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Tanya Hicks
AuDHD, PMDD, POTS, SPD, SAD, RSD CEO & Founder
The Pokèmon character that best describes me is Alolan Ninetales...
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I’m not just here to roar—I’m here to nourish, protect, and transform. That’s why if I were a Pokémon, I’d be Alolan Ninetales. Here’s why:
1. I Lead Through Love, Not Fear
Alolan Ninetales protects its terrain with grace and quiet strength—not domination. That’s what oxytocin leadership is all about. I don’t need to control the room—I shift the energy in it. I guide through trust, attunement, and nervous system safety.
2. I’m Fierce and Soft—at the Same Time
Just like this ice/fairy Pokémon, I blend softness with sharp clarity. I will fiercely protect my people, but I do it calmly, lovingly, and without performative aggression. I believe you can hold the line and hold space—without compromising either.
3. I Create a World Where It’s Safe to Unmask
Alolan Ninetales isn’t just surviving—it reshapes the environment around it. I’ve spent my life building sensory-safe, neurodivergent-affirming spaces where people can finally breathe, feel, and unmask. That’s the heart of everything I do.
4. I’m Rare, Sparkly, and Unapologetically Different
Let’s be honest—Alolan Ninetales has serious sparkly alien energy. It doesn’t try to blend in. It moves with elegance, mystery, and power. I spent too long trying to dim my light. Now, I know my difference is the magic.
5. I Embody Sacred, Feminine Leadership
With strong divine feminine energy, Alolan Ninetales is deeply spiritual, wise, and intuitive. That mirrors my authenticity architecture—where rest is sacred, softness is strength, and every choice honours the body, soul, and truth of who we are.
6. I Change the Weather—Literally and Figuratively
Just like Alolan Ninetales can shift the climate around it, I help transform systems that were never built for us. Whether it’s parenting, leadership, or healing—I believe in creating conditions where others can finally thrive.
7. I Don’t Roar for Attention. I Roar Because I Know.
My leadership is rooted in clarity. I don’t perform. I don't push. I know—and that knowing comes from years of lived experience, trauma healing, and reclaiming my power. I am the calm and the storm. The rest and the roar.
That’s why I’m not just a Pokémon…
I’m a sparkly, ice-crowned, terrain-shifting, oxytocin-led Alolan Ninetales.
And I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I’m Tanya Hicks, the Founder and CEO of Neurodivergent Empowered and Sparkly Aliens Inc. I’m internationally recognised for my work in empowering autistic, ADHD, and sensitive individuals to live with authenticity, joy, and connection. My approach is grounded in both lived experience and professional training — with qualifications in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (MNLP), Clinical Hypnosis (MClinHyp), Positive Psychology, Coaching, Counselling, Trauma Therapy (EMDR), Mindfulness, and Leadership.
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As an autistic woman, mother, award-winning author, and global speaker, I bring my full self to this work. My mission is to transform systems and build neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed pathways that support individuals and families to thrive.
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I lead with science, soul, and a whole lot of sparkles — guided by compassion, creativity, and an unwavering belief that every person deserves to feel safe, seen, and empowered to be exactly who they are.
Things I am currently passionate about / current interests
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Providing a Neurodivergent-Affirming Life for My Son
At the core of my purpose is being a mum to my favourite AuDHD human. I’m passionate about building a life where he feels emotionally and sensory safe, understood, celebrated, and empowered to grow into his most authentic self without ever needing to mask.
Using Yoga and Movement to Nourish the Nervous System
Yoga isn’t about poses—it’s about presence. I’m passionate about adapting yoga to meet neurodivergent bodies and brains with gentleness, acceptance, and core strength. Through mindful movement, breathwork, and sensory awareness, I teach others how to reconnect with their bodies and experience emotional empowerment from the inside out.
Empowering Sensitive Individuals to Reclaim Joy and Identity
Through books, events, programs, and lived experience leadership, I guide sensitive humans to better understand their brain and body, connect with their identity, and step into a life that honours their true nature—full of self-trust, pride, and unapologetic joy.
Why I am about passionate about the work I do for Neurodivergent Empowered:
I’m passionate about the work I do at Neurodivergent Empowered because I know what it feels like to grow up in a world that was never built for your brain or your body—and I never want another person to feel alone in that. Everything we create is driven by lived experience, not just mine but the incredible humans I walk beside every day.
This work matters to me because it’s not theoretical—it’s personal. It’s my son’s future, my own healing, and my vision for a world where neurodivergent people are not just surviving, but thriving. Where masking isn’t necessary, where sensory and emotional safety are standard, and where we can celebrate the brilliance that comes with different ways of being.
I do this work to build pathways of joy, connection, and empowerment. I do it to challenge outdated systems and create spaces where people feel safe to explore who they truly are. And I do it because I believe in the radical, world-changing power of neurodivergent people when we are fully supported, affirmed, and seen.
Current Sessions I am one of the Facilitator's for:
ADULTS​
Connection Through Calm
Mondays: Noon to 1pm
This social and connection-focused program seamlessly weaves in therapeutic elements, combining mindfulness, gentle movement, and sensory exploration to empower participants to embrace their (or their child’s, if a carer) unique brains and bodies while cultivating self-compassion, emotional balance, and a deeper sense of authenticity