7. S1, Ep7: Friendships, masking and getting counselling

Becca Kerl was diagnosed at 38 - after a lifetime of wondering why she didn’t seem to quite fit into the world - and three of her children are on the spectrum too. 

She has spent years supporting the autistic community and helping others advocate for services. She recently completed a Masters degree in Counselling and is in the process of starting a counselling practice in Las Vegas, USA. 

She’s also a musician and a semi professional poker player, and she met her biological father for the first time on TV.

In this conversation we talk about:

• The differences in trying to get an autism diagnosis for kids of different sexes;
• Neurotypical people's perceptions of autism - and navigating friendships with neurotypical friends
• Masking, routines and decision fatigue
• What it was like meeting her father on television
• And what effective counselling for neurodivergent people looks like.

Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes.

I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.

EPISODE LINKS:

Becca’s website: http://www.youruniquemind.com/ (site under construction when this episode was published)

Becca’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Your-Unique-Mind-108559494362144 

Becca meets her dad on the Today Show: https://www.today.com/video/watch-father-daughters-emotional-first-meeting-42075715670 

If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ 

Or on my website: http://squarepeg.community/