Neurodiversity (ADHD/ASD)
Neurodiversity in adulthood is often misunderstood or overlooked, especially for those who were never formally diagnosed earlier in life. Many adults discover much later that their experiences with focus, communication, sensory processing, persistent feelings of overwhelm, or social interaction may be linked to conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other neurodivergent profiles.
Living as a neurodivergent adult comes with both strengths and challenges. You may excel in creativity, problem-solving, or deep focus, while also navigating difficulties with executive functioning, burnout, social expectations, or masking. Whether you're newly exploring your neurodivergent identity or have been managing it for years, our counsellors are here to provide respectful, informed, and individualized support. At our clinic, we believe that neurodivergence is not a deficit - it’s just a different way of experiencing and engaging with the world.
For many adults, being seen and heard through a neurodiversity-affirming lens can be truly transformative. Our clinicians take a collaborative, neuro-affirming approach that honors your lived experience and centers your goals. We support clients across a broad range of areas, including managing stress and anxiety, navigating career challenges, improving relationship dynamics, building sustainable routines, and developing strategies for executive functioning, among others.
Whether you are part of a neurodiverse relationship, navigating a later-in-life diagnosis of ADHD, raising a child with autism, or learning about the interplay between hormones and neurodivergence in your current functioning, our goal is to empower you with support, strategies, opportunities, and encouragement so that you may thrive authentically as yourself.
By incorporating a holistic view, we’ll consider the intersecting identities and broader systems that shape the range of your lived experiences and influence your well-being. This perspective is foundational for attending to the shame, guilt, self-devaluation, and conflict that often arise in invalidating and oppressive environments. Our work may involve reclaiming parts of yourself that you shut down long ago because you saw them as flawed, embarrassing, or painful - all while addressing challenges that are often amplified in environments shaped by neurotypical norms.
What We Have Learned:
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Countless adults have experienced symptoms of anxiety and depression for years - often unaware that neurodiversity may play a significant role in their mental health challenges. This doesn’t mean they don’t have anxiety or depression, but these experiences can be influenced by the challenges of navigating a neuro-normative world while being neurodivergent.
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Diagnostic criteria for neurodiversity, especially ADHD, have traditionally focused on how symptoms present in young boys, often resulting in missed or delayed diagnoses in girls and adult women, whose symptoms can manifest very differently.
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Girls and women commonly develop a variety of coping mechanisms, both healthy and unhealthy, to manage their symptoms. Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause, especially changes in estrogen levels, can significantly affect these coping abilities, often leading to an increase in diagnoses during this stage of life.
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Shame, social anxiety, low self-esteem, and grief are frequently part of the neurodivergent experience.
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Couples therapy for neurodiverse relationships can be incredibly validating and effective. Differences in communication styles, sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation, and executive functioning can lead to misunderstandings and strain. We support couples in building shared understanding, improving communication, and developing mutual support, helping them navigate their differences with compassion and clarity by working with (not against) their neurological differences.
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Neurodivergence certainly presents challenges, but it also brings unique strengths. We would love to help you reconnect with your authentic self and support you in developing sustainable strategies to manage difficulties, while discovering your personal strengths and gifts.
Our goal is to help you better understand yourself, reduce unnecessary stress, and live in a way that aligns with your strengths and values. Therefore, therapy sessions are tailored to meet your preferences, communication style, and sensory needs - there’s no need to change who you are.
