Neurodivergent-affirming Therapy in Portland, Oregon
You were always told you were "too sensitive" or "too much" or "too quiet" or "too loud". The list goes on! Growing up, you weren't exactly sure why you didn't feel like you belonged. Maybe you found yourself crying over a difficult math assignment. Or maybe you were bullied for being that kid who was "different". Whatever your experience was, the common thread was the same -- you felt othered and not enough.
You feel alone in big crowds. You often feel misunderstood, judged, and not seen for who you really are. You have a strong sense of justice and will not hesitate to advocate for what is right. Maybe this has even caused tension at your workplace or in your relationships. This has been incredibly frustrating! And if you were diagnosed with neurodivergence later in life, you may be feeling a lot of grief and anger. Even if it explains why you have felt the way you do, what do you do now?
In our work together, we will focus on emotional regulation, self-acceptance, and authentic expression of your feelings and needs. We will talk about unmasking and why this is such a crucial part of healing the nervous system. We live in a system built for those who are neurotypical. This has been incredibly harmful and oppressive to neurodivergent folks. The foundation of our work will center around untangling the shame perpetuated by a judgmental society or even from a caregiver or teacher who didn't meet you where we were at.
There can be much pain, much grief, and much frustration that comes up in this work. That is okay! And if traditional talk therapy does not appear to be working, we can pivot. Sometimes, expressing your story through song, through writing, or through art can be more accessible. Or maybe it is difficult to directly talk about yourself or your feelings. You can come in with your favorite movie, book, manga, anime, song, or other piece of media as a way to externalize your experience. Maybe there is a character or a storyline you relate to. This is not a "distraction" in therapy, this is a medium for expression, processing, and understanding. While we can focus on skill-building around emotional regulation or executive functioning, much of our work will be a process. It may take time, but the hope is that this work will ultimately be more sustainable.