Neurodivergence
Understanding whether you’re neurodivergent—and discovering what kind of neurodivergence applies to you—can make an enormous difference in deciphering some of the difficulties you may be going through emotionally or in your relationships. Of course, being neurodivergent comes with many gifts, but the world at large isn’t built for neurodivergent brains and that mismatch can result in low self-esteem, persistent negative self-talk, and painful experiences of not understanding yourself or being misunderstood by others. Knowing how your unique brain works can help relieve confusion, rewrite your story, and open up space to appreciate all the ways neurodivergence enhances your world.
As I get to know you and understand what brings you to therapy, we can also look at whether neurodivergence might be playing a role in what you’re experiencing. This might mean learning about assessments to clarify what you notice about yourself or considering specialized treatment or medication, when applicable. It could mean figuring out how you can support your brain and nervous system’s needs or finding community with folks who share your neurodivergence. I can also help you work through any challenging or traumatic experiences related to your neurodivergence that you couldn’t contextualize before. Whatever neurodivergence fits for you, we can explore what that means in your life.
I’ve worked with clients who identify with:
ADHD - Researchers are learning more and more about ADHD every day. Features of ADHD can be subtle or look different in different people and can easily be missed, especially among adult females. If you think that you might be struggling with executive functioning challenges or the emotional features of ADHD (like Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria), we can talk about how to get an ADHD assessment (if you want one), how to use ADHD behavioral skills to support your executive or emotional functioning, and what to expect if you’d like to investigate medication following a diagnosis.
Giftedness - Although giftedness is not a diagnosis in the DSM, being gifted is considered a neurodivergence due to differences in brain structures and functioning. The word “gifted” can be pretty loaded, and people who were designated as gifted in school often experienced social isolation, shame, or high pressure to perform. On the flip side, people who were labeled as gifted sometimes felt the need to underperform in order to fit in with peers, which can create internal alienation. However giftedness has shown up for you, we can include it as meaningful in your development so you can understand its role in how you relate to yourself and others.
OCD - There’s an ongoing conversation among clinicians and experts as to whether or not OCD can be considered a neurodivergence given some of its features, brain differences, and diagnostic definition. What is clear is that there is frequent overlap between OCD and neurodivergences in general, which means it’s more likely to occur if you’re neurodivergent in other ways. OCD can be viewed as a difference to be accepted and accommodated, and OCD symptoms can also be intrusive or debilitating and tend to worsen over time if not addressed. If this is something that may apply to you, we can talk about the nature of your thoughts and behaviors, pursuing specialized assessment, and what kind of treatment or supports might be right for you.
HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) - High Sensitivity is another neurodivergence that isn’t found in the DSM but can have a profound impact on people’s lives. HSPs have constitutions and nervous systems that are extremely sensitive to environmental, emotional, or sensory stimuli. They’re more vulnerable to over-stimulation and overwhelm and can experience physical or emotional shutdown as a result. If you’re an HSP, navigating the world can be challenging and relationships can be hard if you’re constantly affected by other people’s energy. If this describes you, we can talk about how High Sensitivity has played into your relationships with others and with your body, and how you might more closely attune to its care.
Autism (with low support needs) - With a broad spectrum of features and impact, autism is as varied as the number of people who claim that word. Understanding the nature of your social or communication differences, sensory experiences, or sensitivity to routines and transitions can make all the difference in how you feel toward yourself and organize your environment. Whether you’re interested in undergoing clinical assessment or if you’re self-diagnosed and -identified, we can explore how autism expresses itself for you and what you need to feel grounded and supported.