Today, Dr. Stephanie is joined by Dan to talk with Dr. Naseef about the impact of passive or engaged fathers on children, especially their autistic children. Dr. Naseef discusses the psyche of a man and how to engage fathers for a positive impact on their marriage, family system, and the autistic child.

About our Guest:
Robert Naseef, Ph.D., has a distinct voice as a psychologist and father of an autistic adult son. He has spoken nationwide and trained professionals internationally in treating autism and other developmental disorders and supporting families. He has a special interest in the psychology of men and fatherhood.

Along with Stephen Shore, Ed.D., Dr. Naseef served as a lead consultant to the Arc of Philadelphia and SAP’s “Autism at Work” program, which involved collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation to develop the curriculum, “Preparing Neurodiverse Youth for the Workplace.”

Dr. Naseef’s 2013 book, Autism in the Family: Caring and Coping Together (Brookes Publishing), integrates advances in research and treatment with clinical experience to help families navigate the emotional landscape and the practical roadmap through the lifespan. Special Children, Challenged Parents: The Struggles and Rewards of Parenting a Child with a Disability (1996), his first book, received international recognition. He has appeared on radio and television. He is the co-editor with Cindy N. Ariel of Voices from the Spectrum: Parents, Grandparents, Siblings, People with Autism, and Professionals Share Their Wisdom (2006).

In 2008, Robert Naseef was honored by Variety, the Children’s Charity, for his outstanding contributions to the autism community. On World Autism Awareness Day, April 2, 2017, Dr. Naseef gave a TEDx talk entitled “How autism teaches us about being human,” which you can see on YouTube. Dr. Naseef is also a member of the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America. He also serves on the Leadership Council of the AJ Drexel Autism Institute.

Join Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Saulnier as they discuss her presentation on broadening the autism spectrum at the Converge Autism Summit. 

They will discuss:

• The key features of autism

• How Autism symptoms are expressed differently in male and female

• The role of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in misdiagnosis of autism

• Common overlaps and differential diagnosis

• What if someone being assessed doesn’t want to be on the spectrum? What do clinicians need to know?

Bio:
Dr. Saulnier obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut. She trained and worked at the Yale Child Study Center’s Autism Program for nearly a decade before relocating to Emory University School of Medicine and the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, GA, where she directed a large-scale clinical research program. In 2018, she opened her own company, Neurodevelopmental Assessment & Consulting Services, where she specializes in diagnostic assessment, as well as teaching and training for autism spectrum and related disorders. Dr. Saulnier has published over 50 articles, written two books, and she is an author on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, Third Edition.

Looking for Assessment in GA? 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/neurodevelopmental-assessment-consulting-svc-decatur-ga/409874

In this lively conversation, the “Just the Guys” team explores how crucial context can be—whether you’re deciphering a strange image, navigating a complex relationship, or fielding unexpected life events. They kick things off by sharing news of the new book *Uniquely Us* and then dive into fascinating parallels between fooling AI systems with “adversarial examples” and how our assumptions can mislead us in everyday life. By using an analogy of seeing a “penguin in the desert” (something bizarre or out of place), they illustrate how missing details can trigger confusion, misunderstandings, or emotional reactions.

Throughout the discussion, they highlight the importance of curiosity and humility to uncover the “why” behind surprising information—much like slowing down to determine if that shape in the dark is an intruder or just a coat on a chair. They also introduce practical techniques (like the C.A.L.M. method) to help us pause, gather context, and respond gracefully rather than reacting rashly. It’s an honest, lighthearted look at how we can avoid “kicking the penguin” in our personal and professional relationships by learning to seek more information, accept when we’ve made mistakes, and ultimately prioritize connection over “being right.”

Mentioned in This Episode:
– Uniquely Us, a new release about neurodiverse Christian marriages
– Adversarial examples in AI and what they reveal about our own blind spots
– The C.A.L.M. method (Connect, Assess, Lean in, Move forward) for managing emotional triggers
– Why “winning the relationship” matters more than winning any single argument

Have a topic you’d like the guys to unpack? Drop them a note via the show’s website—feedback and questions are always welcome!

Today on Coaches’ Corner, Dr. Stephanie & Barb Grant, MMFT, talks with Bob Hamp about abuse and recovering from abuse.

What is Abuse? When does a relationship become abusive? How do you recover from that abuse from a victim mindset to a healing and recovery mindset?

Today, we ask:

•  What is abuse?

• Can both partners be abusive?

• How do you change your mindset from a victim of abuse to a survivor and healed from abuse?

• How does the church and Christian onlookers help or hinder?

• What are some interesting dynamics in ND Christian Couples?

• What are power differentials, and what does that have to do with abuse?

Uniquely Us is out! Order it here! We discuss abuse in ND Christian Marriages chapters 12 & 13 with a focus on spiritual/religious abuse in marriage!
https://www.christianneurodiversemarriage.com/uniquelyus

Think Differently Academy: https://tdacad.com/

About our guest:
Bob Hamp is a seasoned counselor, author, and spiritual leader known for his unique approach to teaching freedom through a spiritual lens. With three decades in private practice and helping churches worldwide develop Freedom Ministry, Bob’s work focuses on altering thought processes to achieve spiritual healing and wholeness. He speaks frequently and has mentored and coached hundreds of counselors, pastors, and leaders. His teachings emphasize sound theology, God’s healing presence, and the transformative power of freedom (acting & reacting as the person God created you to be), making him a sought-after speaker and counselor who helps individuals and communities find true freedom and spiritual identity.

The viral video mentioned in this podcast today: https://go.tdacad.com/course/understanding-the-dynamics-of-abuse?register=truehttps://go.tdacad.com/course/understanding-the-dynamics-of-abuse?register=truehttps://go.tdacad.com/course/understanding-the-dynamics-of-abuse?register=truehttps://go.tdacad.com/course/understanding-the-dynamics-of-abuse?register=true

Do you and your spouse have constant communication misfires? As the ND spouse, do you feel interrupted, falsely accused, and often confused about what you said or did that was hurtful to your spouse? As the non-autistic spouse, do you feel unheard, dismissed, that issues remain unsolved, and when the relationship has a rupture, there is no repair? These cycles leave couples frustrated, and by leaving issues unresolved, issues will leave a chasm of disconnection and unresolved issues. Dan & Stephanie role-play two common situations we hear from ND couples. They are not real situations from any couple but are based on the elements that tend to happen in arguments.
Role Play 1: Why are you defending the person I said hurt me? Why can you give validation and empathy to others by not me?
Role Play 2: Stuck in the weeds/details- a collaboration that is not very collaborative but gets stuck on details that are socially or relationally relevant to the topic.
Check out the book Uniquely Us! It is out!
https://www.christianneurodiversemarriage.com/uniquelyus

Remember, Stephanie and Dan have two websites!
www.HolmesASR.com and
www.christianneurodiversemarriage.com

#uniquelyus #autismfaithmarriage #NDCC #neurodiversecouples

Today, Dr. Stephanie talks with Dr. Natalie about Autism, Burnout, Depression, and Suicidality.
Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht is a clinician in Canada and was diagnosed later in life with both ASD and ADHD. Dr. Natalie will break down burnout, depression, suicidality, and the suicide gene.
Did you know in bee hives there are NT and AS bees?

Topics We Discussed:

• Burnout

• Suicide Gene

• Depression

• Protective Factors

Links you may find helpful:
Autistic Burnout Construct
https://embrace-autism.com/autistic-burnout-construct/

We spoke about spoons:
https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/the-neurodivergent-spoon-drawer-spoon-theory-for-adhders-and-autists

Autism and bees:
https://embrace-autism.com/honey-bees-understanding-autism-and-social-behaviour/

The Complete Guide to Autism
https://embrace-autism.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-autistic-burnout-book/

Part 2! Some of you had questions for Drs. Jeff and Mary so we had them back?
Drs. Jeff and Mary are back to discuss therapeutic separation, addiction, autism, and healing! Some of you had questions, and some of you had criticism, and they are discussed today!

Listen to part one here:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-addiction-healing-with-therapeutic-separation-s-with-drs-jeff-mary-jones–62412733

Find Dr. Mary at:
Dr. Mary Jones believes there is greatness in each of us and is passionate about equipping and empowering women to reach their fullest potential.

Throughout her life and career, she has had the privilege of working to empower and equip women and girls to be their best selves. Dr. Mary has also completed a study in autism as a specialty through PESI, becoming an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist. Her vision is to see women living out their purpose and affecting change in their worlds. She is an NT married to a neurodivergent spouse and the mother of a son on the autism spectrum.?

?
Contact her at: https://drmarycoaches.com/contact-me

Dr. Jones has been featured on our NeuroDiverse Christian Couples (NDCC) podcast.
Listen to her episode HERE!

Dan and Stephanie start their discussion with the book Building Bounce: How to Grow in Emotional Resilience by Warner & Hinman.

For more resources on this, go to www.christianneurodiversemarriage.com Group Resources—Bounce. We have put together a video for every chapter of Bounce.

The key elements of building resilience are knowing your weight, not breaking under that weight, and building capacity. You can do this through key practices: quitting, appreciation/joy, beliefs and expectations, and growing connection with God and people. Each chapter gives you a joy workout to start your journey toward individual resilience and reliance on God. Your marriage and life situation may not change, so how will you carry that weight without breaking or allowing the situation to transform you versus being transformed and renewed? Then Dan and Stephanie talk about their practices for quieting, joy, and connecting to God and how they connect through Coursey & Coursey’s 30 Days of Joy for Busy Married Couples!

Join Dr. Stephanie as she discusses disability theology and disability ministry with Stephanie O. Hubach, author of Same Lake Different Boat.

Questions Stephanie and Stephanie Discuss:
What is Disability Ministry and Why Does it Matter?
a. How would you define disability ministry?
b. Why doesn’t your definition of disability ministry even have the word disability in it?
c. What is the role of disability ministry in the local church?
d. If disability ministry is “central to the life of the church” what do you mean by that?
e. How does the presence of people with disabilities in a church change the fabric of congregation life?
f. What type of steps need to be taken to help a church that is not disability-friendly to move towards people with disabilities?
g. You refer to the biblical concept of “equal concern” in your philosophy of disability ministry. What does that look like in practice?

About our Guest:
Stephanie Opdahl Hubach
Biographical Information

Stephanie Hubach is a Research Fellow in Disability Ministries and a Visiting Instructor in Educational Ministries in affiliation with Covenant Theological Seminary. From 2007-2016 she served as Mission to North America’s Special Needs Ministries Founding Director. Mission to
North America (MNA) is associated with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Steph currently serves on the Wheaton Center on Faith and Disability advisory board and the board of directors for Key Ministry.

She formerly volunteered as a member of the board for The Arc of Lancaster County, chairperson of the Lancaster County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board, and president of the board of directors for the Infant Evaluation Program of State College, PA.
Steph is the author of Parenting & Disabilities: Abiding in Gods’ Presence (P&;R Publishing, 2021), Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability (P&;R Publishing, 2006; Revised and Expanded 2020), director of a Christian Education DVD series
based on Same Lake, Different Boat, and author of All Things Possible: Calling Your Church Leadership to Embrace Disability Ministry (Joni and Friends, August 2007).

She has been published in ByFaith magazine, Covenant magazine, Focus on the Family magazine, and Breakpoint online magazine. Steph currently writes for Key Ministry’s Special Needs Parenting blog, which is for parents of children with special needs, and for the Presbyterian Church in America’s enCourage blog. She has been a guest blogger for The Gospel Coalition and the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and has been interviewed on a wide variety of podcasts.

Steph also coordinated a writing team for Christianity Today to provide a Disability Ministry Track in The Ministry Essentials Bible, released in September 2014. Stephanie is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College), has an MA in Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and an MATS from Covenant Theological Seminary.

Steph and her husband, Fred, have been married for 41 years. They have two deeply loved sons, Fred and Tim, the younger of whom has Down syndrome. In 2013, the Hubachs were blessed with a wonderful daughter-in-law when Cecelia married Fred, and in 2019, they were thrilled to welcome their first grandchild, Caroline. In 2022, twin grandsons joined the family—Everett and Dietrich. The Hubach family resides in Lancaster County, PA.

Stephanie’s Book Same Lake Different Boat-Revised Ed. and other resources:
https://www.stephaniehubach.com/

Dr. Stephanie’s Uniquely Us:

https://www.christianneurodiversemarriage.com/uniquelyus

Today, Dr. Stephanie and Dan Holmes asked Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht about ASD, ADHD, and both.

Dr. Natalie Engelbrecht is a clinician in Canada and was diagnosed later in life with both ASD and ADHD. Dr. Natalie will break down the similarities and differences between ASD, ADHD, and ADHD. She will also discuss the strengths of each neurotype—this is part 1 of our discussion.

Some discussion points from Dr. Natalie:

• Co-occurring autism and ADHD can be experienced as

• Heightening of some autistic traits

• Navigating contradictions of opposing traits

Here are some of the contradictions you may experience as an AuDHD:

You thrive when there’s a set routine (autistic trait), but you struggle to plan and follow a schedule (ADHD trait)

You get very distressed when your friend shows up late to your meeting (autistic trait), but you struggle to arrive at events on time (ADHD trait)

You find engaging in a special interest to be soothing (autistic trait), but you also need to jump between multiple interests to keep you engaged (ADHD trait)

You are meticulous with your plans (autistic trait), but sometimes you overwhelm yourself by making an impulsive decision (ADHD trait)

When you infodump, you have a habit of speaking “too fast” (ADHD trait), but when someone asks you an unrelated question, your responses may be delayed, or you may be unable to speak (autistic trait)

Find out more on Dr. Natalie:

Get the Autism Burnout book we mentioned at:

https://embrace-autism-store.myshopify.com/