What is Neurodiverse-Affirming Support?

It's the idea that neurological differences are natural and should be accepted and valued. It's a strengths-based approach that focuses on understanding and supporting people's differences, rather than treating them as deficits or disorders. At Personal Growth Counseling, I use Neurodiverse-Affirming practices and welcome you.  I believe each person's uniqueness should be honored and respected.  I am here to listen and to help you find your way through what you're going through.

Whether you're already aware of your sensory needs or issues, you're still figuring them out, or are just starting to understand what sensory processing means, I understand and respect where you're at.  I offer a safe, calm, quiet space in my office with low lighting and comfortable furniture.  My goal is to help you feel comfortable, so there are no distracting lights, sounds, or hard or rough-feeling furniture.  I will meet you where you're at with your sensory needs.  We'll work together to make sure you don't feel overstimulated in my office.  I also offer sensory items in my office, if they help you feel more relaxed, but you are also welcome to bring your own, if you'd like.

I have over 20 years of experience working with Autistic clients of all ages.  Whether you have minimal or more Autistic traits, I take the time to get to know you and learn how your Autism shows up in your life.  While Autistic clients all have some commonalities, over the years I've learned that each person is unique and no assumptions can be made.  My goal is to help you feel comfortable, so you don't have to mask your Autism or try to be someone that you're not.  I understand that coming to therapy is a big step.  Whether you were diagnosed early in life, recently, or just suspect you may have Autism, I have expert knowledge and am happy to help you know yourself better.​

Once we meet and do your intake appointment and I get to know you better, we'll talk about what goals you'd like to meet.  Whether you are feeling anxious, depressed, have a hard time adjusting to change, struggle with obsessing, trouble regulating your emotions, have social anxiety or relationship issues, also have ADHD, or just trying to understand yourself,  we'll work together.  Based on your therapy goals, we'll outline a written plan tailored specifically for you, that we'll follow. This will lay a path before you.  I'll help you, by teaching you new skills that you can use, when you're under distress.  Each session, we'll check-in, process what's going on with you, and review your skills.  I'll ask you to practice your skills between sessions, so we can follow-up on how that's going.  We'll work at your pace. Once you meet your goals, we'll conclude therapy and make follow-up appointments, as needed.