140 [S10 E12] Working with autism, not against: Mental health, masking and giving ourselves grace

Kara Nash is a registered nurse and autism consultant who focuses on creating positive change in how the healthcare system treats people on the spectrum.

Kara has over twenty years' experience working in the field of autism and mental health. Now 50, she was diagnosed autistic herself at 37. 

During her career Kara has supported autistic people across the lifespan in hospitals, residential programs, schools, and community settings, and she now runs a private consulting practice in Western North Carolina. 

She is also a public speaker, writer, and educator, creating practical resources for families and professionals and sharing insights about autism, neurodiversity, and the intersection of mental health and everyday life on YouTube and other platforms.

In this conversation Kara shares her personal experience with autism-centred therapy, why she was drawn to working in mental health and why she loves her work, and some of the frustrating aspects of being an autistic patient. She also talks about new drug therapies for autistic people, aimed at creating pro-social behaviour, and how we can advocate for ourselves better in medical scenarios. And the joy of learning to love our stims and give ourselves grace to let go of the things we're not organically wired to do.

Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way.

I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020.

I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

 

➡️LISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast 

 

EPISODE LINKS:

Website: https://www.theautisticautismconsultant.com 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theautisticautismconsultant 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autisticautismconsultant/ 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time (book mentioned in this episode): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-time/dp/0099450259 

 

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

Website: https://squarepeg.community/ 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast 

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

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

THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS!

 

A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast:

 

Abi Hunter, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Anna Grojec, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, Cathy Oliver, Charlotte Keen, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L.