California: 1849 Sawtelle Blvd #610, Los Angeles, CA 90025 | Minnesota: 7201 Metro Boulevard Suite 550, Edina, MN 55439
Telehealth Available | Neurodiversity Affirming Care
Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy
are you on a journey to find a therapist who actually gets you?
or Maybe even one who is neurodivergent too?
Do you feel misunderstood or out of place because certain treatments just haven’t worked for you? Have you been dismissed as “just anxious” or “depressed,” only to discover later that you’re actually ADHD, autistic, or otherwise neurodivergent? Or maybe you’ve faced misdiagnoses or medications that didn’t feel right for you?
Navigating life as an autistic or ADHD-er can be challenging, especially when it feels like most approaches aren’t designed for how your mind works. You might feel the pressure to mask who you are, pretending to be neurotypical just to fit in. But what you really want is a space where you can be fully, authentically yourself, supported in a way that honors your unique neurotype. Here, we focus on finding an approach that truly fits you, validating your experiences and embracing your strengths
If you are neurodivergent and looking for therAPY, the neurodivergent affirming therapists at Neuron and Rose are here to help.
Neurodivergent Folks Have Different Experiences
Neurodivergent individuals experience the world in ways that differ from neurotypical norms, with unique perspectives, sensory processing, communication styles, and thought patterns. These differences often mean that traditional therapies, which may assume or prioritize neurotypical behavior, can feel invalidating or even harmful.
Affirming therapy recognizes and respects neurodivergent experiences as valid and valuable, offering a supportive space where clients are encouraged to embrace their natural ways of being.
Without the right help and support, living this way can feel lonely and frustrating. We are here to help you discover how to advocate for yourself, accommodate your needs, and finally walk out of masking and into a world where you can surround yourself in support and care.
Rather than focusing on “fixing” behaviors to conform, affirming therapy centers on self-understanding, coping strategies tailored to neurodivergent needs, and genuine acceptance, helping clients thrive as their authentic selves. Our care respects these as valuable aspects of a person’s identity and lived experience.
Society may not be neurodivergent friendly, but we are
Society frequently expects neurodivergent individuals to adapt and blend in by “masking” or camouflaging their natural behaviors to appear more neurotypical. This pressure to conform can lead to significant mental health challenges, as the constant effort of hiding true expressions and needs can be exhausting and lead to burnout.
Many neurodivergent people also experience invalidation and misunderstanding in workplaces, social settings, and even family environments where neurotypical behaviors are often seen as the standard.
This lack of acceptance creates an environment that can be deeply isolating, as neurodivergent individuals are left feeling they must change to be accepted, rather than being valued for who they are.
Compounding these challenges, there is a pervasive lack of understanding within the healthcare field regarding the diverse ways ADHD and autism present, especially in individuals who don’t fit the traditional (often white, cisgender male) profile. As a result, many neurodivergent people face delayed diagnoses, sometimes reaching adulthood before receiving accurate support.
Conventional medical models can reinforce this gap by viewing neurodivergent traits as deficits to “correct” rather than understanding them as natural variations. In contrast, neurodivergent-affirming therapy embraces these variations, working to provide a supportive space where individuals can explore their identity and find strategies that enhance their well-being.
Through our affirming approach, we make it our goal that clients can discover ways to navigate life authentically, with a therapist who sees and validates their unique experiences
Our Approaches To Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy
Our therapists are proudly eclectic and pull from a diverse menu of therapeutic approaches. We are trauma-informed and have begun the process of decolonizing our therapy practices. Many of our clinicians are also IFS-Informed (Internal Family Systems therapy). Some of the approaches our therapists use include the list below. To see which provider offers which service, check out this page.
NOTE: We do not use manualized CBT in the traditional sense*, where it may be implied that there is something wrong with the way you think, which then impacts the way you feel. We will never tell you that your thoughts aren’t valid. We may thoughtfully bring in CBT-based interventions if appropriate, and if you are comfortable.
*One of our providers offer exposure and response prevention and I-CBT to support folks dealing with OCD, phobias, and in some cases, general anxiety. These tend to be a bit more structured, however, our provider adapts them to meet the needs of each therapy participant, and like mentioned above, will never tell you or imply that there is something wrong with the way you think.
NOTE: Interpersonal effectiveness adapted for neurodivergent folks is shared from the approach of supporting you in meeting your needs in relationships. In line with that, we incorporate self-advocacy in our practice, which focuses on securing support and accommodations within your home as well as with family and friends. It involves effectively communicating your needs and preferences to ensure a conducive environment for your well-being.
Another art of interpersonal effectiveness, boundary setting, comes into play when navigating social events and interactions. Instead of pushing yourself to endure overwhelming situations, the approach is to establish clear limits, allowing for more comfortable and manageable social experiences.
There are other aspects of interpersonal effectiveness that can be helpful, though will only be explored if you’d like to. For example, determining what your goal(s) are in any given relationship (e.g. meet your needs, preserve your relationship, etc.).
Our Therapy Clinicians
-
Dr. Michael Nutt, PsyD
Works with children, teens, and adults remotely in California and remotely and in person in Minnesota.
-
Dr. Melody Hannani, PsyD
Works with teens and adults remotely and in person in California.
Best fit: Autism, ADHD, Trauma Processing and Recovery, first-generation/acculturation issues, Burnout Recovery, Identity Exploration, Adolescents and Adults, Brain Spotting, Parts Work, Somatic Approaches
-
Dr. Anaïs Wong, PsyD
Works with teens (15+) and adults remotely in California.
Best fit: gifted/neurocomplex, ADHDers, people of color, immigrant experience/third culture, adolescents (15+), young to mid-life adults, attachment trauma in childhood
-
Alex McLaughlin, MSW
Works with children, teens, and adults remotely and in person in Minnesota.
Best fit: OCD, Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, Queer, Children & adolescents (adults cool, too), trauma recovery (children, adolescents & young adults).
-
Teresa Koro, MS
Works with children, teens, and adults remotely in California.
Best fit: Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, late diagnosis, anxiety
-
Jonnie-Rose Villanueva, MA, MA
Works with adults remotely in California.
-
Sophia McKnight, MA
Works with adults remotely in California.
-
Illeanna Holmgren, MA
Works with adults remotely in California.
Our Therapy Pricing Model
We want to ensure that as many people who need affirming therapy are able to access it. We have created a Pay What You Can model that supports our community while also taking into account the skills of our providers. In order to support these Pay What You Can spots, we have to maintain a certain amount of Full Pay spots, therefore, there may be a wait!
You May Be Considering Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy But Have More Questions…
I heard CBT might not be the best approach for Neurodivergent people. Do you practice CBT?
We do not practice CBT in the traditional sense, where it is extremely structured, one-size-fits-all, or with trying to change your thoughts, for example. However, some CBT interventions or ideas can be brought into therapy when appropriate (like problem-solving, tracking emotions or journaling, setting boundaries, communicating needs, or discussing the pros and cons of a decision). We pull from many different therapeutic approaches and meet you where you are.
How do I know you're going to understand me and not dismiss me?
This is a really common fear, especially after being misdiagnosed or having been dismissed or gaslit by providers in the past. We are going to take the time to get to know you, your experiences, and your goals and honor those. Our approach is collaborative, and we believe you are the expert of your own experiences. Let's co-create therapy and what it looks like.
You're not going to try to teach me social skills, are you?
No. We understand and honor brain differences, and we will never try to make you appear more neurotypical.
Is somebody gonna match my freak?
The answer is yes; yes, we are.
Recent Posts
So you want to be a neurodivergent affirming clinician? Super! This process of becoming a neurodivergent affirming (ND-affirming) clinician is continual processing of learning and growth. It requires a commitment to tolerating discomfort. It requires cultural humility; naming when you made an error, and committing to doing better. It requires that as you continue to learn, you commit to shifting your language & practices. This PDF is intended as a jumping off point.