Ali Barton: Cognitive (in)flexibility & trusting your gut

Women & ADHD

Episode 177 with Ali Barton.

“When I have gut feelings about things, you can't change my mind. It drives other people bonkers, but I trust my gut deeply.”

Ali is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice just outside of Boston. She works primarily with women in their 20s through 50s, with ADHD, anxiety, disordered eating/eating disorders, parenting stressors, and relational conflicts. She is also a mom of two children with ADHD, and is passionate about advocating for more awareness around neurodiversity.

We talk about the different presentations of ADHD in women, and how Ali’s sister, Emily, helped her discover her own ADHD. We also talk about Ali’s life-threatening health challenges during her pregnancy, her heart transplant 5 months after her first child was born, and the book about the experience. In retrospect, she realizes that her issues with executive function (especially cognitive flexibility) are what helped her decide to remain pregnant and give birth to her son.

We discuss how Ali’s work with clients has changed since her own diagnosis, and we talk about trusting your gut feelings and intuition, even when others may not understand.

Website: allisonbartonlmhc.com

Links & Resources:

• Against Doctor’s Orders by Ali Weinberg Barton
• Episode 122 with Emily Weinberg

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

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