Burnout and Brilliance: Reconnecting with Our Values as Twice/Multi-Exceptional Adults
When giftedness, Autism, ADHD, and other intensities overlap, many of us experience cycles of creativity, capacity, and burnout. This workshop explores how twice/multi-exceptionality shapes burnout — not as a personal failing, but as a response to neuronormative and capitalistic pressures that pull us away from our values.
Together we’ll spend a short time learning about the unique ways burnout shows up for twice/multi-exceptional folks, then move into a guided creative exercise. Using simple prompts, you’ll reflect on your own values and turn your insights into a small zine you can keep as a personal reminder and anchor. Then you’ll have the opportunity to share with others if you wish.
This session will be practical, reflective, and gentle — blending knowledge, creativity, and connection to support you in aligning with what truly matters.
Caitlin Hughes
she/them
Autistic, ADHD, PDA, Gifted (multi-exceptional)
Caitlin Hughes (she/they) is a multi-exceptional (Autistic, ADHD, PDA, Gifted) Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) and the founder of Cathartic Collaborations, a neuroaffirming practice based in Meanjin (Brisbane). Their lived experience is not separate from their work — it forms the foundation of how they show up: relationally, systemically, and with deep respect for complexity. Through somatic and relational approaches, Caitlin supports Autistic, ADHD, queer, and multi-exceptional individuals to heal systemic trauma, embrace their neurotype, and build self-defined lives of meaning and purpose. Alongside therapy, they provide supervision for allied health professionals, fostering reflective, ethical, and neuroaffirming practice.
Caitlin is also a PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where their research uses participatory approaches to centre Autistic voices and reimagine mental health care that is ethical, inclusive, and neuroaffirming. They have presented at national conferences, delivered neuroinclusive training across sectors, and co-host Divergent Dialogues, a podcast and blog blending research, lived experience, and professional insight to reimagine neurodivergent mental health.
As a speaker and facilitator, Caitlin delivers presentations and professional development that challenge neuronorms and expand what’s possible in mental health care. Known for being practical, grounded, and emotionally resonant, their work bridges research, lived experience, and real-world application — supporting the next generation of neuroaffirming professionals. Beyond work and research, Caitlin can usually be found curled up with their two cats, Fifi and Kai Kai.