Neurodivergence
Whether you identify as neurodivergent or care about someone who is, you may be wondering how therapy will be different for you. We’ll start by answering a few questions.
What is neurodiversity?
Simply put, it means there is a natural variation in how our brains are organized and process information. The two broad categories of brain types are “neurotypical” and “neurodivergent”.
Neurotypical brains think in linear ways, thrive in task-oriented environments and can weed out extraneous input and information.
Neurodivergent brains are what they sound like – they diverge. They tend to process information in less sequential ways, thrive in structured but flexible settings and have a highly developed sensitivity to environmental information. This is where ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia live. Broader definitions also include OCD, Generalized Anxiety, HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), and other alternative ways of processing the world.
Neither brain type is good or bad, just different.
What is neurodivergent-affirming therapy?
We are a neurodivergent-affirming practice, which means we understand that not all brains work the same. This also means that not all methods will work the same either.
You may have tried lots of different ways to organize, or control your feelings, or get stuff done, and those methods either didn’t work, or faded over time.
You may also have been told that how you work is not the “right” way, or been labeled a problem or inflexible, or just not like everyone else.
We focus on countering the shame from these messages while finding methods that work with how your brain does.
What’s different about neurodivergent-affirming therapy versus other kinds of therapy?
We know individual change is part of the therapy process, but so is making sure your voice is heard, and that the systems around you are changing to work with (not against) what you need.
Here are a few features of
neurodivergent-affirming therapy.
Learning how your brain works and reducing any shame of a neurodivergent identity.
Questioning messages evolving from neurotypical norms.
Knowing what you really need and figuring out ways to ask for it.
Advocating for change in neurotypically-designed spaces.
Paying attention to your body signals and interpreting them from your sensory sensitive lens.
Developing strategies and skills designed around your way of thinking.
Building on your interests and noticing what pieces are in place when you are at your best.
Finding the people, spaces, and activities that can join in on your interests and help you shine.
What are some common themes we might focus on?
Our general specialties are on our psychotherapy page. They range from common experiences such as anxiety, depression and life transitions to specialities in creative expression, creative blocks and how to create flow.
How these overlap with neurodivergence is where our expertise comes in.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s what—your anxiety might be a way to get things done, or your depression could be your brain’s way of recovering when things feel like “too much”. We help you figure out what’s going on so you can get your needs met.
“How neurodivergence overlaps with our general specialties is where our expertise comes in.”
— Michelle Paris, Founder and Clinical Director
Our specialties in neurodivergence:
ADHD, Autism and AuDHD
Self-confidence and self-acceptance
Letting go of neurotypical standards
Perfectionism and people-pleasing
Masking and burnout
Social anxiety and stress
Self-diagnosis and late diagnosis
Ableism in schools and workplaces
Bullying & exclusion
Understanding how your sensory system affects your feelings
Developing organizational and coping strategies for an interest-based brain
