Counseling Neurodiversity: ADHD & Autism

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Do you feel misunderstood by the people around you, no matter how much you try to explain your way of thinking or doing things? Are you tired of alternating between being overwhelmed by seemingly simple daily tasks and becoming overly involved in endless projects, hobbies, and interests? Do you struggle to stick to your goals and plans and understand how your motivation, energy levels, and mood affect your ability to make progress? 

When you are struggling with executive function, time management, maintaining focus, and managing daily self-care, household, and other essential tasks, it is easy to get to a point of burning out. Despite going back and forth in a vicious cycle of overwhelm and exhaustion, you may have trouble finding time to slow down to strike a healthy balance. It can be difficult to recognize when this cycle takes over, and it can be even more difficult to get out of it. 

With so much information at our fingertips and so many individuals sharing their experiences with mental health on social media, it is easy to walk away from 15 minutes of scrolling TikTok wondering if you meet the criteria for a mental health condition like ADHD or autism. Maybe you’ve heard the term “neurodivergent” and felt that it summarized how you have felt for years, unable to explain or define it yourself. With sharing personal experiences of mental health challenges trending upward, there are plenty of opportunities to foster community around shared experiences and struggles. However, in addition to consulting TikTok about your mental health, it is important to seek the support of a mental health professional to develop a comprehensive understanding of your symptoms and how to address them to improve your ability to cope with stressors, navigate challenges, and make progress toward your personal goals. 

One step toward developing a better understanding of your patterns of behavior and addressing areas of concern is discussing your symptoms with a mental health professional. A mental health counselor can facilitate exploration of the symptoms you notice and how they affect various areas of your life, including relationships, work, self-care, and overall health. If you notice any of the symptoms listed below, you may benefit from counseling.

  • Difficulty with social interactions, communication, and maintaining social relationships
  • Difficulty adjusting to changes in routines, plans, or expectations
  • Restricted and/or fixated interests
  • Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input
  • Difficulty maintaining focus/sustaining attention, being easily distracted
  • Difficulty with time management
  • Difficulty engaging in tasks that require sustained mental effort
  • Forgetfulness
  • Fidgeting and/or difficulty staying seated when being seated is expected
  • Restlessness
  • Difficulty waiting for one’s turn (e.g. in a conversation, when playing a game)
  • Feeling “keyed up,” acting as if “driven by a motor”

Getting Started with a Neurodiversity Therapist

If you notice any of these difficulties affecting you at home/work/school, in relationships, or with meeting personal needs and goals, please reach out to see if counseling would be a good fit for you.

At Legendary Counseling, we are glad to have a therapist that specializes in treating neurodivergent individuals on our team - Katie Green, LMSW! Katie works with individual children, adolescents, and adults!

You can complete our new client inquiry form or send us a message by clicking the button below to get started with a neurodivergent-affirming therapist today!