Haley Graham : A Conversation on Mental Health, Autism, and Finding Your Way

Send us a text Psychotherapist Haley Graham shares her journey from pharmacist to mental health advocate after her son's struggle with school led her to found the Bounce Brighter Futures Foundation. Her personal experience with neurodivergence drives her passion for supporting children, parents, and teachers through therapeutic storytelling and compassionate understanding. • Founded Bounce Brighter Futures Foundation in 2019, now supporting 90 families weekly with 12 therapists • Approximately 50% of children seeking support are neurodivergent (autistic or ADHD) • School attendance difficulties often stem from not belonging in the system rather than just peer bullying • Cautions against therapists inadvertently teaching autistic children to mask better • Uses storytelling with woodland animals to help children explore mental health challenges • Created "Shadow Monster" story as metaphor for facing anxiety and OCD • Developing new book based on interviews with late-identified autistic adults • Believes autism itself isn't the problem—fitting into society creates mental health challenges • Emphasizes curiosity about children's experiences rather than trying to fix them • Advocates for thoughtfulness and empathy when supporting neurodivergent individuals Find Haley Graham on LinkedIn, Instagram (hayleygrahauthor), and at Bounce Brighter Futures website. https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI) The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates. Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed. Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care. Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.