Neurodiversity
When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.
Alexander Den Heijer
I offer post-diagnostic counseling for individuals diagnosed with a neurodiverse condition, to those who self-identify as being neurodivergent, and to the partners of neurodivergent processing individuals.
What is Neurodiversity?
“Neurodiversity refers to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information. ... It is estimated that around one in seven people are neurodivergent, meaning that the brain functions, learns and processes information differently.” (Source)
Neurodivergence includes a range of variations including: Attention Deficit Disorders, Autism/Asperger Syndrome, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia/DCD. Maybe you have been diagnosed with one of these variations. Maybe you’ve wondered if you have one of these sets of characteristics. Or maybe you’re struggling with symptoms of neurodiversity without having realized it.
Therapy and Neurodiversity
Therapy can help you come to terms with your diagnosis. We will uncover what it means for you, your life, and those around you. We will process the discrimination you’ve likely experienced due to your difference. During our time, you can talk about the barriers you experience and we will work on addressing those in a way that works best for you. Together we can support you in living your life on your own terms.
Therapy with me is about creating a safe space where your difference isn’t shamed. Instead, your difference just is. By being able to speak freely about your struggles, without fear of judgment or repercussion, you will be able to gain a greater awareness of how your brain naturally processes and the compensation you’ve needed to do throughout your life. The more self-awareness you gain, the more you will be empowered to decide what things might be within your control to change or tweak and what things can be better mediated by changes in your environment. The more you understand about yourself and how your difference impacts you, the better you can navigate your world and to include others who are inclusive in your inner world. My approach is that, instead of putting you in a box, I want to take the box and dump it out and look at it together.
By reflecting, you may notice your difference may be impacting your life to more of a degree than you realize. Or maybe you realize and you’ve tried to keep it hidden. You may have even been diagnosed with anxiety or depression, which may actually be symptoms of your neurodiversity from having to conform to a neurotypical world.
Therapy is the gift of time and space to process the way that you do.
from Melanie:
For many, the experience of neurodiversity is that one’s traits are often shamed in society which then often leads people to try to keep their differences hidden. I aim to support individuals in understanding and accepting their differences through self-compassion. So much extra energy may go into seemingly simple daily tasks and interactions that others take for granted - and - in efforts to try to avert having people looking at you like you have 10 heads. With me, this is a space where you can look at these things that you’ve been implicitly or explicitly told are not okay. Let’s reframe your self-narrative so you can thrive.