Many neurodivergent adults come to therapy after years of being misunderstood. They often have been told they are “too sensitive,” “too intense,” “too much,” or simply “not trying hard enough.”

Neurodivergent-affirming therapy is different.

It does not try to “fix” your brain.
It does not pathologize your differences.
It does not assume neurotypical functioning is the goal.

Instead, we work from the understanding that autism and ADHD are forms of neurodiversity — valid, complex ways of experiencing the world — and that much of the distress neurodivergent adults experience comes from chronic misunderstanding, masking, relational strain, and nervous system overwhelm.

What Is Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy?

Neurodivergent-affirming therapy:

• Recognizes autism and ADHD as neurotypes, not deficits

• Understands masking and burnout

• Validates sensory sensitivity and processing differences

• Supports emotional regulation without shaming intensity

• Addresses relationship strain rooted in neurotype differences

This approach is especially important for adults who were:

• Diagnosed late

• Self-identified as autistic or ADHD

• Misdiagnosed with anxiety or personality disorders

• Labeled “high functioning” while internally overwhelmed

Therapy for Adults with ADHD

ADHD in adulthood often shows up as:

• Emotional reactivity

• Rejection sensitivity

• Executive functioning struggles

• Chronic shame

• Relationship conflict

• Difficulty with follow-through

ADHD is not just about attention. It is deeply tied to emotion, attachment, and self-concept.

In our work together, we may focus on:

• Emotional regulation tools that are realistic for ADHD brains

• Shame reduction

• Communication patterns in relationships

• Nervous system awareness

• Adapted mindfulness practices that actually work

Traditional mindfulness can feel inaccessible for ADHD. We adjust it so it fits how your brain operates.

Therapy for Autistic Adults

Autistic adults often carry years of:

• Masking

• Social exhaustion

• Sensory overwhelm

• Confusion about relationship dynamics

• Burnout

Neurodivergent-affirming therapy creates space to:

• Explore unmasking safely

• Understand sensory needs

• Reduce internalized stigma

• Navigate intimacy and attachment

• Clarify identity

Autism is not a disorder of empathy. Often it is a difference in communication style and sensory processing.

Therapy becomes a place to understand your nervous system rather than override it.

Neurodivergence & Relationships

When one or both partners are neurodivergent, couples may struggle with:

• Misreading tone or intention

• Emotional intensity mismatches

• Different needs for structure or spontaneity

• Sensory sensitivity affecting intimacy

• Conflict escalation cycles

This is not a character flaw.
It is often a difference in wiring.

Couples therapy can help partners:

• Translate each other’s communication styles

• Slow reactive cycles

• Understand rejection sensitivity

• Support executive functioning differences

• Build intimacy that honors sensory realities

Masking, Burnout, and Nervous System Overload

Many neurodivergent adults have become experts at masking, performing neurotypical behaviors to survive socially or professionally.

Masking is exhausting.

Over time, it can lead to:

• Burnout

• Depression

• Identity confusion

• Emotional shutdown

• Relationship withdrawal

Part of therapy may involve gently exploring:

• Where masking feels necessary and/or helpful to navigate a neurotypical world.

• Where it is harming you

• What authenticity looks like in safe environments

Trauma & Neurodivergence

Neurodivergent adults are statistically more likely to experience:

• Bullying

• Social exclusion

• Misattunement

• Chronic invalidation

What looks like anxiety or “overreacting” is often a nervous system shaped by repeated overwhelm.

Because my work is trauma-informed, we move carefully, respectfully, and at your pace.

My Approach

My work integrates:

• Emotion-focused couples therapy

• ADHD-adapted mindfulness

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Trauma-informed care

• Sex and intimacy therapy

Neurodivergent clients often benefit from understanding the emotional “parts” that developed to protect them — especially shame, masking, or hypervigilance.

Therapy is collaborative.
We identify what helps.
We discard what doesn’t.

Who This May Be For

You might benefit from neurodivergent-affirming therapy if:

• You were diagnosed with autism or ADHD as an adult

• You suspect you are neurodivergent

• You feel chronically misunderstood in relationships

• You experience intense emotional reactions

• You feel exhausted from masking

• Traditional therapy has felt invalidating

Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island.

I provide therapy for neurodivergent adults and couples in MA, NH, ME and RI through secure telehealth.

If you are looking for:

• ADHD therapy for adults

• Autism-affirming therapy

• Neurodivergent couples therapy

• Support navigating masking and burnout

We can explore whether working together feels like a fit.

Next Steps

If this resonates, you can:

• Review my Services and Specialties pages

• Learn more about my approach

• Schedule a consultation

Neurodivergence is not something to fix.
It is something to understand.