Dr. Sami Pieknik and David Meer: The Truth About Affirming Neurodivergent Mental Health Care

Human First with Dr. Courtney Tracy

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Our guests are two of the most fun people I’ve had the chance of interviewing: Dr. Sami and David! This episode is all about being neurodivergent. David Meer is a licensed professional counselor located in Scottsdale, Arizona. David has over a decade of experience and provides workshops and consultation services to corporate clients and schools in the Phoenix Metro area. Dr. Sami Pieknik is a licensed clinical psychologist in Phoenix, Arizona providing individual therapy to children, teens, and young adults. Dr. Sami has 12 years of experience working to support neurodivergent individuals.She has a background in psychological/neuropsychological assessment, autism assessment, and in working with neurodivergent folks across the lifespan and in a variety of settings including inpatient residential, home-based therapies, community mental health, and in private practice.

Episode Description and Show Notes:

In this episode of the HUMAN First podcast, Dr. Courtney discusses:

• Sami describes herself as an adult toy collector, musician, and cat person. David describes himself as an empathetic father of two girls.
• Sami and David connected on Linkedin and realized there’s a huge shortage of therapists who specialize in neurodiversity
• They both feel a responsibility to speak up because it’s easy to stay silent
• You have to be careful with what you share about yourself because the stigma against neurodiversity exists even in the mental health space
• Sami and David define neurodiversity and affirming in a mental health capacity
• Judy Singer first coined the term “neurodiversity” in Australia
• Neurodiversity is a biological fact, not an opinion
• Neurotypical is considered what society deems “normal” whereas Neurodivergent deviates from what society deems “normal”
• Some people meet what challenges what they were taught with defenses
• We expect the same behavior for all children just because they are around the same age, yet most of the structures we place around them are arbitrary like sitting still
• There are so many different ways people present and the “average” person doesn’t exist
• Autistic burnout and trauma is real and underlooked
• What kind of levels of support are you providing your neurodivergent clients, peers, or friends?
• The double empathy problem: What is it and How do we see it in neurodivergent people?
• Seeing people for their whole being, not over generalizing, and listening is the key to affirming neurodivergent people.

You can find Dr. Sami and David online at:

Website: https://www.neurodiversecounseling.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/neuro.pier/?hl=en

Sami IG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.sami.p/?hl=en

Dr. Courtney Tracy’s additional offerings:

Instagram: @the.truth.doctor

TikTok: @the.truth.doctor

Twitter: @_thetruthdoctor

Exclusive YouTube Show: The Truth Doctor Show

Healing texts: USA & Canada [phone]

Website: www.thetruthdoctor.com

This podcast is not therapy and does not provide personalized clinical advice. The purpose of this podcast is to provide mental health based entertainment and psychoeducation