About
I regard having Autism and ADHD as a special gift, which gives me a deeper understanding of the Autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD experiences.
From a young age, I always knew I was “different.” I didn’t have the same reactions to things as other children my age, and I found their behaviours interesting but confusing. I remember studying and copying little girls in my class as early as grade one. I wanted to be like them.
Growing up, I managed to make many friends, but I would often go through them quickly and switch frequently. I could never seem to find the right fit. It took great effort for me to keep friends because I didn’t think or act like the other children. I went through many experiences of being bullied and had to change schools because of it in eighth grade.
I passed my classes and kept up academically, but I had many intense and traumatic experiences due to not understanding social cues, being impulsive, sensitive, and unable to defend myself. In high school, I attracted a lot of attention, but I felt lonely and struggled to be my authentic self around others. The rare few times I did open up to someone, it would backfire, and I’d deeply regret it.
In my twenties, I lived independently, worked, and attended university, achieving two degrees with a 4.0 grade point average. I tried various types of employment, including telemarketing, waitressing, retail sales, customer service, and being an executive assistant, until I began working in a school setting with neurodivergent children and their parents, which is when I discovered my passion and calling.
In my thirties, I brought two brilliantly different children into this world. I knew they wouldn’t be young forever and that I was building the foundation of our relationship for life, so I chose to parent them peacefully and respectfully, which taught me patience and humility. I knew that they were extremely sensitive and had uncommon wiring, so I homeschooled them until they both decided to attend school at the ages of ten and thirteen.
I also had a third child, a daughter I named Lily Aurora, who, very sadly, was born with an additional chromosome and died in my arms one month after her birth. During my pregnancy with her, I was intuitively guided not to have an ultrasound, and so I only discovered her diagnosis after she was born. A few days before she passed away, hundreds of ladybugs flew into our home, and since then, one always appears when I think of her or occasionally when I need guidance. Facing this tragedy and huge loss has strengthened me, enabled me to experience deep gratitude for my two living children, and assured me that there is life beyond death.
Due to my love of new experiences and adventure, we’ve relocated to a new city every few years, allowing me to meet many new people and refine my social skills. I’ve learnt how to have healthy, fulfilling relationships through trial and error. This has assisted my children by providing them with a role model for healthy socializing; they possess excellent interpersonal skills and have established many healthy friendships.
My lifelong interest in spirituality has led me to attend and participate in numerous spiritual events, including healing circles, drum circles, ecstatic dances, and healing retreats. I learned and became skilled in Reiki, Reflexology, Numerology, and Tarot. For many years, I gave intuitive readings to people at parties, events, and privately. I enjoyed combining the counselling skills I learned doing social work with my intuitive abilities to help people more effectively.
When I was forty years old, my daughter and I were both diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 (previously known as Asperger’s Syndrome). Soon after, my son was diagnosed with ADHD. Being a neurodivergent mother raising two children on the spectrum has given me first-hand experience of the gifts and challenges of autism and ADHD, and helped me acquire rock-solid strategies for differently wired people to live their best lives.
While observing my son’s ADHD traits, I noticed similar qualities in myself. I researched a new diagnosis and discovered that many autistic individuals also have ADHD, with estimates ranging from 50 to 70% according to research (Hours et al., 2022).1 This is referred to as “AuDHD.”
Having AuDHD and being a mother to a 15-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy with brains that break the mould has helped me learn the most effective practices for neurodivergent individuals to establish healthy relationships and experience more joyful lives.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Child Studies and have worked as a paraprofessional for the English Montreal School Board, supporting neurodivergent children and their families for over a decade. In 2007, I obtained a Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) degree and worked in child welfare within the government sector, supporting families experiencing crisis and trauma.
After my neurospicy children were born, I stayed home with them for many years, homeschooling them so they could have a more peaceful and gentle life. I also ran a group for other homeschooling families where I had the opportunity to develop relationships with many other beautiful misfits.
In 2021, I founded Happy Soul Path to support and provide solutions for individuals who think uniquely and feel more deeply, enabling them to experience their best lives.
I’m neurodivergent (autistic & ADHD), have healed C-PTSD, and am a recovered codependent. I live with my wonderfully-wired children and two Mexican rescue pets. We are currently enjoying living in the stunning province of Alberta, Canada.
I’ve lived in twenty-four cities in three countries. My interests are psychology, spirituality, geography, history, travelling, and meeting new people. I’m also a fan of nature and enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming, and long walks.
My social work background, personal history, and decades of working with individuals of all ages on the autism spectrum have made me knowledgeable and skilled at helping individuals with a bit of extra sparkle in their wiring.
I focus on enhancing communication, assisting with change, increasing self-esteem, teaching interpersonal skills, and supporting individuals who are unique and sensitive to overcome their challenges, enabling them to thrive.
Nothing gives me greater joy than empowering other gentle souls with beautifully different brains to live their best lives.
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