Therapy for Neurodiverse Folks
neurodiversity is…
Neurodiversity is a broad term. Here, I am referring to those who are Sensory Sensitive & those with Neurodevelopmental differences (specifically, Autism & ADHD) & any overlap of more than one of these.
Within these groups there is a nervous system difference from birth that is not to be “cured,” but understood on an individual level.
Every neurodiverse person is unique in needs, gifts & their experience & expression of their neuro-differences.
many neurodiverse folks like the way their brain works…
There is one thing I find myself, my friends & my clients saying a lot…”I like the way my brain works!” It’s often quite emphatic & it’s understandable.
For as much as neurodiverse folks struggle with many things, we wouldn’t change much about how our brain works, but would rather the world would become more welcoming to our differences.
In our work together we balance addressing the challenges you experience with how you can highlight your unique attributes.
neuro-different folks can struggle with:
School & Work
Relationships & Loneliness
Sensory Challenges
Sensory Burnout
Sleep & Circadian Rhythm
Daily Living Tasks
Transitions & Task Switching
Gender & Sexual Identity Discrimination
Rejection Sensitivity
Demand Avoidance
Issues Related to Focus
Emotional Regulation
Nervous System Reactivity
Autoimmune & Digestive Issues
Pain Syndromes & Migraines
Anxiety & Depression
Substance Reliance
Eating Disorders
I do not work from a deficit model, but I do address if you experience your neuro-differences as a disability…or not…
how I help…
Somatic approach helps with sensory reactivity & anxious nervous systems
Contemplative Psychotherapy & Mindfulness tools help with interrupting negative thought patterns
Psych-education & curiosity supports finding solutions that work for you
Insomnia interventions & neurodivergent sleep education supports sleep solutions
Boundary building to stop patterns of burnout & understand relational dynamics
Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy for working with relational attachment on the body level
Expressive Arts, Sandtray supports accessing unconscious insights
Extended Session Psychotherapy provides a space for depth processing
why work with me?
I provide a sensory-friendly environment
I am Sensory-Sensitive myself
I am Autistic+ADHD myself
I offer many service options
My approach is body-centered, not behavioral
No labels that don’t resonate, no stigma, no stereotypes
my approach to…
AUTISM
Whether you are someone who was identified as Autistic when you were a kid or you are an adult trying to figure out now if you’re Autistic…our work together will balance highlighting your unique strengths & the wide array of challenges involved with being an Autistic person.
Autism is a neurodevelopment difference that can be quite obvious or confused with other issues. This can cause a lifetime of confusion & grief. I want to be able to support you in how you view your autism, on your terms.
ADHD
Some ADHDers are identified as kids & some are not if they didn’t present in an obvious way. Both groups are impacted by the stigma of ADHD.
ADHD is a developmental difference that one is born with, but popular misconceptions that we “grow out of it” or that it can be “cured” have held back our progress for understanding the ways in which the ADHD brain can shine.
Presentation & challenges vary…you deserve a curated approach.
AuDHD
Autism + ADHD is not so uncommon, but might slip through the cracks of diagnosis if you don’t meet full diagnostic criteria in an obvious way & based on outward behaviors.
Statistics show upwards of 50% to 90% of Autistic folks are also ADHDers.
Neurodevelopmental presentations seem to co-emerge quite often, so teasing apart your particular neuro-type can bring relief & understanding while defining your unique therapy needs.
a note on masking…
You may have heard the term MASKING or CAMOUFLAGING used in neurodivergent communities to refer to a process in which someone is making great efforts to fit-in or even protect themselves by hiding behaviors or traits.
Anyone can mask…it’s not just an Autistic thing. AND it is completely possible to be masking & be unconscious that you are doing it. Sometimes this happens because you’ve been masking something for so long, from such a young age, that you don’t even remember starting it.
Masking is exhausting & adds complexity to healing depression, burnout, anxiety, panic, trauma, dissociation, etc. if it’s not recognized.
over-lapping concerns…
additional therapy concerns…
Dissociation
Neurodiverse populations are more vulnerable to trauma, developing PTSD, abuse, bullying & anxiety, in general. Therefore, it will come as no surprise that dissociation patterns are high for neurodiverse folks.
I help clients move out of dissociative patterns & reconnect to felt-sense, present moment experience.
“Treatment” Injury
If you were diagnosed with ADHD &/or Autism in your youth, you may have experienced treatment injury, stigma, misdiagnosis or straight-up mistreatment.
We work to untangle the injury you may have experienced, particularly from ABA or other behavioral therapy that served to shame or shut-down stimming & other anxiety regulation strategies.
Shame
Shame can function to turn blame back on ourself when our care environments are unsafe in some way…to think it’s our fault serves to have a small amount of control…but, this is not a state we want to continue when we have more agency.
Agency means there are new options, new choices that you have access to.