yet the conversation around boys’ emotional lives remains far too quiet.

Season 3 of Unlocking the Parenting Code is here to change that.

In this new season, you’ll hear:

🔹 Real conversations with young men who are ready to share their truth.

🔹 Powerful insights from experts in boys’ mental and emotional health.

🔹 And raw, real wisdom from dads who are walking this road every day

🔹 Solo episodes where I reflect on what I’ve witnessed, wrestled with, and learned

At the heart of this season — and at the heart of Sonhood Coaching — is a mission:

To understand the inner emotional world of boys, to recognize the very real challenges they face, and to name the damaging myths and societal expectations that continue to shape how we see, treat, and raise our sons.

This is not about fixing boys.

It’s about truly seeing them — and learning how to show up differently, with compassion, courage, and connection.

Together, we’re building a world where boys feel safe to be their authentic selves.

Because when we get it right for our boys, we begin to heal something much bigger.