Adults on the Autism Spectrum and ADHD
Are You On The Spectrum And Feel Misunderstood?
As a neurodivergent (ND) person living in a neurotypical (NT) world, do you struggle to fit in? Does finding the correct words or gestures to express your thoughts and feelings to others often elude you? Are you challenged by sexual or emotional intimacy and worry that your relationship may be negatively impacted?
If you identify as being on the spectrum, neurodivergent, or have ever been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), perhaps you feel as though the NT world wasn’t designed with you in mind. Because your mind works differently, you may frequently find yourself in situations where you have to figure out how to fit in.
Maybe the nuanced social cues that seem to come naturally to most people are hard for you to pick up on, leading to a sense of isolation and loneliness. Even though you may excel in some facets of life, perhaps issues with dating and relationships negatively affect your self-esteem, leading to anxiety or depression.
You May Feel Guilty About The Way Your Partner Is Impacted
If you’re in a relationship with someone, you may worry that you may not have the skills necessary to sustain emotional closeness and sexual intimacy. Even though you’re doing everything you can, your partner may feel dissatisfied by what they perceive as a lack of connection. Or maybe you feel misunderstood and rejected by your partner, leading to frustration for both of you.
As a neurodivergent person, more than anything you want to be understood for who you are without having to change your ways to be accepted by the NT world. Whether you are experiencing issues with dating, relationships, intimacy, or life transitions and looking for a safe and judgment-free space to explore your neurodiversity, therapy can provide you with helpful guidance and support when you are on the spectrum.
The Covid-19 Pandemic Has Brought More Awareness To Neurodivergence
Ever since the global pandemic, more people have had the opportunity to learn about themselves and reflect upon how they interact with the world. As a result, many of us have realized that we identify as neurodivergent, regardless of whether or not we have received a formal diagnosis.
Our neurodivergence may be something that has set us apart throughout our lives. Looking back, we may see that we’ve always had trouble relating to others and may have never quite fit in the mainstream. Perhaps it’s not surprising that the ND population overlaps with the LGBTQIA+ community.
Many neurodivergent people are gifted individuals with intense careers. It may be when they navigate significant life transitions, such as dating, relationships, marriage, and parenting that they realize how their way of thinking through problems and relating to the world differs from their family, friends, co-workers, and colleagues.
With Newfound Awareness, The Stigma Of ND Is Gradually Shifting
A growing number of people have been sharing their experiences with ND on social media. As ASD and ADHD behaviors become better understood, the stigma of being neurodivergent or on the spectrum has begun to weaken. And although society has come a long way in recognizing and acknowledging the ND population, there are stigmas we still need to overcome. Many of us don’t want to be associated with outdated monikers, such as being labeled with “high-functioning autism.”
If you suspect that you’ve been living as an ND person in an NT world, you want to approach skill-building from a place of strength rather than deficit and reconcile how best to operate in the NT world without feeling the need to always adapt. Finding a therapist who works from a neurodiversity-affirming paradigm will help you gain self-acceptance and a renewed sense that you’re perfect just as you are.
Therapy For Neurodiversity Can Help You Navigate The Neurotypical World
Being neurodivergent or on the spectrum requires therapy that is fine-tuned to address your unique needs. You may have difficulty processing information, sensory issues, or challenges with social cues and intimacy. With neurodiverse-affirming therapy, you will have a safe space to let your guard down and receive validation. You won’t have to interpret your emotions for the benefit of someone else or fear being judged. Therapy allows you to process what you’re feeling in terms of your neurodiversity and consider what, if anything, you would like to do about it.
Some ND folks I treat are very content with their differences and have no desire to change while others are looking for ways to better navigate life’s challenges. No matter which category you fall into, therapy that caters to neurodivergent individuals allows you the space to process how you relate to the world.
What To Expect In Sessions
Neurodiversity therapy doesn’t require you to have a diagnosis—identifying as neurodivergent or on the spectrum is enough. As a therapist who works from a strength-based and neurodiversity-affirming lens, I will help you normalize what it means to be neurodivergent and explore the obstacles you may be facing with dating, relationships, making major life decisions, and work-life balance.
Even though you will be receiving individual treatment, we can still work on improving your personal relationships. My background as a sex therapist can help you navigate whatever sensory processing challenges with touch you may experience that get in the way of intimacy. And by helping you identify, acknowledge, and resolve communication mishaps, you can improve emotional connection and conflict resolution.
Self-Acceptance Will Help You Show Up Authentically In Your Life
When we set goals for whatever neurodivergence-related challenges you are experiencing, we will take a solution-based approach to help you find tangible solutions for the issues you face. For example, if you’re expected to meet a deadline at work and find that you’re overwhelmed, we will explore why this is happening, identify workarounds, and help you get unstuck. Talking out problems with me can be a simple yet incredibly beneficial way to crystallize what your strengths are and how to use them to your advantage.
Learning to decipher different communication and processing styles will help you gain the confidence that you understand others and that, in turn, you are being understood by them. And by defining, setting, and managing expectations for yourself and others, you will nurture self-acceptance that addresses the symptoms of anxiety or depression and guides you back to your authentic self.
You may think it’s unfair you should feel like you have to constantly change who you are to get by. Therapy for neurodiversity and spectrum-related issues honors the unique individual you are so that you can appreciate and embrace your differences which, when reexamined, often turn out to be strengths.
But You May Wonder Whether Neurodiversity Therapy Is Right For You…
Because I have never been understood, I doubt working with a neurodiversity-affirming therapist will change that.
After years of feeling alone and different, you may have become cynical that nobody can relate to your experience. However, neurodiversity-affirming therapy is structured to recognize and honor your differences and view them as strengths rather than weaknesses. I can help you unravel the difficulties you have faced throughout your life as a result of your ND and unpack how this has impacted you.
My neurodiversity has impacted the intimate relationship I have with my partner—will therapy be able to help me?
In addition to being trained in neurodiversity-affirming care, I am also a Certified Sex Therapist. When it comes to intimate relationships, I can help you gain insight into whatever areas present a challenge. In neurodiversity therapy sessions, I can help you learn how to interpret the meaning of your partner’s form of communication so that you better understand their perspective. We can also work on establishing or renewing emotional connection and physical intimacy so that you can work on improving your relationship with your partner.
How will neurodiversity-affirming therapy help improve my relationships with my friends and family?
For neurodivergent individuals, it’s common to go through life being misunderstood, even by your loved ones. More than anything, neurodiverse counseling services for adults with autism or on the spectrum promote self-acceptance. In therapy, you can come to terms with relationships that may have been challenged or frayed by your ND and heal these wounds. A neurodiverse-affirmative therapist can help you navigate a path to self-acceptance and cultivate friendships that are more aligned with your values so that you can become the most authentic version of yourself.
You Can Live A Fulfilling Life As A Neurodivergent Person In A Neurotypical World
You are perfect just as you are and deserve to feel like showing up as yourself is enough. If you would like to find out more about neurodiversity therapy with me, you may call or text 571-315-6471 or contact me.
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