NEURODIVERGENT-Affirming Therapy in NYC

 


Living with a different type of mind in a world that’s not built for you is challenging at best.

If you’re autistic or an ADHDer (or curious about whether those or other diagnoses align with your experience) you may have received messages from family, peers, teachers, or bosses throughout your lifetime that you’re too much, not enough, or somehow both.

Even though there’s been so much more awareness around neurodiversity in recent years, society still has a long way to go when it comes to understanding differences and meaningfully including and accommodating them.

Some folks struggle and feel shame about not being able to show up in the way that neurotypical society demands. Others appear to be doing well on the outside, while internally experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety, often culminating in meltdowns, shutdowns, or burnout.

As a clinician with neurodivergent lived experience and who embraces and values differences, I use a neurodivergent-affirming lens. Neurodivergent-affirming clinicians normalize and celebrate the idea that all types of minds exist. We don’t view differences as deficits, and we see clients as the best experts on themselves.

Neurodivergence profoundly shapes our inner world and the way we move through life. Many clients share that past therapy with providers who were not informed about neurodivergence left a lot missing, or attempted to change their inherent differences in harmful ways.

therapy that fits your brain

I don’t believe it’s truly possible to isolate neurodivergent experience from concerns like trauma, relationship challenges, anxiety, and the other reasons people seek therapy. It’s all interconnected. Working with a therapist who can help you start to make sense of it all can be a game changer!

Because clients vary so much in what they may need, therapy with neurodivergent clients can look many different ways. My approach is client-led; while I can always help generate ideas for goals and ways to achieve them, you get to decide what’s important to you and ultimately what you’d like to work on in therapy.

As some examples, we might:

  • Help you to better identify what’s contributing to your stress and anxiety

  • Learn more about your specific profile and needs

  • Discuss new ways to accommodate or advocate for yourself

  • Experiment with new coping strategies

  • Have a nuanced conversation about masking or unmasking

  • Unpack how experiencing trauma and ableism across your lifespan has impacted you

Rather than trying to fit you into a one-size-fits-all box, we will pull from the modalities that make the most sense and if necessary, adjust them to your specific needs.

Is this executive function/skills coaching?

Not quite. I absolutely can help clients to explore practical systems and skills to better support themselves. However, my style is collaborative rather than prescriptive. I don't offer a standardized program or a step-by-step system to follow. Instead, I bring evidence-based strategies and practical expertise, and together we brainstorm, experiment, and figure out what works for you.

I don't offer standalone skills coaching because I don't believe it's possible to separate daily challenges from the whole person. Our everyday struggles are shaped by our emotions, relationships, life experiences, and strengths - so if we work together, you can also expect to explore the bigger picture, too!

To summarize, if you're looking for someone to provide a structured curriculum, to focus on skills-building only, or to tell you exactly what to do, my approach may not be the best fit. If you're looking for individualized, collaborative support to create systems that fit your brain—while deepening your self-understanding in general—we'd likely work well together.

Intersectionality matters

Many people with marginalized identities, including women and gender minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and BIPOC clients, are discovering neurodivergence for the first time. For clients who would like to explore these intersections, I welcome open, thoughtful conversations about identity and lived experience.

If you’re interested in working together, please feel free to reach out here and we’ll schedule some time to talk!