If you’re autistic or neurodivergent and are seeking therapy, finding a therapist who understands the unique needs specific to the neurodiverse community can be difficult. Fortunately, finding a neurodiversity-affirming therapist is more possible than ever as a greater acceptance of the neurodiversity perspective grows among clinical professionals.
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- Neurodiversity (including Autism Spectrum Disorder)
- Attention / Concentration (including ADHD)
- Learning Disorders (including Dyslexia)
Get answers in weeks, not months. Bend Health provides a complete neuropsychological report with in-depth findings, reviews with your school or pediatrician, along with a clinical diagnosis (if applicable). Plus, receive recommendations to support your child at home, in the community, and in the classroom. Learn more
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What Makes a Good Therapist?
When you are choosing the right therapist, figuring out what qualities make them a good fit for you can be hard. Some of these characteristics will depend on who you are, your values, your goals, and how you like to address challenges.
A good therapist will:
- Meet you where you are
- Help you learn more about yourself so you can better manage your concerns
- Respect you and how you choose to identify
- Be empowering and committed
- Challenge you to grow
- Show an interest in you as a person
- Remember the details you share with them
- Help you feel like you are uncovering things about yourself and learning something new
- Help you maintain healthy boundaries
What Is a Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapist?
A neurodiversity-affirming therapist approaches therapeutic work with the understanding that autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, Tourette’s syndrome (TS), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), dyspraxia, and certain other conditions should not be cured or solved. Instead, they view these as individual neurotypes with unique strengths, needs, and challenges.1,2 The neurodiversity movement shifts away from the idea that brains falling outside of “typical” are “disordered.”
A neurodiversity-affirming therapist will possess a basic understanding of different characteristics unique to each neurotype. For example, they would have knowledge that an autistic client might have special interests or sensory needs. A therapist informed in neurodiversity is also well-versed in areas specific to the neurodiverse community and the nuances of the experience of neurodivergent individuals.
Why Finding a Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapist Is Important
In therapy, “goodness of fit” is a key element in the healing process. Working with a therapist who understands your unique experience of the world is important. As neurodivergent clients, having a therapist who is knowledgeable about concerns like sensory issues, neurodivergent-specific anxities, and autistic burnout is beneficial. They can provide guidance and information specialists in other areas may not understand quiet as well.
Resources For Autism
Sensory Enrichment Program For Autism – Boost brain development to give your child more tools. Top 5 areas of improvement reported are Attention, Sleep, Sensory Processing, Eating, and Social Skills. Learn More
Pediatric Mental Healthcare For Autism Spectrum Disorder (ages 1 -17) Bend Health does not provide ABA Therapy. Bend Health is a virtual-first mental health care provider caring for kids, teens and their families. Build skills and routines that support your whole family with coaches, therapists and psychiatrists. For parent’s, Bend offers monthly progress updates and a peer support community. Many insurance plans are accepted. Learn More
Neuropsychological Testing For Children (including evaluations for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Learning Disorders) Get answers in weeks, not months. Bend Health provides a complete report with in-depth findings, review with your schools, and a clinical diagnosis (if applicable). Learn more
Where to Find a Neurodiversity-Affirmative Therapist
When seeking a therapist, start by asking the people you know if they have any referrals. Check to see whether they can refer you to a therapist’s website or provide other contact information. Often, primary care providers keep lists of mental health clinicians. You can also search through your health insurance to find a provider who accepts your plan and specializes in specific areas (e.g., anxiety or depression).
An online therapist directory allows you to search and browse therapists, view their clinician profiles, and determine who might be a good fit. Additionally, you might consider checking with organizations that serve neurodiverse communities.
Below are organizations that provide resources for finding neurodiversity-affirming therapists:
- Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
- The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE)
- Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
4 Things to Look For In a Neurodiversity-Affirmative Therapist
Consider looking for specific licenses, certifications, education, and personalities when finding the right neurodiversity-affirmative therapist. Additionally, you should factor in possible costs if your insurance does not cover a particular provider or you plan to pay out of pocket for treatment.
Here are four things to look for in a neurodiversity-affirmative therapist:
1. Licensing, Certifications, & Education
Look for a therapist who is licensed to practice psychotherapy in your state. Different types of mental health providers include licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), licensed clinical psychologists, licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs), licensed mental health counselors (LMHC), and licensed professional counselors (LPC). Psychotherapists should have a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited university.
2. Personality Fit
Personality fit and comfortability with a therapist go a long way. When you feel like you can relate to your therapist, the therapeutic process is easier and more effective. You might search for someone of a particular gender, age range, or community (e.g., LGBTQ+ or religious background).
3. Scheduling & Availability
Availability can be a barrier when finding a neurodiversity-affirming therapist. Some providers may not be accepting new patients. Other times, their current openings do not fit your schedule. When contacting a potential therapist, feel free to ask about their usual hours of availability. Let them know what times and days work best for you (i.e., morning, afternoon, evening).
4. Cost
The most primary and practical concern of finding a therapist is cost. Sustained therapy is often essential, meaning that financial sustainability is an important consideration. Finding a therapist in-network with your insurance can make consistent long-term work a possibility. Also, check to see whether the therapist in question offers a sliding scale fee for therapy.
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Reviewing Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapists’ Profiles & Websites
When reviewing a potential provider’s profile or website, check whether they mention experience in the areas of autism, ADHD, or neurodiversity. Some therapists are neurodivergent themselves and put their neurotypes in their profile. As the neurodiversity movement grows, more therapists are becoming open about their own identities.3 Ensure to make note of any pathologizing or outdated language.
What to Ask During a Consultation
After selecting a series of potential therapists, ask questions during your first phone call or visit about their experience and what you can expect from treatment. This information can guide you in making an informed decision about your future care.
Here are questions to ask potential therapists:
- Can you tell me a little bit about your experience working with autistic/ADHD/neurodivergent clients?
- How/where did you learn about autism/ADHD/neurodiversity?
- Are you autistic/ADHD/neurodivergent?
- What are some of the main approaches you use in therapy (e.g., psychodynamic therapy or CBT)?
- How long do clients generally stay with your practice?
- Have you ever worked with (your specific area of concern)?
- Do you offer remote sessions via phone or video?
- Do you accept my insurance/offer a sliding scale fee?
What to Consider During Your First Appointment
The first few sessions are for getting to know your therapist. This process can take a while, so consider how you feel during each session. Are you comfortable speaking and sharing with your therapist? Do they seem curious and receptive? Do they have expertise or understanding in the areas you would like to explore?
After three or four sessions, you’ll probably have a sense of whether your therapist is the right fit for you. Your therapist should also know if they can adequately support you. Letting a provider know you plan to seek someone else is okay if you notice signs of a bad therapist.
What to Do if You Can’t Find a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist
You may want to explore online therapy if finding a neurodiverse-affirming therapist where you live is difficult. Because most therapists are licensed by the state, teletherapy would provide access to a wider range of therapists. Other times, online or in-person support groups or peer support from other individuals in the neurodiverse community can be beneficial.4
Finding a therapist knowledgeable and well-versed in the strengths and challenges of the neurodiverse community may prove challenging. However, you may locate a provider who is open to learning about your neurodivergent identity from neurodivergent sources. New providers are entering the field all the time, so continue to check with insurance panels, online directories, and referral networks. New therapists in private practice tend to have the most availability.5
In My Experience
Additional Resources
To help our readers take the next step in their mental health journey, Choosing Therapy has partnered with leaders in mental health and wellness. Choosing Therapy is compensated for marketing by the companies included below.
Sensory Enrichment Program For Autism
Mendability – Boost brain development to give your child more tools. Top 5 areas of improvement reported are Attention, Sleep, Sensory Processing, Eating, and Social Skills. Learn More
Neurological Testing
Neuropsychological Testing For Children (including evaluations for Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD and Learning Disorders) Get answers in weeks, not months. Bend Health provides a complete report with in-depth findings, review with your schools, and a clinical diagnosis (if applicable). Learn more
Online Therapy & Coaching (ages 1 -17)
Bend Health is a virtual mental healthcare provider caring for kids, teens, and their families. Many insurance plans are accepted. Learn More
Autism Parenting Magazine
Are you looking for the most up-to-date news and professional guidance for you and your child on the subject of autism? Get A Free Issue
How to help a child with OCD and Autism
If you have an autistic child, they might exhibit some behaviors that look similar to compulsions in OCD, like having to wear certain clothes, lining up toys in a certain way, or engaging in specific routines & rituals. OCD rituals, aka compulsions, can look similar to the repetitive behaviors common in Autism, as a 2011 study found that about 17% of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) also meet criteria for OCD.