Neurodiversity

What does it mean for therapy to be “neurodiversity affirming?”

There’s a lot of brilliance, joy, and creativity in being neurodivergent—but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. When support is missing, or when the world keeps expecting you to be someone you’re not, things can get really heavy.

The neurodiversity paradigm views neurodivergence (things like ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, etc) as a natural part of human diversity rather than something to pathologize. Working from a neurodiversity-affirming lens means I’m not trying to change how your brain works—I’m trying to help you understand it, work with it, and stop fighting against it. We’ll find what fits for you.

I don’t work to help you be “more normal,” because I don’t even know what “normal” actually is. I work to help you find space to be who you are without all of the heaviness.

The Medical Model of Therapy

A lot of traditional therapy is built around the medical model—a “find the problem, fix the problem” kind of approach. While that framework can be useful in some situations, it often assumes there’s a “normal” way to think, feel, or behave—and that anything outside of that needs correcting.

For neurodivergent folks, this lens can be incredibly limiting and even harmful. Maybe you were told to stop “overthinking,” to “try harder,” or to manage your emotions in ways that never felt right to your mind and body. You may have left therapy feeling like you were doing it wrong—or like you were too much.

That’s not your fault.

Common themes that folks looking to explore neurodiverse identities include:

  • Unmasking and identity shifts

  • Burnout, meltdowns, and shutdowns

  • Building authentic social relaitonships

  • Body awareness and regulation (physical and emotional)

  • Nervous system support strategies

  • Pros/cons of formal diagnosis

  • Self-disclosure and boundary setting

  • Grief and energy/work/life balance

  • Seeking and advocating for accommodations

  • Shame and internalized ableism

  • Sensory sensitivities and overwhelm

  • Navigating intersecting identities (race, gender, sexuality, disability, etc)

  • Decision-making fatigue

  • Executive dysfunction

  • Finding joy, creativity, and self-acceptance

    Yeah…. it can be a lot sometimes!

What does this actually look like in sessions?

For processing & communication needs:

  • Infodumping, monologuing, and external processing welcome!

  • Your thoughts matter, even when emotions feel out of reach

  • Tangents encouraged (I will follow and let you know if I get lost!)

  • Words optional—silence and other forms of expression welcome

  • You can always ask for repetition or clarification

Sensory + Environment:

  • No required eye contact: You don’t have to look at me to be fully engaged here

  • Stimming, fidgeting, and movement are encouraged!

  • Snacks, drinks, bathroom breaks allowed without permission needed

  • Support items always welcome and pets can attend virtual sessions!

  • My office is equipped with coloring materials, Squishmallows, fidgets, and more, but feel free to bring whatever you feel like you need to make the space comfortable!

  • Wear whatever is comfortable—no dress code here

  • We can adjust pacing, structure, seating arrangements, or how much we talk

My own neurodivergence comes to the party, too:

  • I might look away when I’m thinking really hard about what you said

  • I dress comfortably (sometimes even sock-footed)

  • I think in metaphors—and may offer one to make sense of what you’re sharing

  • I sometimes scribble during session to track themes, names, or visual ideas

  • I might pause or ask you to summarize if my own brain needs to catch up