In this bibliotherapy podcast interview, I interview author-illustrator Eliza Fricker (Missing the Mark) on neurodiversity, mental health, and how her daughter’s school breakdown led her to begin illustrating their experiences to process feelings of overwhelm, rage, disappointment, guilt, and isolation, later sharing the work online under a pseudonym and publishing the Sunday Times bestselling book Can’t Not Won’t.

She explains how giving children labels can imply choice and describes the judgment and shame parents face, while advocating for more education, connection, and meaningful, flexible, interest-based learning rather than a target-driven curriculum and SEND categorisation. Fricker shares her own neurodiversity exploration through her latest memoir Could Try Harder (out on Thursday 14 May 2027, and available at all good bookstores).

She references polyvagal theory and masking in school meetings, outlines PDA (also called pervasive drive for autonomy) strategies, and recommends Letters to My Weird Sisters by Joanne Limburg and How to Be Autistic by Charlotte Amelia Poe.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:19 From Textiles to Illustration

04:43 Can't Not Won't Explained

08:03 Self Discovery and Memoir

11:09 Could Try Harder Preview

12:51 Why School Needs Change

14:41 Rethinking SEND Support

17:06 Meaningful Learning

19:48 Power of Visual Narratives

22:21 Illustration Process and Space

24:08 Understanding PDA Strategies

27:33 Self Care for Parents

28:17 Books That Changed Eliza

31:34 Book Launch Plans and Closing

You can explore all of Eliza's other books on autism and PDA here.

Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io

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If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion.

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