Navigating Neurodivergent Burnout.
Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
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Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
Lisa McCarthy, East Cork, Ireland.
Does Parenting Look Like This to You?
Unpredictable Daily Routines
Co-Regulation /Emotional Support
Unexplained Outbursts and Meltdowns
Sibling Grievances
School Avoidance
School Trauma
School Stress with Educational Welfare Offcier and NCSE.
No Support from CAMHS, CDNT or Primary Care.
Shutdowns/Burnouts
Missing Functions and Family Events
Co ordinating Therapies and Specialist Costs
Supporting Routine
Visiting Same Places on Repeat.
Navigating Side Effects/Adjustments
Co-Sleeping
Implementing Strategies
Overwheleming and Time Consuming Tasks
Burnout & Empathy Fatique
Chronic Stress & Anxiety
Sleep Deprovation
Constantly Meeting Childs Needs
Grief for your Old Life
Grief for your Childs Future (the way you invisioned it)
Lack of Neuro -Affirming Supports
Repeatedly Explaining PDA
Advocating for Appropraite Accomodations
Navigating Constant Food and Clothing Preferences
Supporting Executive Functioning Skills
Supporting Attendence( at all social and lesiurely activites)
Being Constantly Available
Being Constantly Present
Always Showing Up
Supporting Basic Organisation Skills
Long Waiting Lists
Limited Access to Truly Inclusive Services
Social Fatique
Misunderstandings/Judgement
Mismatch Between Needs and Environment
Weekly/Daily Meetings, Emails, Calls.
Endless Form Filling and Paperwork
High Parental Involvement/ High Energy Demand
Excluded
Loss of Career Roles * Opportunities
Loss of Identity
Loss of Status
Increased Sick/Carers Leave
Juggling Dual Roles
Unemployment
Family Breakdown
Difficulty Finding your People
Family/Friends Not Understanding PDA
Not Leaving the House
Strained Relationships
Isolation and Misunderstanding
Never Going on a Holiday
Never Going on a Night Out
Never Going Anywhere Alone, NEVER
Unable to Attend Personal Appointments ALONE
Always on Fight/Flight mode
Unable to Switch off
Operating Within Appropriate Distances from your Home (at all times)
Unseen​​
Misunderstood
Seen as less than and not measuring up
Your personal integrity being questioned
Constantly listening to the looks of others
Being "Shhhhed" or Feeling "You Should be Silenced."
​(@kh.occupationaltherapy)​​
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Then, you are very welcome and you are in the right place.
This website is designed to support parents undergoing
severe social, emotional, professional or financial impact,
due to the experience of "Neurodivergent Burnout "
and/or "School Avoidance" issues within
their homes. Your child(ren) may or may not be in school.
They may be engaged within their lives or they may have
retreated inside their home.
Uncertainty, excessive parental demands and
lost relationships become your parenting norm.
Well intentioned parenting advise over rides your nervous
system and the impact of parenting on your daily life,
becomes insurmountable. This website is designed to
help you along your way and reassure you,
that you are not alone, not by a long shot.
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Our Story
Lisa McCarthy is based in Killeagh Village, East Cork, Ireland.
Her background is steeped in social policy, sociology, and psychology. As a Social and Public Health Practitioner, Lisa has trained for many years to critically evaluate and analyze our complex world as she embraces thinking about complicated social issues, social justice equality, and fairness for all.
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​​In today's fast-paced world, Lisa found it extremely difficult to navigate the support systems available to families facing neurodiversity and mental health challenges for young people in Ireland, as recently as 2022 to date. She was dumb-founded at the lack of support services available for such fundamental human right issues.
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When Lisa and her family were faced with the onset of Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA) , severe separation anxiety, a trauma and attachment disorder, Persistent Drive for Autonomy (PDA) and youth based neurodivergent burnout, Lisa noticed how families were left waiting for the professional services to reach you.​ "Professionals work in their own bubble, and before you know it, you're just another face in the crowd. You learn that services do not work together and you are on constant repeat, mentally and emotionally. "
"It's like being left in this bottomless pit of darkness when all you want is a little light to guide you."
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"Navigating Neurodivergent Burnout" aims to help bridge that vital gap and
ensure families have the resources they so desperately need."
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​Lisa wants to express her heartfelt thanks to the Local Enterprise Office, East Cork. Their guidance and support played a significant role in helping her develop her ideas and launch this platform. She's incredibly thankful for everything they've done. ​
Lisa's journey of discovering her family were neurodivergent, was a significant learning experience. She realized that traditional parenting methods were not working for them and that she could not keep squeezing her family into a square hole. Once she aligned with what her family needed, they created a safe space to belong. The biggest challenge was finding neuro-affirming professionals and friends who understood. Lisa shares a list of impactful practitioners she recommends to families facing similar struggles, hoping to inspire them to seek support and persevere in their journeys
SHINE Autism Services in Carrigaline, Cork. Thank you for your amazing counseling support and guidance, and for always listening and believing in me. You reflected to me what I wanted to scream to the whole world. Thank you for keeping my sanity in tact.
Youghal Library Services.
Their support in sourcing books on Neurodiversity, while keeping two busy boys occupied, will always mean so much to our family. They have jigsaws, a sensory pack and a colouring station. Most importantly, they are kind and patient.
The Home Tutor
Ms. O Connor.
One neuro-affirming home tutor is all a neurodivergent child could ever wish for. Thank you for believing in our little person and creating a safe world for him to thrive.
Emily Hustwick
Mental Health Therapist.
@life.behind.a.mask.
For her authentic beauty both inside and out and her innate wisdom and inspiration. She has so much to teach us.
Claire Oars
- Care Farm- Castlemaryter
The wisdom, expertise and empathy Claire Oars shares is "mind blowing" for both children and parents.
Claire goes beyond for each and every unique person. Claire's non clinical setting was cathartic and life saving to us.
South East Technological University.
Dermot Rafter teaches the Certificate in Challenging Behaviour (2025) online. His lectures reinforced that my family was on the right path and I learned how to complete a Behaviour Support Plan for my son, which is incremental to his development to date.
FORSA
Legal Advise, Guidance and Support. Belief and Advocacy of situation. (L.F.).
PDA Support Group Ireland.
For embracing me so many times, when I felt utterly hopeless. The resilience in this group will lift you up and inspire you, every time. Their comprehension of their lived experiences' was ground breaking for me.
Kim Boyhan
Homeopathy - Youghal.
This therapist is phenomenal at what she does.
Words cannot describe the passion, empathy and mastermind Kim devouted to our family in the first year of our journey. She was so invested in our mental well-being and she was on the ball every single time.
Healy Law.
Niamh Maher, for
her support, time and insight into Needs of Assessment applications
and for creating social awareness.
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Eleana Simons.
Occupational Therapist, who was kind and influential in supporting our son in his own environment.
Amy Winter
Emotional Regulation Specialist.
Wexford.
Amy is the first and only Emotional Regulation Therapist I have have ever spoken to.
I cannot explain how essential her understanding is, nationwide.
HSE - Coaching Services
My coach had the energy I was lacking. He helped to guide me and to keep a positive appraoch in finding my way through this maze.
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Employee Assistance Programme.
To R. Kenny who guided me softly and safely through our first year x
Midleton Family Resource Centre. Their Family Support Worker, F.O.S., was instrumental in keeping our spirit alive. "She saw us exactly where we were."
Naomi Fisher and Eliza Fricker.
A psychologist and an author/consultant who have made an abundance of research available on School Anxiety, Burnout & PDA. You made me feel visible for the first time and opened my eyes to all we had to learn.
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Epiphany Coaching.
For being so brave in sharing her story on social media and creating national awareness. She has inspired me to know I am not alone and there are many of us "Cycle Breakers", in this together.
Family Carers Ireland.
For sponsering me to complete the Certificate in Advocacy in 2024 with The South East Technological University. Ms. Devine is patient and inspiring for all carers and mental health advocates. She taught me "Never to apologise" for our own personal experience.
What I Can Do For You Now?
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Help You Take Your Power Back
Lisa knows first hand of the rejection, shaming and blaming that aligns with school refusal, childrens meltdowns and challenging behaviours. ​She is extremey aware of the lack of a support system and the hollow sound that remains, once your child is no longer in the school system. ​​​​Lisa urges families to take their power back during this difficult and challenging time.
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Empower You
Lisa is adament to empower families , with the supports and resources she couldn't find when she was starting out.
While waiting for the professionals to show up, an awful lot can be done in the home, to make your life more understandable and manageable for the whole family.
The reality is, this will take months to years. Lisa wants to help parents direct their energies into moving their family directly out of burnout and getting their lives back on course, as quickly as possible. ​​​​
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Accompany You
Families should not have to face this journey of confusion and loneliness alone. These parents are the brave, generation breakers, who refuse to allow their children to be stuck at home and they refuse to stay quiet, for those whose lives are already comfortable. It is infuriating.
Families need support
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To cut out all the unneccessaries in daily life.
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Identify triggers and distress sources of their loved one.
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Recognise and de-escalate the meltdowns.
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And to be reassured they are doing a great job.
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Neuroaffirming Services
Latest Articles
Lisa has her Bachelor in Social Science and her Masters in Public Health and Epidemiology from University College Cork, where she studied for many years. Lisa is a registered member of CORU and IPH and adheres to their code of ethics and guidelines.
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Lisa McCarthy has twenty professional years experience as a Social Care Worker in both public and private health sectors and she also holds a Certificate in Counselling and Psychotherapy from South East Technological University.
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Lisa practised as a reflexologist pre-covid, receiving accreditation from ITEC in 2018. Lisa hopes to combine this practise with Emotional Regulation Workshops (1-1/Group Sessions) in the future. Lisa received her Professional Emotion Coach Certificate with Alison Training which is CPD certified in early 2025.​​
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Most recently Lisa completed her Certificate in Neuro-Affirming Mindfulness Practise with Amy Winter.
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Lisa is a member of Family Carer's Ireland. She has undergone training with Barnardos and the HSE in relation to safe guarding and safe practise.
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Constantly learning, Lisa has been accepted through The Higher Education Authority to undergo her Post Graduate in "Personal and Management Coaching" in UCC this September 2025.