Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy in BC

Our brain wiring appears to actually be more diverse than the wiring of neurotypical brains, which researchers believe have a consistent pruning pattern.

— Devon Price

Support for Autism, ADHD, Audhd & Highly Sensitive People

Maybe it feels like everyone else got a manual for how to function in the world, and you missed the handout. Maybe you’ve been recently diagnosed with ADHD, autism, or both (AuDHD). Or maybe you’re still figuring it out — neurocurious, not sure if any label fits, but something about the usual systems has never worked for you. Perhaps you are highly sensitive and looking for a specific kind of support, whether the ND label fits or not for you.

It’s common for neurodivergent folks to be burned out from masking, stuck in cycles of shame or self-blame, or swing between overwhelm and shutdown. It can also be exhausting to feel misunderstood for having a squiggly brain.

What Is Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy?

A neurodivergent-affirming lens does not view ADHD, autism, or AuDHD as disorders that need to be changed — but as different ways of processing, feeling, and relating. Being neurodivergent means that it will always be an integral part of who you are. Historically, therapeutic approaches did not account for neurodivergence, but rather, were based on neurotypical views. But, providing therapy from a neurotypical lens tends to be ineffective for ND folks.

As a ND person myself, therapy is not about getting you to mask better, be more “normal,” or fit into systems that weren’t built for you. It’s about making space for all parts of you — including the ones that have been ignored, misunderstood, or pathologized.

In my work with ND clients, that might look like:

  • Unlearning internalized shame or ableism

  • Exploring your unique sensory needs and nervous system

  • Decoding masking and identity confusion

  • Respecting ND communication styles (eye contact, visual aids, writing, etc.)

  • Understanding, recovering from and preventing ND burnout

  • Identifying and embracing your unique strengths

I do my best to collaborate with my ND clients so that we work at your pace, in your language, and on your terms.

Therapy for ADHD in Adults (Vancouver & Online Across BC)

Many of my clients have ADHD and are trying to navigate a world that’s designed for completely different nervous systems. Executive functioning struggles, decision fatigue, rejection sensitivity, and emotional dysregulation can all compound to feel like personal failures, but they’re not. It just means you have a different brain in an often overwhelming world, have not figured out how to make your life align with your neurodivergence yet, and may be carrying a lifetime of feeling misunderstood.

If you’re looking for ADHD therapy for adults in Vancouver or anywhere in BC, I tailor my approach to suit your unique needs, and to your strengths.

Autism and AuDHD Support

I work with late-diagnosed or self-identified autistic adults and AuDHD clients who have spent years (or their whole life) trying to adapt to environments that weren’t built for them. You might be dealing with sensory overwhelm, shutdown, difficulty processing emotions, the constant background noise of internalized ableism or a mix of it all. It might be confusing to try to figure out the ‘real’ you or identify your needs if you’ve learned to adapt by masking for so long.

You may have even tried other therapy before, but felt that there was a piece of the puzzle missing. Maybe when you were asked about your emotions, or what you were feeling in your body, you did not how to answer that. Without a ND affirming lens, sensory overwhelm can look a lot like anxiety, and autistic burnout can seem like depression. Even if you experience symptoms of depression or anxiety though, it will need a different approach than neurotypical depressive and anxious symptoms.

Therapy for Highly Sensitive People

Many of the folks I work with identify as highly sensitive. Maybe you process things deeply, notice subtle shifts in people’s tone or energy, or need more downtime than others to recover from stimulation. You might experience emotions intensely, feel deeply moved by art or nature, or get easily overwhelmed. Sometimes the world might just feel too loud, too fast, or too much.

In a culture that often prizes speed, toughness, and productivity, sensitivity can feel like a liability. Many clients I work with were told growing up that they were ‘too sensitive.’ I don’t think that’s true - I think that the world needs highly sensitive folks who are deeply attuned to their surroundings. I love to support HSPs to work with their sensitivity, instead of against it. I believe it can make all the difference once HSPs learn to honor their sensitivity.

Who I Work With

I offer neurodivergent-affirming therapy in BC, both online and in-person in Vancouver.

This work is especially supportive for:

  • ADHD, autism, or AuDHD adults — diagnosed or self-identified

  • High masking or late-diagnosed folks in burnout

  • Neurocurious people wondering why things have always felt hard

  • Highly sensitive people (HSPs) who also experience emotional regulation challenges

  • People navigating the overlap between CPTSD and neurodivergence

If this sounds like it could be a good fit, you can contact me here to book a free consultation, or using the button below.

  • Historically therapy has been based on neurotypical standards, which was often not helpful for ND folks. Neurodivergent-affirming therapy means you won’t be asked to mask, fix, or push yourself to meet neurotypical expectations. Instead, we’ll explore your strengths, and what’s actually supportive for you — whether that’s navigating executive function struggles, burnout recovery, or unlearning internalized ableism. My practice is based in Vancouver, and I also work online in BC if you’re looking for a neurodivergent-affirming therapist.

  • Definitely not. Many of my clients are self-diagnosed or exploring the possibility of being neurodivergent. You don’t need a label to know what resonates with you. That being so, if you are interested in exploring the possibility of pursuing a diagnosis, that is absolutely something that can be explored in therapy. As long as you reside in BC, it’s something that can be explored. Many of my clients are learning how to live a life that is aligned with their neurodivergent selves, whether they are late diagnosed autistic, adhd, audhd, self-diagnosed, or neurocurious.

  • That’s okay. You don’t need to be certain or have it all figured out. If you find that neurodivergent language or experiences resonate with you, we can explore that together without pressure to land on any one label if that doesn’t feel right for you. There is also a big overlap between highly sensitive people and folks who are ADHD, ASD or Audhd.