From Burnout to Business Success

Patrick Casale’s Journey as an Autistic & ADHD Entrepreneur

Starting a business can be a game-changing move, especially for those with ADHD and autism. In my latest conversation, I sat down with Patrick Casale, a therapist, private practice coach, and host of the All Things Private Practice podcast, to discuss his journey from workplace burnout to thriving as a neurodivergent business owner.

Burnout in the Workplace

Patrick was on call 24/7, working in a mental health urgent care center that was underfunded and overwhelmed. "I was working 60-hour weeks in middle management, asked to do more with less support," he shares. "There’s got to be something else. This is not sustainable." After a hospital visit due to burnout, Patrick knew it was time to change course.

Leaving Stability for Entrepreneurship

Patrick was undiagnosed autistic at the time and felt overwhelmed by the idea of leaving his job to start a business. "I kept convincing myself that this isn’t for me," he says. "But when the agency announced that I wasn’t eligible for a raise, I knew it was time to go."

Battling Imposter Syndrome

Leaving a structured job for the unknown world of entrepreneurship brought a new set of challenges. "I vividly remember sitting alone in my office after three client no-shows, telling myself that this is clearly not going to work," Patrick recalls. But instead of giving up, he implemented policies and structured his days to better suit his ADHD and autistic needs.

Building Self-Accommodations as an Entrepreneur

Patrick had to find a new rhythm as a business owner. "I went from working 70 hours a week to 20," he says. "But I still felt like I had to fill every hour with something." Over time, he learned to structure his days around networking, self-care, and decompression – a necessary balance to prevent autistic burnout.

"Scheduled send became my best friend," Patrick says. "I could get my thoughts out without overwhelming my team at 2 a.m."

Creating Neurodivergent-Affirming Workplaces

Now, Patrick has grown his practice to 25 therapists, all of whom are neurodivergent. "We do things in such an unorthodox way," he explains. "We don’t enforce dress codes or strict hours. We build the role around the person, not the other way around."

For Patrick, this approach has led to higher employee retention and a more supportive workplace culture.

Turning Fear Into Fuel

"If there’s one takeaway from my journey," Patrick says, "it’s that fear doesn’t have to stop you. You can doubt yourself and still do it anyway. The more we talk about it, the less power it has over us."

Want to hear the full conversation? Check out the latest episode of the AuDHD Boss on YouTube and listen to Patrick Casale share his strategies for transforming burnout into business success.

Neurodivergent Leadership: Insights from Patrick Casale's Autistic and ADHD Journey

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