I have always worked with folks whose brains are wired differently. All people—whether you identify as neurodivergent, neurotypical, or something else entirely—are welcome in my practice. To me, the essence of neurodiversity-affirming counselling is rolling out the red carpet for people to come as they are, not how they are “supposed” to be. Some out-of-the-box thinking and creative therapeutic strategies don’t hurt either.

I am a neurodivergent counsellor who endeavours to provide an inclusive counselling practice which welcomes autistic people, ADHDers, folks with OCD, people with sensory processing issues, high sensitivity, trauma, mental health conditions, learning disabilities and other neuro-variances. If you don’t relate to any of the above, I welcome you too!

I acknowledge people who are self-diagnosed, professionally-diagnosed, late-diagnosed, suspect that they are neurodivergent, and those who also come from marginalized populations whose neurodivergence has traditionally been ignored by the neuronormative world: women, older adults, AFAB/trans/queer folks and racialized people.

I also work with couples where one or both members is neurodivergent, as well as people supporting neurodivergent children, family members or friends.

My therapy approach is unique to you and is collaborative: we start with an assessment of your concerns and work together on a plan to help make things better, using strategies that make sense to you. There is no one size fits all.

Principles

I am guided by the following principles in my work:

• The world is a harsh place for neurodivergent people; I strive to make my counselling space a sanctuary of safety and respect, valuing your needs and our shared humanity.
• Neurodivergence is not a problem to be fixed or cured. It’s part of who you are, so it’s logical to value and affirm it.
• I work from a de-pathologizing, de-medicalized counselling perspective. I am influenced by social models of disability rather than traditional deficit models that direct their focus to disabled people being the problem.
• I believe that clients have the right to information about counselling and, when provided in advance, can decrease anxiety about the counselling experience.
• I believe that neurodivergent and neurotypical folks alike can benefit from working with neurodivergent health professionals and that this need not be a cause for concern, or stigmatizing for anyone involved.
• I have been strongly influenced by the work of the autistic self-advocacy movement. “Nothing about us without us” is an often-repeated phrase, that is beautifully self-explanatory.
• There are a variety of neurodivergent attributes, unique to each person, that, when identified and celebrated, can often be mobilized for your benefit. Gifts or strengths, however, may also drain us, therefore, support is equally important.
• I generally use identity-first language (e.g. “autistic,” “ADHDer”, etc.) as I believe that such identities are not problematic and are core to how we experience the world. Some neurodivergent folks prefer person-first language (“persons with autism, ADHD, schizophrenia etc.) and this is valid too. It is the right of all neurodivergent individuals to choose how we would like to be addressed and how we identify. Allies support this choice.
• I value lived experience over expertise. I do not speak for neurodivergent folks as a whole, recognizing that there is great diversity in neurodivergence.

Flexible Therapeutic Methods

Traditional models of psychotherapy often need adjustment for neurodivergent people. This may include:

• Discussing expectations for the session at the start to decrease anxiety and uncertainty.
• The therapist asking more closed-ended questions if open-ended questions are too difficult or stressful.
• Collaborating with, or suggesting different ways of proceeding if you feel blank about what to do next.
• Discussing things other than feelings, particularly if this isn’t something you relate to, or working together to redefine feelings in a way that is more relevant to you.
• Identifying coping strategies that make sense to you, which may or may not diverge from standard counselling recommendations.
• Creating space for deep dives about special interests, understanding that this is a valid form of connection with your counsellor, as well as being a major contributor to self-worth and purpose.
• Exploring specialized topics such as masking/unmasking, meltdowns, burnout, shutdowns/overwhelm, inattention, social breaks, sensitivity, hyperfocus, personalized routines, stimming, creativity, socializing authentically, examining social expectations, societal ableism, internalized ableism, anxiety/phobias.

Accommodations to the Therapy Space

Whether it is an office, video and phone session, clients choose what format works the best for them and it is common to have to modify further. Examples of this could include:

• Turning away from the counsellor or webcam if eye contact is stressful or overwhelming.
• Turning off video or substituting with phone appointments if visuals are too distracting or intense.
• Freedom to stim in session without it being perceived as weird.
• Using the fidgets and stim toys in my downtown Vancouver office to decrease anxiety, improve focus, or just because.
• Changing the lighting, turning it off, or adjusting blinds to increase comfort (fluorescent lights are disabled in my downtown office).
• Dressing for your sessions in a manner that makes you feel most comfortable.
• Scent-free in-office space with non-jarring decor.

Notes

The terminology in this area can be very bewildering and words are often unknowingly confused. Dr. Nick Walker elucidates such terms better than I ever could.

If you’re interested in what I offer, and would like to know more before making an appointment, please be in touch so we can arrange a free 15-minute phone or video consultation. I would love to talk with you!