Clinically Awkward

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, sit down with trauma therapist Carly Falk to unpack surviving your twenties through the chaotic millennial time capsule that is HBO’s Girls.
 
We get into trauma work, EMDR, and why I don’t believe embarrassment belongs in therapy. Substance misuse, hypersexuality, sensory seeking, and messy friendships aren’t moral failures; they’re data about unmet needs. Neurodivergent women deserve care that is holistic, honest, and shame-resistant.
 
Then we use Girls as a neurodivergent case study. Ray’s rigidity and info-dumping. Shoshana as the masked, competent autistic little professor. Hannah’s chaotic hyperbole, glossed-over OCD, and relationship dynamics that still make me wince.
We revisit our millennial youth, six-beers-is-fine culture, warehouse parties, and the normalization of self-destruction in your twenties.
And yes, my special interest, the Enneagram, inserts itself. I cannot watch fictional characters without typing them. Hannah as a Four as so is Jessa and they’re both spiraling into sabotage. Marni’s need to be chosen as intergenerational trauma. Shoshana’s possible Six energy sending me into a live wing crisis.
We also touch on AuDHD patterns versus borderline personality disorder, including the difference between a “favorite person” and a “safe person,” and why black-and-white thinking hits differently in different neurotypes.
We close with a radical idea: friendships can end without anyone being the villain. Sometimes growth looks like letting go.
Carly shares about her practice, Lotus Embodied Counseling in Columbia, Maryland, and as always, I’m just out here saying what I needed to hear at 25.
 
0:00 - Welcome to Clinically Awkward: Quarter-Life Crisis Survivors (Feat. Carly)
3:54 - Therapist Origin Stories: The Practice I Accidentally Built
9:42 - Girls as a Neurodivergent Case Study (Respectfully)
15:46 - Millennial Optimism: Dollar Ubers, Chunky Necklaces, and Hipster Vibes
19:35 - Your Boyfriend Owns One Towel: Dating in Your Twenties
23:36 - We're Talking Too Much About Men Again (Derogatory)
27:22 - Shoshana, Masking, and the Little Professor Pipeline
32:30 - Hannah: Hyperbole, Bad Choices, and the Audacity of It All
37:01 - Shoshana's Six Energy & My Live Seven Wing Crash Out
41:10 - Jessa Is a Four and It's Not Fun: Chaos as Self-Sabotage
47:44 - Marnie Would Rather Be Chosen Than Be Okay
51:14 - Justice for Noreen: Second Adolescence, Please
52:51 - Okay We Have to Stop: Carly's Info + Emotional Aftercare

In this bonus episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your local stressy messy AuDHD therapist and self appointed Snake, join Rain Glenn, the Baby, to celebrate our unlikely friendship built entirely on the Game Changers universe, a completely normal and healthy bonding experience.
We spiral about our 50 day and counting Heated Rivalry hyperfixation and everything we know about season two adapting The Long Game, including the Spring 2027 release and the deeply suspicious six episode order that we do not trust.
We mourn the loss of the gladiator butt plug Halloween scene, celebrate Shane coming out to a teammate, and present a professional “please don’t cut this” list featuring the kitchen scene, couch and ice cream, phone smut, the Pike Kids wedding, and more jealous Ilya.
We campaign for maximum Yuna Hollander, debate the plane crash monologue logistics, defend Shane from the “he’s an asshole” discourse, analyze Ilya’s dad coded energy, and accept that waiting until 2027 is now part of our personality.
 
00:00 50 Days Deep in the Hyperfixation
00:49 Heated Rivalry Season 2: What We're Gaining, What We're Losing, and Why We're Devastated.
02:38 Montreal Metros Beef: Hayden Discourse and Team Rage
04:01 Scenes We Actually Need to Continue Living, Yuna Hollander Supremecy, Ending Therapist Misrepresentation
09:18 Ilya’s Soft, Smushy Soul & Girl‑Dad Energy
13:46 The Pike Kids Wedding Must Happen
16:33 Supportive Neighbors & Bobblehead Solidarity
19:23 The Plane Crash That Broke Us
21:15 He's Not a Dick, He's Just Autistic
23:28 Troy & Harris: The Skip of Season Two
27:36 Svetlana Already Knows & The Jealous Ilya We Want to See
32:06 Season Split: A Hope & A Fear
36:57 Man Buns, Trip-and-Falls & Other Crimes Against Canon
41:02 Trophy Room: Layers Upon Layers
42:42 That Wedding Song Was a Choice & Man in the Crease Trash Talking
46:07 Luca Haas and Our Queer Agenda
49:48 Coping with the Dopamine Crash of a Six Episode Season

In this Eating Disorder Awareness Month episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, stressy messy AuDHD therapist, am joined by Bailey Pilant to talk about disordered eating in neurodivergent people, especially binge eating disorder, with guest appearances by bulimia and ARFID. We explain why “just listen to your body” is wildly unhelpful advice when your hunger cues are basically non existent, and how restriction, calorie tracking, nighttime binges tend to show up together.
We get into the AuDHD mechanics behind it all, including executive dysfunction, hyperfocus, sensory issues, dopamine seeking, medication effects, and the fear of being perceived. We also talk about why shame and punishment don’t actually change behavior, despite diet culture’s strong insistence otherwise.
We challenge food rules like earning meals and labeling foods good or bad, share realistic strategies for getting fed when functioning is low, and discuss sensory barriers, clothing, body changes across life stages, and the emotional experience of weight fluctuation. We close with thoughts on self compassion, appreciating what bodies can do. 
00:00 Welcome to Clinically Awkward + ED Awareness Month (Content Warning)
01:47 What Is Binge Eating Disorder?
03:37 Calorie-Tracking, Restriction, and Executive Dysfunction
17:37 Diet Culture, “Good vs Bad” Foods, and ‘Just Get Fed’ Strategies
20:22 Food Hyperfixations, Saving Calories, and Breaking the Food Rules
27:54 Sensory Issues, ARFID, and Being Perceived
32:31 Bodies Change Over Time. That's Normal.
38:09 Leggings vs Jeans, and Why Your Body Isn’t the Problem
41:39 Eating Disorder vs Disordered Eating
44:36 ARFID Tools: Cooking Shortcuts and Experimenting with Texture 
49:22 Spaghetti Defeats Food Moralizing, and What We’d Tell Our Past Selves
 

As an offshoot of my ongoing Heated Rivalry hyperfixation, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, LCSW, am joined by sexologist Dr. Samia Khan for a candid conversation about queer and neurodivergent sexuality. We talk about the stigma around different types of pleasure, why the prostate has a PR problem, and how shame tends to ruin perfectly good curiosity. We also get into consent, communication, aftercare, kink, ethical non monogamy, and why different generations are having very different conversations about sex. Along the way, Dr. Khan shares how sex became both her professional field and a full blown special interest, and we retire a few myths that have been confidently incorrect for decades.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
03:11 Queer and Neurodivergent Sex
07:23 Anal Sex Myths and Realities
17:58 Autism and Sexuality
24:41 The Emotional Responsibilites of Sex
28:37 Consent, Substance Use, and Neurodivergence
31:04 Navigating Vulnerability and Attachment Trauma
37:31 Sex Education and Queer Relationships
45:28 Ethical Non-Monogamy and Kink
50:23 Concluding Thoughts and Resources
 
 

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your friendly neighborhood stressy messy AuDHD therapist, sit down with author Maria Ingrande Mora to talk about our shared and deeply unhinged hyperfixation on hockey. We unpack our hockey origin stories, including nostalgic and occasionally wacky adolescent fandom, how our relationship with the sport has evolved, and what neurodivergent joy, intensity, and identity look like both on and off the ice. We also get into sports and mental health, parasocial relationships with athletes (you are not alone), and Maria’s upcoming book A Wild Radiance.
 
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
09:07 Hyperfixations and Hockey
15:28 Fandom and Social Dynamics
24:41 Playoff Moments and Emotional H ighs
31:40 Autistic Teen Girl Fandom
35:46 Sexual Objectification in Sports
40:46 The Paradox of Hockey Fights
45:25 Dynamics and Inclusivity
51:31 Nostalgia and Favorite Stories
56:56 Aaaand Back to Heated Rivalry
58:33 Author's New Book
 

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, AuDHD therapist, am joined by Dana Cea, a therapist from North Carolina, to explore the unique challenges neurodivergent individuals face around hair care and hygiene. Dana shares insights into their own neurodivergent identity, the impact of social expectations on appearance, and practical ways to make hair care routines more manageable. The conversation balances honesty and warmth as we talk through sensory sensitivities, societal pressures, and the often unspoken realities of personal hygiene, with an emphasis on self-accommodation and reducing shame. This episode offers compassionate, grounded strategies for neurodivergent folks navigating daily self-care.
00:00 Introduction to Clinically Awkward
00:33 Meet Dana Cea: Neurodivergent Therapist
04:42 Navigating Appearance Expectations
13:01 Curly Hair Chronicles
21:44 Hair Care Routines and Challenges
29:44 Professional Appearance Expecta tions
33:59 Hygiene Challenges and Neurodivergence
40:59 Simplifying Hygiene Routines
51:59 Self-Care Tips for Neurodivergent Individuals

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite stressy, messy AuDHD therapist, chat with Colette Bennett, a journalist, author, and Cohost of Colette and Matt Have Entered the Chat. Colette discusses how she turned her love for video games into a profession. She recounts her journey from geeking out over an Atari at age five to working in a high-speed newsroom. They laugh about ADHD mishaps, discuss the wild world of gaming journalism, why yelling 'get good' is the ultimate insult in gamer lingo, and her decision to ultimately leave the field. Colette offers sage (and hilarious) advice for young neurodivergent women diving into male-dominated spaces, reminding them it's totally okay to be the awkwardly brilliant queens they are.
 
Find Collette Here:
Colette's Instagram
Colette & Matt on Youtube
Colette and Matt Have Entered The Chat
 
00:00 Introduction and Special Interests
00:16 Guest Introduction: Colette Bennett
00:41 Colette's Diagnosis Journey
03:51 ADHD Treatment Experiences
06:18 Hyperfocus on Video Games
10:29 Challenges as a Woman in Gaming
20:30 Gaming as a Social Outlet for Neurodivergent Individuals
25:31 Navigating Online Communities
28:24 Masking and Competency in Gaming
33:54 Wholesome Gaming Communities
38:16 Gamergate and Its Impact
44:11 Advice for Neurodivergent Women
51:51 Where to Find More Content

In this bonus, supersized, and increasingly unhinged episode of Clinically Awkward, Rain Glynn and I discuss our current hyper-fixation, the Canadian “hockey” show Heated Rivalry. We dig into the show's character portrayals of neurodivergence, trauma, and interpersonal relationshiops. We dissect moments of clear autistic behavior, the show's handling of trauma and mental health, and the authentic representation of queer relationships. With plenty of humor, we also explore fan reactions, the importance of female characters, and the brilliant performances by the actors. Spoilers abound as we offer an enthusiastic, fan-girl driven therapist's breakdown of the show.
 
01:04: Introducing Heated Rivalry
02:50 Autism in Heated Rivalry
11:13: Trauma and Relationships
16:45 Fan Reactions and Adaptation Discussion
30:20: Hayden and Shane Friendship Dynamics
31:50 Unmasking and Evolving Communication
43:57 Shane's Coming Out and Family Dynamics
50:28:  Neurodivergent and POC Representation in Media
58:48 Final Thoughts and Future Hopes

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, join me, your. Favorite stressy messy AuDHD therapist, Alyssa Zimmerman as I sit down with Danielle Procope Bell, an Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at University of Tennessee and
expert in Black Feminism and Critical Autism Studies. Danielle shares her journey as a late-diagnosed autistic woman and her special interest in chess, diving into how it has shaped her personal and academic life. The conversation explores the intersectionality of race, gender, and neurodivergence, touching on family dynamics, cultural disparities in diagnosis, and the pressures of masking. Danielle provides valuable insights into how critical autism research can better include Black Autistic voices and the broader implications of creating an inclusive society. Tune in for an engaging, honest, and illuminating discussion that challenges existing paradigms and champions neurodivergent inclusivity.
 
00:52 Meet Danielle Procope Bell
05:06 Chess, Autism, and Pop Culture
09:31 Intersection of Autism and Black Feminism
21:14 Navigating Social and Racial Bias
31:35 Young Adulthood and Autistic Masking
38:23  Challenges of Adulthood and Parenthood
43:15 The Sims and Neurodivergent Reflections
47:17 Advice for Black Women Suspecting Autism
49:28 Critical Autism Research and Inclusivity
58:01 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information

In this episode of Clinically Awkward, I, Alyssa Zimmerman, your favorite AuDHD therapist, am joined by the hilarious Rain Glynn to yap about equine therapy. We chat about all things horses, because who knew horses could be therapists too, right? Rain breaks down therapeutic riding, horsemanship, and equine-assisted psychotherapy, and we touch on how horses are basically huge emotional sponges. You'll hear wild stories about horses in therapy, clients who beef with their horses, and how ponies are evil. Horses make the best therapists, no contest. But don't just take my word for it, tune in and we'll laugh, learn, and maybe even convince you to give equine therapy a try.
 
00:00 Introduction and Episode Framing
01:14 Understanding Equine Therapy Modalities
08:56 Sensory Processing and Equine Therapy
14:20 Challenges and Misconceptions in Equine Therapy
23:49 The Unique Benefits of Equine Therapy
29:31 Client Experiences with Horse Behavior
35:04  Neurodivergence in the Military
37:16  Myths About Equine Therapy
39:14 Horses’ Emotional Intelligence & Personalities,
50:50  Funny Horse Stories and Training
56:05 Starting Your Equine Therapy Journey
57:21: Conclusion and Outro