Blaze's Story

 

I’m Barbara Lazarony, but everyone calls me Blaze.

 

For 20 years, I worked in the fast-paced world of retail, where, as a Senior Director, I led and mentored executives and managed $2.5 billion in sales in 42 locations across the United States. I was uber-successful with a sassy job title and a large office overlooking Market Street in San Francisco. The young girl born on a farm in rural Ohio thought she had finally made it! I was living as an overstressed workaholic. The signs that something was wrong with my health kept getting louder and louder until I couldn’t ignore them any longer; in 2003, I was told I had thyroid cancer, and I decided to resign from my job. 

 

Those were dark times for me; in addition to cancer, I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).  It was a journey, and I sought support from modern and holistic medicine, plus a fantastic therapist and coach. The truth was, I had no idea who I was beyond my job title.

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Sadly, no one in the medical profession back then told me I had both an acquired and genetic form of neurodiversity; it took me a while to discover that my brain was wired differently. I don’t have Autism or ADHD; however, I know what it feels like to be different from everyone else! 

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CANCER WAS THE SPARK I NEEDED TO IGNITE THE FIRE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE. 

–BLAZE LAZARONY

 

That fire led me to become an Advanced Certified Integral Coach and start my own business. I loved being a coach for eighteen years but realized I could not help people achieve long-lasting success, fulfillment, and healing because I didn’t have the skills, training, and knowledge to get to the root of issues holding them back. To support people in the way I wanted to, I decided to go to graduate school at the age of fifty-three and earn my Master's degree in Counseling Psychology.

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Since finishing my degree, I have navigated different types of cancer twice and supported my life partner through his own cancer journey. I also have a history of autoimmune disease diagnosis; therefore, I am someone who understands the deep well of grief that needs to be acknowledged and validated in therapy. 

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Main Areas of Focus

 

Neurodiverse Couples

I am committed to helping couples like you who are neurodiverse. I’ve learned how to love and be loved by my husband; we’ve been together since we were seniors in high school forty years ago.  We have experienced grief, loss, the death of loved ones, financial issues, health challenges, and even being separated for two years, yet we continue to love each other. 

 

I offer my clients both the lived experience and the clinical training to navigate the challenges of neurodiverse relationships because I’m in one myself. So, if you’re trying to navigate relationship challenges, I can help. 

For example, many couples come to therapy with communication difficulties; perhaps they can’t understand one another or are having trouble communicating their needs to their partner, leading to misunderstandings and even conflict. 

 

Clients also express having problems managing their levels of anxiety or impulsivity, where one person constantly feels stressed or overwhelmed while the other is more relaxed. Finding a balance between giving someone space to feel their feelings and not trying to “fix” them is a topic we address in therapy.

 

I help both partners in a neurodiverse relationship learn to understand each other better by using specific strategies for communication. Communicating openly with your partner about what you need and being willing to negotiate is essential.

 

Let’s face it: all of us get triggered, and some strategies can help manage these triggers, especially in neurodiverse relationships. Key strategies include learning about each other's unique triggers and creating ways to manage overstimulation.

 

If you are in a neurodiverse relationship and struggling, please reach out to me for help. You deserve to create a thriving relationship full of patience, love, and understanding.

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Sensory Processing Difficulties

Supporting clients with sensory processing disorders, such as Alexithymia, HSP (Highly Sensitive People), and Interoception difficulties, requires a comprehensive and tailored approach. As a professional, I thrive in supporting clients who have challenges processing and interpreting sensory information, leading to anxiety, discomfort, and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Therefore, creating a safe and calm environment that minimizes sensory triggers and provides clients with the tools needed to regulate their sensory systems is essential. This may include sensory integration therapy, mindfulness techniques, and self-awareness exercises. As a practitioner, I strive to make this process enjoyable by incorporating fun activities like sensory play, relaxation exercises, and positive reinforcement. By supporting my clients with sensory processing disorders, I can help them develop the skills needed to thrive daily.

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Adult Autism & ADHD Assessments

I provide neurodiversity-affirmative assessments and therapeutic services to empower individuals to reach their full potential. I utilize a comprehensive process, including questionnaires, discussions, observations, and evaluations for adults to assess for Autism and ADHD.  Including the in-depth MIDAS-2 and SRS-2 for Autism and the CAARS and Brown EF/A scales for ADHD.

 

Together, we will explore and identify opportunities for your personal growth, acknowledging your unique Autistic and ADHD-filled gifts so that you can lead a life of success and fulfillment. In addition, I understand the special difficulties that neurodivergent individuals face daily. I strive to help my clients confront these challenges head-on, ultimately finding ways to communicate better, socialize easily, and feel more comfortable in the world.

 

I am excited to be your advocate, mentor, and therapist on this journey; if I could have had help when I received my neurodiverse diagnosis, it would have made a world of difference. I would be honored to join you on your path toward hope and confidence!