Affirming Therapy for Neurodivergent Folx
Autistic HSP Sensory Processing Synesthesia +
Your life may have looked successful from the outside. But you have never really felt like things have ever come easy. You came across the idea of being neurodivergent, and it felt like everything came into focus. Things began to make sense. As you have come to this realization, a lot of emotions have surfaced. Maybe it was relief at finally understanding what is going on, sadness that no one picked it up earlier, and confusion about what this means for your life moving forward. You might be looking for therapy to just process those feelings, or you might have hit a wall somewhere in your life that you just don’t know how to navigate. You need a specialist that understands your brain.
With all of your research, the places in your life where you are struggling make sense. Now it’s figuring out what your next steps should be.
You have gotten to a point where you accept yourself and feel pretty good about most aspects of being neurodivergent. You know it’s a strength. At the same time, you aren’t sure how to move forward. You want to stop masking because you are aware of the consequences it hasin your life. But at the same time, you’ve been doing it your whole life, where do you start? Many questions are running through your head about what that looks like and the life you will have after. There is fear about what happens when you stop pushing yourself to fit into the neurotypical world. Who are you without the mask and the people-pleasing?
Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy At California Integrative Counseling Center
With your therapist, you will work on the goals important to you and your life. Sometimes this looks like:
Looking at how your specific neurodivergent brain works
Discovering needs that may have gone ignored and unmet for years
Taking off the mask, finding your authentic self, and becoming that person at home and in the rest of your life
Processing the new emotions around being neurodivergent
Learning to create a life that is right for you and your needs
Therapy at California Integrative Counseling Center
We provide therapy tailored to each individual and their needs and goals. Here are some of the types of therapy that you may participate in.
Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy
At California Integrative Counseling Center, we pride ourselves in staying on the cutting edge of knowledge about neurodiversity, including the information that we are getting from the lived experience of Autistic Adults themselves.
We are neurodivergent-affirming care providers.
We treat each of our clients as the unique individuals that they are. We recognize that what works for neurotypical brains does not necessarily help neurodivergent folx. We tailor our treatment specifically to neurodivergent folx and what helps you. We are strengths-based and do not believe that your neurodivergence is a disability. Even though we recognize it can be hard at times. We work with you to set goals for your genuine needs. As part of providing integrative care, we also work with your whole health care team to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
DBT is an evidence-based practice designed for people processing intense emotions and learning effective coping strategies. It encourages self-acceptance and personal growth through teaching four key skill areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and emotional regulation.
Person-Centered Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy believes that you already have everything you need to cope with what is going on in your life. With this style of therapy, your therapist helps you find the strength and resources you already have to help you process your feelings and figure out the best way to move forward.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based practice that focuses on helping the individual change problematic thoughts and behaviors which, in turn, impact the person’s feelings. In this type of therapy, the therapist and client work together to identify and change those thoughts and behavior patterns.
LGBTQIA Affirming
We recognize that many neurodivergent folx are also a part of LGBTQIA+ community, and we strive to create a safe and affirming space for all. This includes seeking specialized training to ensure we meet everyone’s therapeutic needs. Our therapeutic services, whether couples, groups, or individual – all are in a safe space for everyone we serve.
Where Do I Go From Here?
We recognize that we did not identify all types of neurodivergence on this website. While we may not have named each condition, we do work with all kinds of neurodivergence. We also recognize that many people may fall under the umbrella of “neurodivergent,” but they may not know exactly where. We work with all neurodiverse folx – diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or just exploring. We are here for you.