Neurodiversity And Working With A Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist

Understanding Neurodiversity in Therapy: How Your Brain Works, Why It Matters, and How a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist Can Help

If you’re exploring working with a neurodiversity-affirming therapist because you suspect you might be neurodivergent, or you already know that you are, you may have spent years feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or pressured to “act normal.” Many neurodivergent people enter therapy carrying exhaustion, shame, confusion, or frustration from navigating a world not built for the way their brain works.

Whether you’re seeking virtual or in-person neurodiversity-affirming therapy support in the Savannah or Atlanta area for anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, or eating disorders, you deserve a space where your brain and your experiences make sense.  Working with a neurodiversity-affirming therapist ensures that therapy is adapted to how your brain works, rather than forcing you to fit into neurotypical expectations.

Neurodiversity-affirming therapy at Best Within You Therapy & Wellness offers exactly that.

What Does “Neurodiversity” Mean, Really?

Neurodiversity simply means that human brains vary naturally, and these differences are not flaws or failures.

Neurodivergence includes (but is not limited to):

• Autism
• ADHD
• Dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia
• Tourette syndrome
• Sensory processing differences
• Highly sensitive nervous systems
• Unique ways of thinking, learning, feeling, or processing

These differences influence how you sense the world, communicate, manage emotions, and move through daily life. They also shape how you experience mental health challenges, which is why therapy must be adapted, not forced into one-size-fits-all approaches.

How Neurodiversity Shows Up in Everyday Life

Many people seek therapy after noticing:

Communication Differences

• Needing more time to process or respond
• Preferring direct, literal, or deep conversation
• Feeling drained by small talk
• Worrying about social “rules” or expectations

Sensory Sensitivities

• Being overwhelmed by noise, lights, textures, crowds
• Feeling drained by sensory overload
• Needing quiet, movement, or specific routines

Executive Functioning Challenges

• Trouble planning or organizing
• Struggling with task initiation or follow-through
• Forgetting appointments, meals, or obligations
• Feeling “all or nothing” with productivity or focus

Emotional Regulation Differences

• Feeling emotions deeply
• Shutting down or melting down under stress
• Needing more recovery time after overwhelm

Masking

• Hiding your natural communication or behaviors to fit in
• Overworking to appear “fine”
• Feeling burnt out from constantly performing a version of yourself

These experiences can be exhausting, and they often feed into anxiety, depression, burnout, and disordered eating.

Why Neurodivergent People Often Experience Mental Health Challenges

Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical-centered world can lead to:

• Chronic overwhelm
• Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis
• Constant self-criticism
• Feeling “too much” or “not enough”
• Not having your sensory or communication needs understood
• Navigating systems that don’t fit your brain

These pressures add up. Over time, they can shape how you cope with stress, emotions, and daily life, and in some cases, this can lead to eating disorders, depression, anxiety, or trauma responses. Working with a neurodiversity-affirming therapist can help interrupt these patterns by validating your lived experience, addressing systemic stressors, and supporting mental health in ways that align with how your brain actually works.

What a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist Actually Does

A neurodiversity-affirming therapist doesn’t try to make you “less autistic,” “less ADHD,” or more “normal.” Instead, they help you understand yourself and support your mental health in ways that honor your brain, body, and identity.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

1. They See Your Neurotype as Valid, Not a Problem to Fix

You don’t need to change who you are.
You don’t need to mask.
You don’t need to fit into a mold.

The focus is on reducing distress, not erasing neurodivergent traits.

2. They Adapt Therapy to Your Communication and Processing Style

This might include:

• Offering written options
• Giving processing time
• Allowing movement or stimming
• Adjusting sensory elements
• Using visuals, lists, or structure
• Avoiding ambiguous or metaphorical language

You don’t have to change how you communicate. Instead, your therapist will meet you where you are.

3. They Understand Neurodivergent Mental Health Patterns

Instead of assuming your symptoms look “typical,” they explore:

• Sensory triggers
• Burnout
• Masking fatigue
• Executive functioning challenges
• Identity development
• Trauma that comes from being misunderstood

This helps you get the right support, not generic advice that doesn’t fit.

4. They Help You Build a Life That Works for Your Brain

This includes:

• Creating sustainable routines
• Learning self-regulation strategies
• Identifying sensory needs
• Unmasking safely
• Building self-advocacy skills
• Developing supportive relationships

Neurodivergent affirming therapy is focused not just on coping but on thriving authentically.

You Deserve Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy That Understands You

Seeking therapy as a neurodivergent or questioning individual can feel vulnerable, especially if you’ve been misunderstood in the past.

But neurodiversity-affirming therapy offers a different experience grounded in:

• Validation
• Clarity
• Safety
• Understanding
• A space where your brain makes sense

You deserve support that honors who you are, not who the world has told you to be.

If you are searching for a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, consider the providers at Best Within You Therapy & Wellness, including Dr. Laura Riss, who specializes in supporting neurodivergent clients. Dr. Riss offers in-person therapy in Savannah, Georgia and virtual therapy available in Georgia and 42 other states. You can rest assured that Dr. Riss has significant experience providing therapy in Savannah for neurodiversity.

Thank you to Best Within You Therapy & Wellness intern Judith Crandall and licensed Psychologist Dr. Laura Riss for writing this blog post.