The Behaviour Coach Podcast

Rhythms and Routines for ADHD: Make Life Predictable

If you have ever heard the word routine and felt a little bit of dread, this episode is for you. So many parents have tried to build a routine, hit resistance on day three, and decided routines just do not work for their family. In this episode, I offer a different way to think about predictability. The difference between a rhythm and a routine. Why structure paired with flexibility is the goal, not rigid schedules. The shift that changes everything when a piece of your routine has become a daily battle. And practical strategies for mornings, evenings, and after school that actually work for the ADHD brain. Plus the question every parent of an ADHD child needs to stop asking themselves, and the permission slip you might not realize you need. If you want to go deeper check out my audio course on hiro.fm Connect with me: Instagram: @behaviourcoach  Newsletter: neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/podcast

When Rejection Feels Like the End of the World

There is a symptom of ADHD that is not in the diagnostic manual, not on the official list, and yet adults consistently describe it as the most painful part of living with this brain. It is called rejection sensitivity, or RSD. In this episode, I explain what RSD actually is, why it is not the same thing as being overly sensitive, and what is happening in the ADHD nervous system that makes rejection land so much harder. You will hear about a child who tore up her homework after gentle feedback, a teen who blocked her closest friend on every platform over a single message, and the most powerful research backed strategy for moving through an RSD episode. Whether you are a parent watching your child fall apart over something small, or an adult who has spent a lifetime people pleasing and replaying conversations at 2 in the morning, this episode is for you. If you want to go deeper check out my audio course on Hiro.fm [https://app.hiro.fm/channel/meltdown-mastery] Connect with me: Instagram: @behaviourcoach  [https://www.instagram.com/behaviourcoach/] Subscribe to my newsletter [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast]so you never miss an episode!

Why Friendships are Harder for ADHD Kids

Friendships might be the topic that carries the most emotional weight for ADHD parents. In this episode I talk about why friendships are genuinely harder for ADHD kids, why one-on-one friendships are often easier than groups, and why so many social struggles are not a deficit in your child but a translation challenge between different kinds of brains. I introduce the double empathy problem, talk about ADHD communication patterns that get misread like interrupting and connecting through shared stories, and explain what happens when the drive for connection intensifies in a dysregulated nervous system. On the practical side, I share my favourite strategy for kids who feel disconnected, how to bridge from acquaintance to friend with concrete steps, and how to have conversations about unhealthy friendships. If you are lying awake worrying about whether your child has friends, this one is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Dr. Damian Milton [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09687599.2012.710008] (the double empathy problem) Connect with me:  Instagram: @behaviourcoach  [https://www.instagram.com/behaviourcoach] Subscribe to my newsletter [⁠https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast⁠] so you never miss an episode!

Let’s Talk Meltdowns

Meltdowns are one of the hardest parts of ADHD parenting and also one of the areas where understanding makes the biggest difference. In this episode I walk through what is actually happening in the brain during a meltdown, how meltdowns are different from tantrums, and what the full cycle looks like from buildup to tipping point to recovery. I share a story about my youngest daughter at an archery range that I think is going to make a lot of this click. I also cover the traffic light model, how to identify rumblings before they escalate, the know-plan-intervene framework for prevention, what to do mid-meltdown, and how to take care of yourself and your child after. If you want to go deeper on meltdowns, check out my Meltdowns Mastery [https://app.hiro.fm/channel/meltdown-mastery] audio course, available on a pay-what-you-can basis. Connect with me:  Instagram: @behaviourcoach  [https://www.instagram.com/behaviourcoach] Newsletter: https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast]

Acting Without Thinking (ADHD Impulsivity)

Your child threw a snowball when they knew the rule. They punched a kid on the soccer field and couldn't explain why. They blurt out in class even though they have been reminded a hundred times. Adults read this as disrespect or aggression, but in most cases the action happened before the thinking brain had time to weigh in. In this episode I talk about what impulsivity actually is, why it happens in the ADHD brain, and how to build plans that actually work. I cover hazards and triggers, why generic "stop and think" advice fails without a concrete plan underneath it, and three targeted approaches for physical impulsivity, verbal impulsivity, and impulsive decision-making. There is also a section for adults with ADHD who recognize themselves in every example. Connect with me: Instagram: @behaviourcoach [https://www.instagram.com/behaviourcoach] Newsletter: https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast [https://masterclass.neilsonmahoneycoaching.com/behaviourcoachpodcast]