Michelle - Neorodiversity Affirming Coach, For Individuals and Families

A warm hello to my neurodivergent community, to individuals and families seeking educational or communication support, and to anyone who has found this space and is interested in growth!
My name is Michelle Desmond. I’m proudly a multiply neurodivergent practitioner who believes strongly in creating strength based support. I offer a variety of types of coaching for individuals and families centered on communication, learning, growth, educational advocacy, imagination, expansion, and empowerment.
This work explores how people can learn, think, relate, communicate, imagine, and build their lives with more clarity, expression, and possibility.
I value the neurodiversity paradigm and view neurodivergence as a natural and meaningful part of human experience. I reject deficit based frameworks. I work collaboratively, honoring each person’s communication style, creativity, and ways of relating to the world!

With 15 years of experience working in educational, arts based, and coaching based settings—I have learned so much from the individuals and families I have had the honor of working with!

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Expressive Arts. I am currently a Doctoral Candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy with an emphasis in Organizational Systems.

With the principles of disability justice and the values of healing-centered engagement as guiding lights! This work is informed by liberation psychology, and I’m committed to centering anti-oppressive and anti-racist values as part of an ongoing commitment to learning, equity, dignity, and relational care.

I’m trained in Brainspotting (Levels 1, 2, and 3) and Brainspotting with Kids (https://www.brainspotting-kids.com). For those who are interested in integrating this focused mindfulness tool in a collaborative and exploratory way. This can be done alongside expressive arts, metaphor, storytelling, and narrative based practices that support reflection and meaning making.
I offer educational support and tools for educational advocacy and organizational support to explore what accommodations may be helpful to you or you child, and make practical plans for how these accommodations can be obtained! I proclaim that we all deserve to have the support we need, and it is an honor to accompany people of all ages in gaining confidence, and self advocacy skills!

For more information on specific services offered I joyfully invite you to visit emeralfamilycaoching.com

If you would like to book a complimentary 20 minute info session, feel free to email me at: emeraldfamilycoaching@gmail.com

Thank you for your interest in my work, I enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to work together!

Important Note: This work is coaching bases, exploring topics such as personal growth, family communication, educational advocacy, creativity, and empowerment. This work does not provide clinical diagnosis, psychotherapy, or mental health treatment.

Epilogue — Some definitions of phrases used above 🙂

Principles of Disability Justice: Intersectionality. Leadership of the most impacted. Anti Capitalist Politic. Commitment to cross- movement organization. Recognizing Wholeness. Sustainability. Commitment to cross disability solidarity. Interdependence. Collective access. Collective Liberation.
-SinsInvalid

The Neurodiversity Paradigm : A specific perspective on neurodiversity. A perspective or approach that boils down to these fundamental principles:
1.) Neurodiversity is a natural and valuable form of human diversity.

2.) The idea that there is one “normal” or “healthy” type of brain or mind, or one “right” style of neurocognitive functioning, is a culturally constructed fiction, no more valid (and no more conducive to a healthy society or to the overall well-being of humanity) than the idea that there is one “normal” or “right” ethnicity, gender, or culture.

3.) The social dynamics that manifest in regard to neurodiversity are similar to the social dynamics that manifest in regard to other forms of human diversity (e.g., diversity of ethnicity, gender, or culture). These dynamics include the dynamics of social power inequalities, and also the dynamics by which diversity, when embraced, acts as a source of creative potential.
-Dr Nick Walker

Values of Healing Centered Engagement: Self reflection. Possibility thinking. Transformative relationships. Well being. Justice: Acountability & Grace
-FlourishAgenda

More inspiration….!

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
― Maya Angelou

No body or mind can be left behind – only moving together can we accomplish the revolution we require. -SinsInvalid