About this episode

This episode explores the dynamics of friendship from a neurodivergent perspective with social skills coach Caroline Maguire.

Hey Team! We've all had those moments where we walk away from a conversation and immediately spiral into a "self-regulation hangover," wondering if we said too much or if we were just being "tolerated" rather than included. Feeling like maybe this whole friendship thing maybe just isn't for us. This week, I'm talking with Caroline Maguire, a veteran social skills coach and the founder of the Social Excellence training program. She holds a Master's in Social Emotional Learning and is one of the few experts who approaches social skills as a "muscle" that can be built, rather than an innate talent you either have or you don't. Her first book, Why Will No One Play with Me? , became an instant staple for neurodivergent families helping children struggling with social skills to make friends. And with what she learned from that book she is now bringing to her upcoming book, Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted. In this episode, we're looking at the mechanics of friendship through a neurodivergent lens. We talk about the importance of proximity and "shared interest fuel" in bypassing the awkwardness of small talk. We…

People in this episode

Host: William Curb

Guest: Caroline Maguire

Topics covered

• neurodivergent friendship
• social skills
• self-regulation
• trust building
• adult relationships

Keywords

• neurodivergent
• friendship
• social skills
• self-regulation hangover
• trust building

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Why Will No One Play with Me?, Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: A Guide for the Anxious, Uniquely Wired, and Easily Distracted

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