Welcome!! To connect or become a client, visit catiaholm.com or call/text 956-249-7930.

In today's episode, we sit with the question of whether relationship conflict is really about love or about emotional language that never got translated. With therapist Emily Pierce, we name how neurodivergence shapes communication and we share tools for building compassion, safety, and clarity in neurodiverse couples.
• neurodivergence as a broad umbrella including ADHD, autism, OCD, PTSD, learning differences, and acquired differences
• executive functioning, sensory processing, and emotion regulation differences that change how partners respond
• why “everyone is a little ADHD” language feels invalidating
• late diagnosis in adults, masking, and why tools can stop working during life transitions like perimenopause or parenting
• stigma, fear, and shame that can block support and assessment
• how to find more reliable education, including Neurodivergent Insights by Dr Anna Neff
• what makes a couple “neurodiverse” and why every pairing needs a custom approach
• common miscommunication loops like forgotten tasks, rejection sensitivity, and tone differences
• masking versus adapting, and how to build safety for both partners
• “support swapping” so both partners do meaningful work
• acceptance and grief after a late diagnosis, plus over-communication as a path to repair
• hope for stronger foundations once couples learn a shared language

Show Guest:

Emily Pearce is a passionate LMFT-A specializing in neurodivergent couples, with a deep commitment to understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by these relationships. Over the past three years, Emily has achieved remarkable success in helping neurodivergent couples and individuals navigate common relationship issues through the unique lens of neurodiversity. Drawing from a lifetime of being surrounded by a neurodiverse circle and understanding her own neurodivergent brain, Emily integrates personal experiences with professional expertise to offer empathetic and effective counseling. Emily is dedicated to filling the growing need for specialized training, advocacy, and education in neurodiverse counseling.

You can connect with her at her website and on Instagram.

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Couch Time with Cat isn’t therapy—it’s real conversation designed to support your journey alongside any personal or professional help you're receiving. If you're in emotional crisis or need immediate support, please get in touch with a professional or reach out to a 24/7 helpline like:

• US: 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
• UK: Samaritans at 116 123
• Australia: Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Or find local resources through findahelpline.com

You’re not alone. Let’s take this one honest conversation at a time.

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Show hosted by:

Catia Hernandez Holm, LMFT-A

Supervised by Susan Gonzales, LMFT-S, LPC-S

You can connect with Catia at couchtimewithcat.com

and

To become a client visit- catiaholm.com