What is this alphabet soup?
ASD, AS, ADD/ADHD, SPD, HSP, PDD-NOS are all part of the spectrum of neurodivergence.
To be specific, these acronyms stand for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
They are all ways of describing the mechanisms of brains that work differently from the average or neurotypical person. It can be hard to find therapy for neurodivergent adults and to find support for parents of autistic kids that does not take the stance that differences mean defects.
You’re not broken.
These differences do not mean that the person with one of these differences is less-than or broken, even though the world gives that message an unfortunate amount of the time.
Having one of these differences means the person works differently from most people.
And thank goodness for that! Where would we be as a world without these different types of brains? We probably would be without a lot of innovation and creativity.
However, being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world is not for the faint of heart. Many things that seem second nature to most people can be darn right impossible when you’re neurodivergent. That’s where therapy for neurodivergent adults comes in.
It’s about learning to cope in a neurotypical world.
Sometimes, a neurodivergent individual has difficulty decoding people’s nonverbal behavior (why did she look at me like that?).
An environment with too much sensory input makes it difficult to cope (hello, Mall of America). Some have trouble keeping track of all the steps involved in following a recipe (e.g., fold in the cheese).
For me, in therapy for neurodivergent adults or for the parents or loved ones of neurodivergent adults and kids, the goal is not to treat the neurodivergence.
Instead, it is to help change the neurodivergent individual’s environment to reduce stressors, honor differences, and increase their ability to thrive in a world where others function differently from them. This is what neurodiversity-affirming therapy means.
Psychotherapy for Neurodivergent Adults
If you’re the one with a neurodivergent brain, we’ll work to understand how this mismatch of the brain and environment/society has affected you. Usually, we have some healing to do around past difficulties and messages received over the years about your differences not being okay or desirable.
When these difficulties and negative messages have been so severe that they have created trauma symptoms or even PTSD, we may use EMDR to help overcome difficult memories or experiences that continue to impact your day-to-day life and functioning.
We also think about resources or adaptations that you can use to help make your life easier, allowing you to deal with any barriers that might come up when you think about using these adaptations.
We will probably work on identifying your strengths and learning to be okay with your differences and celebrate them.
I will not teach you social skills. Trust me; I’m not the one you want teaching social skills. But we may spend some time decoding the alien-like behavior of neurotypicals.
Psychotherapy for Parents of Autistic Kids/Neurodivergent Kids
If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent kid, life can be rough – not because there’s something wrong with your kid but because of the way this world treats people with differences.
Many feelings come up when you learn that your child’s brain works differently from others (fear, shame, guilt, sadness, curiosity – to name a few). It may even lead you to question whether your brain is as typical as you once thought.
And then there’s the judgment from others. But let’s be honest, it’s from you, too. You don’t feel like the best parent when your kid eats Mac and Cheese for the 100th dinner in a row – or when they go to school without brushing their hair.
As someone who has been through this myself, I can help you work through these feelings, learn to trust yourself and your ability to parent this amazing kid. Overcoming these feelings enables you to find peace with your parenting so you can get back to enjoying your kid with all their quirks, challenges, and gifts.
Overcome the challenges of a neurotypical world.
Living in a neurotypical world with a neurodivergent brain is difficult. But both neurodivergent adults and children can learn to navigate the challenges though neurodiversity-affirming therapy.
Parenting a neurodivergent child is challenging, but parents can learn to appreciate their child’s gifts rather than question their parenting.
Let me help you on this path to acceptance and appreciation of the neurodivergence in your life. Fill out the contact form below to get started with therapy for neurodiversity-affirming therapy.