Therapy for Neurodivergence
Being neurodivergent often means navigating a world that wasn’t designed with you in mind. No matter how common your experiences are, you weren’t set up for success.
Whether you’re autistic, ADHD, gifted, sensory sensitive, or otherwise neurodivergent, you know the experience isn’t necessarily just about how you think—it’s often how the world treats you for it. Maybe you grew up feeling “too much” or “too sensitive.” Maybe you learned to mask—to shrink yourself down, suppress your needs, and work twice as hard just to be seen as “functional.”
And even if you’ve found ways to survive, you might still feel exhausted, disconnected from yourself, or unsure how to fully live in a world that keeps asking you to be someone else.
Here, you don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not. You don’t have to explain away your needs or squeeze yourself into a mold that never fit you.
Noticing Some of the Impacts of Being Neurodivergent in a Neurotypical World
Constant sensory overwhelm or shutdown
Crowded stores, bright lights, loud environments - it all can feel like too much going on at once
Maybe you wear headphones all of the time
Or maybe like working on the weekends so that your gym or grocery store isn’t full of people when you go on your days off
Certain textures, smells, or noises send you into instant fight-or-flight
Velvet might be your worst enemy, and you could never understand the slime phase everyone was into a few years ago
You might have pictures of you as a child with your hands on your ears while on roller coasters, or when people would sing you “Happy Birthday”
Struggles with executive functioning
The dishes seem to scream at you, but starting them feels impossible
You might even invite people over just to help give you an excuse to clean up to avoid feeling embarrassed
You live by endless to-do lists and still forget the simple stuff
Or maybe you have to set three alarms in your phone just to remember to do that one important thing
Chronic masking and people-pleasing
You edit how you talk, move, and react just to seem “normal”
You’ve probably studied magazines, psychology books, self-help manuals, etc all just to understand how to get people to like you
You feel like you’re performing at work, at home, even around friends
If someone compliments you, you feel like a fake, because “this” isn’t really you – no one really “knows” you
Burnout that doesn’t go away after a weekend off
You're tired at a bone-deep level—physically, mentally, emotionally
Even talking with a loved one is too much – it’s like your brain just needs a break
Rest doesn't seem to actually restore you the way it should
Staying at home fills you with shame just thinking of all of the things that need to get done, yet going away you have to plan things, smile, see people, figure out what to eat, etc. It’s all just a lot.
Feelings of shame, self-doubt, or internalized ableism
You wonder if you’re just “lazy” or “dramatic”
Even if those words were never told to you directly, you saw it in the way that others around you sighed, rolled their eyes, and complained
You feel guilty for needing different things than those around you
Why can everyone else do it, but I can’t?
I know it’s hard to help me sometimes, and I hate making other people feel helpless when they don’t know how to help me
Difficulty trusting your instincts or setting boundaries
After years of being misunderstood, it’s hard to know when it’s okay to ask for what you need
Do I just need to push myself? Am I going to push others away if I am too much? Will people use this against me?
You second-guess your feelings, your needs, and even your accomplishments
Am I just manipulating people? Do I really need extra time? If I’m able to do it now, was I just lazy before?
How I Help
I work with neurodivergent individuals in a way that honors you. That means our work won’t focus on “fixing” you to fit in better. We’d move towards helping you unmask safely, heal the wounds from a lifetime of misunderstanding, and helping you reconnect with your true self—sensitivities, strengths, and all.
In therapy, we might explore:
Unpacking internalized shame, guilt, or self-doubt
Healing trauma from years of masking, bullying, or unmet needs
Building systems that actually work for your brain, not someone else's
Learning to advocate for your needs with confidence (in work, school, relationships, or healthcare)
Redefining success, connection, and self-care based on your wiring—not societal expectations
I often integrate:
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) or Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy (EMDR) for trauma healing, as everyone whose lived in a world not set up to support their success is traumatized in some way, especially if you've experienced bullying, rejection, medical trauma, or prolonged emotional neglect
Internal Family Systems (IFS) to explore parts of you that learned to mask, overwork, or doubt yourself—reconnecting you with your core, authentic self
Sandtray Therapy to support external processing when words feel overwhelming, tiring, or limiting
Whether you're officially diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or just starting to wonder if neurodivergence is part of your story—you’re valid here. I wholeheartedly support self-diagnosis, because if you closely relate to an experience, that is valid, and no therapist is going to know you more than you know yourself. I’m also affirming of neurodivergent needs, and how our brains are set up, looking to create peace in whatever mind you have. I know I’d label myself autism-affirming, plural-affirming, and supportive of low-demand approaches, but that certainly isn’t conclusive of all I support – so if you have questions, please ask away in the free consultation!
You Deserve Support that Honors Who You Are
Your needs were never “too much”, and it pains me to see so many of us going through life hearing that message. You were asked to make yourself and your needs too small for too long. You deserve love, unconditional support, and the freedom to make your life work for you.
What Healing Can Look Like
Therapy won’t make you “more neurotypical.” Even if you sometimes wish for it, my focus will never be on erasing the parts that make you who you are.
Healing can mean:
Feeling safe enough to unmask, even in small ways
Trusting your instincts instead of second-guessing them
Creating a life that supports your sensory needs, energy rhythms, and emotional truths
Building relationships where you are loved as your full self
Reclaiming pride, softness, and hope
What It’s Like to Work Together
In my office, you don’t have to perform. You don’t have to explain things that you think no one would ever understand (although you are welcome to try - I usually get more than you’d think).
I show up real, warm, and open, and I also encourage you to show up however you are that day. In fact, I encourage you to tend to your physical needs during session—whether that’s grabbing a snack, moving around, or taking a break. I have filled my office with stim toys, weighted blankets, visual aids, soft lighting, and other sensory tools—you’re welcome to use what you need.
We’ll collaborate to create an environment where healing feels possible, without asking you to fight your own nature to get there.