Xena Jones is the host of the Navigating Adult ADHD podcast, an ADHD Coach, Neurodiversity Advocate, and self-proclaimed Crazy Cat Lady. Diagnosed at age 36, she quickly discovered that understanding her ADHD brain was the missing piece — and everything changed.
Since becoming a certified Life Coach in 2016, Xena has supported hundreds of adults with ADHD, blending practical coaching with psychology-based tools, emotional regulation skills, and dopamine management strategies.
She holds qualifications in Life Coaching, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and continues to expand her expertise through ongoing learning to stay current with the latest ADHD research and education.
Xena lives at Papamoa Beach with her partner, their two cats, and three bonus kids. She’s also a big fan of bright colours, early bedtimes, and making ADHD make sense.
Talk:
Big Feelings & Fast Reactions: ADHD & Emotional Dysregulation
Description:
Why do so many ADHDers feel things so deeply, react so quickly, and then spiral into shame after the fact?
In this talk, I break down one of the most misunderstood aspects of ADHD: emotional dysregulation. Using a simple and powerful traffic light system to explain nervous system states, I help attendees recognise what’s happening in the moment—and why emotional floods can take over so fast.
This session explores the emotional experience ADHDers have to navigate and practical ways we can support ourselves (or our sparkly-brained loved ones) to feel safer, calmer, and more in control.
Whether you’re an adult with ADHD, a parent, or a support person, you’ll leave with insights to help you respond with more calm, connection, and self-compassion—even when emotions run high.