It was Never Just Me: Neurodivergence in a Neurotypical World with Jess Farrell

"There can be this oversimplification - ‘just unmask, just be yourself' - but that's terrifying for people. Masking is a safety strategy. You can't just stop." — Jess Farrell

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In this month’s episode, senior speech pathologist Jess Farrell returns to explore the profound emotional landscape of late-in-life neurodivergent diagnosis. Shifting away from the pathologising lens of the traditional medical model, Jess, Kizzy, and Andrew share their own lived experiences with ADHD and trauma. Together, they unpack the profound relief that comes with "the power of knowing," transforming a lifelong narrative of personal failure into a systemic understanding of what it means to survive in a world built for neurotypical brains.

The conversation centres on a vital clinical shift for Speech Pathologists: moving past the well-intentioned but dangerous oversimplification of the "just unmask" narrative. Jess reframes masking not as a deficit to be eradicated or a compliance goal to be praised, but as a protective safety strategy. By viewing clinical cases through the lens of the Double Empathy Problem and monotropism, this episode challenges SLPs to move away from fixing the individual and focus instead on modifying the environment and building true client autonomy.

About Jess

Jess Farrell is a senior speech pathologist within a public multidisciplinary mental health team in Geelong, Victoria, specialising in neuro-affirming autism assessments for youth and adults. With over a decade of clinical experience spanning both public and private sectors, she is a passionate advocate for creating neuro-inclusive, accessible mental health spaces. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer and a mother of twins, Jess blends professional expertise with rich lived experience to support clients who have long felt unseen or unheard.

In This Episode, We Unpack:

• The emotional reality of late diagnosis
• Why "Just Unmask" is a dangerous oversimplification
• Clinical curiosity vs. compliance-based goals
• Applying the double empathy problem in session
• Reimagine the SLP toolkit

Resources Mentioned:

• Television Series: Please Like Me by Josh Thomas (recommended as a clinical tool for analysing neuro-type communication differences and perspective-taking).
• Core Concepts: The Double Empathy Problem and Monotropism.

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To Connect with Jess:

• Instagram: @neuro.inclusivecommunication
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-farrell-4a4b0454/

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The Mindful Speechies Podcast:

• Follow us on Instagram at @mindfulspeechies to connect and learn more about
• Remember to subscribe for updates on your favourite podcast platform

Connect with Your Hosts:

Kizzy Searle

• Website: www.attunedspeech.com.au
• Email: kizzy@attunedspeech.com.au
• Instagram: @attunedspeech
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kizzysearle/

Andrew Watt

• Website: www.unitytherapy.com
• Email: andrew@unitytherapy.com
• X: https://x.com/SLPAndrew
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acwatt/