What is neurodivergence?

I think about neurodivergence in terms of the way our entire bodies and minds interact with the world. There is no one type of brain or nervous system that we all have, even for those who identify with being “neurotypical.” And, we tend to see some specific patterns and shared experiences for those who identify as neurodivergent. This can include differences in sensory experiences, executive functioning (think attention, memory, starting tasks, organization, etc), social experiences and preferences, among other areas. There can be such a broad umbrella of experiences that can be considered neurodivergent which are all valid and important! I am specifically often focused on ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, and OCD, but this is not to say that these are the only forms of neurodivergence. Neurodivergent Insights is a great resource to learn more about a variety of things related to neurodivergence!

Why is it important?

Considering different ways of processing information, interacting with other people, experiencing our senses, approaching tasks, etc, is vital for us to focus on in order to better understand and support people. This means on a larger scale (e.g. considering how spaces are set up physically, expectations and supports in schools, etc) and on an interpersonal level (e.g. how I interact with a neighbor, a spouse, my child, etc). If we truly care about our world being a more accessible and supportive place, we need to increase our awareness and application of neurodivergent affirming approaches to things. I could go on about this, but this is a basic “why!”

Who do you often work with?

I often work with late-identified neurodivergent adults, or those who are exploring it. This specifically tends to be in the realms of ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, OCD (while I note that this is not all-encompassing of neurodivergence, but the specific focus I tend to have in clinical work). Many of my clients might describe themselves as deep feelers/thinkers, empathetic, sensitive, overwhelmed often, high-achieving and burnt out, people pleasers, perfectionists (see my About page and scroll down to the pink section for more description on common experiences). I often support folks in exploring neurodivergence, making sense of past and current experiences through this lens, processing grief and trauma, approaching relationships, advocating for and accommodating oneself, adjusting structure of their life with their values in needs in mind. There are many things we tend to work through that might not even feel the most directly related to neurodivergence, and we still can approach these with the understanding of your nuanced unique experience of the world.

Where do I start if this might be me?

I encourage folks to identify what is most important to them, such as growing their understanding of themselves, being able to share information with others, possible accommodations, etc. Your goals don’t have to look the exact same as others. You might already know what’s most important to you, and/or it might help to identify supports you could benefit from (e.g. therapy, neuropsych evaluation, support groups, informal community, etc). If you are thinking therapy might be helpful for you, feel free to schedule a free 15 minute consultation call with me to see if we could be a good fit! I’m happy to hear more about what you’re looking for, answer questions around my approach, discuss administrative/logistics items, among other areas. You can also reach out via email or phone to get in touch.

Check out my free ADHD/Autism Resource List!