In this episode of Suggestive Parenting, Rebecca O’Rourke is joined by Diane Wolf, MBA, M.Div., RP, psychotherapist, neuroscience educator, speaker, and author, for an honest and practical conversation about supporting neurodivergent children and the families who love them.

Diane shares insights from her work with first responders experiencing PTSD and explains how some of the brain and nervous system responses we see in trauma can help us better understand what may be happening for neurodivergent children when they become overwhelmed, overstimulated, or feel unsafe.

Together, Rebecca and Diane explore:

• Why neurodivergent children may respond so strongly to sensory input and environmental demands

• What happens when a child’s window of tolerance becomes overwhelmed

• Why multi step instructions can be challenging

• Understanding different learning and sensory preferences

• Using ABC tracking to look beyond the behaviour and discover what may be driving it

• How to create environments that support the child instead of expecting the child to fit the environment

• Practical strategies for recognizing triggers and helping children develop self regulation skills

• Why gradual exposure and safe experiences can help the nervous system learn

• The importance of community and connecting with other families who understand

• Giving ourselves grace as parents when things don’t go as planned

Most importantly, this conversation reminds us that neurodivergent brains are not broken brains. They process information differently and can be incredibly effective in their own way.

Parenting isn’t about making every child fit the same mould. It’s about understanding the child in front of you, meeting them where they are, and helping them discover the ways they can thrive.

Connect with Diane Wolf

Diane Wolf is a psychotherapist in private practice working with First Responders who are overcoming PTSD, anxiety, and depression. A former business professor, she is also an international speaker and author who uses the latest in neuroscience research to help high achieving leaders sustain consistent performance by strengthening the biological systems that protect long term health and cognitive clarity.

A mother of three adult children and grandmother of seven, Diane was also a well known parenting speaker and course facilitator for many years.

🌐 Diane’s Website:

📧 Email:

Connect with Rebecca O’Rourke

Rebecca O’Rourke is a Behaviour Expert, Master Hypnotist, NLP Practitioner, and the creator of Suggestive Parenting™, a subconscious approach to parenting that helps parents understand behaviour, regulate themselves, and create deeper connection with their children.

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🎧 Listen to this episode of Suggestive Parenting and discover a different way of looking at behaviour, one rooted in understanding, connection, patience, and grace.

What if the key to better parenting isn’t changing your child’s behaviour but understanding yourself first?

In this insightful episode of Suggestive Parenting, Rebecca O’Rourke sits down with Kristyn Livermore to explore how our own childhood experiences shape the way we show up as parents. Kristyn shares her personal journey of growing up in a divorced family, developing patterns of people-pleasing, and how those unconscious habits later affected her relationship with her children and husband.

Together, Rebecca and Kristyn discuss the importance of moving from being a child’s friend to becoming a grounded, supportive parent who can set healthy boundaries while maintaining deep connection. They explore how parents can recognize generational patterns, separate their own emotional experiences from their children’s, and create space for both empathy and leadership in the parenting relationship.

The conversation dives into practical NLP and hypnosis-based tools, including the use of positive “anchors” to regulate emotions, understanding visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles, and simple ways parents can strengthen connection with their children through everyday interactions. Kristyn also shares how she manages her own energy during high-pressure sports events, including rep hockey tryouts, and how self-awareness allows her to remain present rather than becoming caught up in the emotional intensity around her.

Rebecca and Kristyn discuss parental guilt, outdated generational expectations, emotional regulation, self-care, and the powerful idea that children learn more from what we model than what we tell them. This episode is filled with practical insights for parents who want to raise emotionally healthy children while healing and growing themselves.

Guest Bio

Kristyn Livermore is a Human Behaviour Specialist, Certified Hypnotist, NLP Practitioner, speaker, and Owner of Westend Hypnosis in Burlington, Ontario.

She is also a proud mom of two boys.

Like many mothers, Kristyn spent years putting everyone else first, gaining weight, losing confidence, and losing touch with herself along the way. Through the power of hypnosis and personal development, she transformed her life, losing over 100 pounds and reconnecting with the confident, authentic woman she was always meant to be.

Today, she helps people overcome stress, anxiety, self-doubt, and limiting beliefs so they can create lasting change, achieve their goals, and become the best version of themselves.

Rebecca and Kristyn are both part of the Leadership Team with the Master Hypnotist Society and Hypnosis Training Canada.

Connect with Kristyn Livermore

Westend Hypnosis – Burlington, Ontario

About the Host

Rebecca O’Rourke is a Behavioural Expert, Master Hypnotist, Parenting Coach, and creator of Suggestive Parenting helps parents better understand children’s behaviour, strengthen connection, and create lasting change through practical, evidence-informed strategies rooted in communication, behaviour, and subconscious learning.