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Behind the Mask in Neurodiverse Relationships 🎭 Do you wear a mask? Let's be honest, these days we all wear masks. We put on a certain face for the world as we feel the tension of fitting in. For people on the autism spectrum, this tension gets cranked up to the max. Picture this: You're at a party – the music's pumping, laughter fills the air. Mary, who is neurotypical, moves with ease, her personality shining through. 💃 Meanwhile, John, who is autistic, navigates this social maze with a rehearsed grace, each smile and nod meticulously planned to camouflage his true self. 🥸 This effort, a profound act of 'masking', isn't just for tonight but is a constant presence, draining John's energy and straining the couple's connection. If left unchecked, this dynamic could threaten the very foundation of their relationship. What does it mean to mask oneself? 🤔 For many with autism, masking is a survival strategy . The goal is not merely to blend in but to avoid the friction of social judgment. This adaptive behavior, while protective in the moment, demands a significant emotional toll, reshaping one's self-expression to meet external expectations, often at great personal cost. 😪 Understanding masking is more complicated than it may appear at first glance. There are different ways to mask: Compensation: This is where one adopts behaviors deemed acceptable , molding their actions to fit a normative social mold. Suppression: Here, natural behaviors are stifled , hidden away to present what is perceived as 'normal.' Assimilation: In this act, one performs scripts that align with societal expectations , often feeling alien to one's nature. Do you recognize these behaviors in yourself? Or in your partner? 💵 The Profound Costs of Masking Now consider the emotional and psychological toll: the constant energy required to maintain this facade can lead to anxiety, depression, and even physical symptoms due to chronic stress. 🤒 Over time, this sustained effort can erode an individual's self-esteem and sense of identity, impacting both personal well-being and the vitality of their relationships. Moreover, misunderstandings that arise from masking can create emotional distance, leaving one partner feeling neglected and the other overwhelmed, complicating their ability to connect and communicate effectively. 💔 What to do? 📊 Measuring Masking with the CAT-Q Taking the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) is an essential first step for those aiming to explore the extent of autistic masking. CAT-Q Questionnaire Available at no charge on the Adult Autism Assessment website, this tool includes 25 questions and can be completed in 5 to 7 minutes. It assesses various dimensions of masking, breaking down masking strategies so you can gain a deeper understanding of these behaviors' emotional and relational impacts. 🗣️ Have the Right Masking Conversation Instead of focusing solely on the frustrations that arise from autistic masking, let's delve into what's truly happening beneath the surface. Moving away from blame, we can foster a supportive environment by openly discussing the underlying challenges of masking. 💬 Exploring insights from the CAT-Q results allows us to understand the pressures and strategies involved, helping to cultivate empathy and strengthen our connections in a more meaningful and supportive way. 🛠️ Tailoring Social Situations Adapting social settings to reduce the need for masking, whether by choosing less demanding activities or creating signals for needed breaks, can alleviate stress and enhance engagement. Get really specific. Be creative and experiment with new ways of approaching tough situations. This proactive approach allows both partners to feel more in control and less anxious about social interactions, leading to more enjoyable and meaningful experiences together. Couples who try this are amazed at the freedom and relief that they experience. 🏠 Creating a Supportive Home Environment How can we make our homes refuges where unmasking is not just safe but welcomed? By respecting personal space, allowing for stimming or other natural behaviors, and setting clear expectations, we build trust and reduce the daily stress for the autistic partner. A nurturing home environment acts as a foundation for growth and healing, where both partners can truly relax and be themselves, strengthening the bonds of love and understanding. Unveiling the Mask, Not Eliminating It 👫 The key to a healthy relationship in a neurodiverse partnership isn't about eradicating masking entirely. It's about fostering open communication and acknowledging the mask itself. Imagine the mask not as a barrier to intimacy, but as a layer waiting to be understood. Through honest conversations, you and your partner can explore the situations where masking feels necessary and discuss strategies for minimizing it. 🗣️ By discussing the results of tools like the CAT-Q , you can gain a deeper understanding of masking's impact and build empathy for each other's experiences. This awareness allows you to create a safe space at home where unmasking feels natural, fostering genuine connection and a stronger bond. Remember, masking can be a coping mechanism, but it shouldn't come at the expense of your true selves. Let's work together to unveil the masks, not eliminate them, and celebrate the beautiful authenticity beneath. Click Here To Match With An Expert All the best, Harry Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT, PsyD Dr. Motro is a registered Marriage and Family Therapist #53452 and the Founder/Clinical Director of the Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center. Want to Meet with Our Client Care Coordinator? Hi, I'm Whitney Pressley, Client Care Coordinator. Let's talk so I can match you with the neurodiverse specialist that's right for you. Schedule With Whitney Take an ASD/ADHD Screener Are you curious about whether or not you have autism/ADHD? Want to learn more about yourself and take the first step towards deeper self-understanding? We invite you to visit the Adult Autism Assessment Site and Take An ASD/ADHD Assessment Use our Trait Wheels to better understand your strengths and challenges: Autism Trait Wheel ADHD Trait Wheel AuDHD Trait Wheel

Making the Holidays a Win for Neurodiverse Couples The holidays are here — lights, gatherings, music, traditions... For some couples, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. For others, especially those in neurodiverse relationships , it can feel like walking into a minefield. Take Sarah and James. Sarah’s idea of holiday magic was non-stop socializing. James, who is autistic, felt his energy drain with every party invite. By Christmas Eve, Sarah felt abandoned, and James was burned out. Sound familiar? This season, it doesn’t have to go this way. 🎁 The Struggles Are Real—But Fixable Holidays mean extra sensory overload, social expectations, and unspoken assumptions. For autistic partners, loud gatherings, surprise events, or last-minute changes can create a meltdown. For allistic partners, the lack of enthusiasm or perceived “shutdown” can feel isolating. Add holiday traditions into the mix, and it’s easy to see how good intentions can morph into conflict. But here’s the good news: understanding and planning can make a huge difference. 🌟 Why Holidays Feel Different in Neurodiverse Couples For neurodiverse couples, the holidays magnify existing dynamics: Autistic partners often focus on consistency, structure, and recovery time. Unscheduled gatherings or unclear expectations can feel chaotic. Allistic partners might value spontaneity, connection, and tradition . A lack of engagement can feel personal. Instead of labeling these differences as “wrong,” therapy can help couples see them as strengths. 🕯️ Connection Over Perfection Here’s what matters: connection doesn’t have to look like perfection. For Sarah and James, the solution wasn’t attending every holiday party together. It was building a shared plan: Sarah hosted a Friendsgiving, and James stayed home to recharge for the family event they both prioritized. This year, embrace the fact that neurodiverse love looks different — and that’s beautiful. ✨ The Gift of Interventions: How can our neuro-informed specialists help? Customizing Connection Plans: We’ll help you identify how much socializing works for both partners. Together, we create a game plan that respects everyone’s needs. Teaching the Power of Scripts: We offer strategies like prepared phrases for exiting conversations, saying no to extra gatherings, and avoiding awkward moments. Addressing Sensory Needs: Let’s talk about your holiday environments. Our therapists guide couples to set up calm zones or use tools like noise-canceling headphones during high-sensory events. Building Emotional Fluency: Misunderstandings spike when stress rises. We’ll teach both partners how to communicate what’s happening internally, without blame. These tailored tools go beyond generic advice. They’re designed to meet your unique needs as a neurodiverse couple. 🎉 Want Personalized Holiday Tools? Let’s Talk! Our team of neuro-informed couples counselors are here to help you navigate the season with clarity and care. Whether you’re looking to reduce holiday stress or deepen your connection, our neuro-informed specialists can help. Click here to schedule your session today. Warm wishes, Harry Motro Clinical Director, Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center 🔦 Spotlight on Whitney S. Specialties and Certifications Neurodiverse Couples Specialist Neurodiverse Parenting Specialist Life Transitions Postpartum Depression Birthing Trauma Spirituality/Christianity Grief and Loss IEPs/Special Education LGBTQ+ - Affirming Parenting Life Experience Diagnosed with ADHD at age 17 Married 23 years to neurodivergent husband Proud mother of 3 neurodivergent kids: age 21 Autism/ADHD/twice exceptional, age 18 ADHD, age 13 Autism/ADHD Proud mother to LGBTQ+ identifying kids Care giver to 2 parents diagnosed with cancer through treatment end of life Contact Whitney Today! Did you miss the last Blog? Click Here to Read Now! Want to Meet with Our Client Care Coordinator? Hi, I'm Cassie Clayton, Client Care Coordinator. Let's talk so I can match you with the neurodiverse specialist that's right for you. Schedule with Cassie Think You May be Have ADHD? The Structured Adult ADHD Self-Test (SAAST) may be used to identify adults who may have undiagnosed ADHD Take the SAAST Test Use our Trait Wheels to better understand your strengths and challenges: Autism Trait Wheel ADHD Trait Wheel AuDHD Trait Wheel

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Meet Maring Higa, one of our neurodiversity-affirming counselors and coaches for autism, ADHD, and AuDHD couples, individuals, and teens. Find the right fit for you. < Back Maring Higa, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist | Neurodiverse Couples Specialist 💛 Lived Experience Shapes the Way I Work I know what it’s like to fight for connection—and to finally find it, in a way that feels real, earned, and deeply alive. Earlier in life, I was in a neurodiverse marriage that ended in divorce. It was a relationship filled with both love and difficulty, and navigating the differences in communication, processing, and emotional rhythms taught me more than any training ever could. That experience was humbling and powerful—it cracked me open to what it really means to bridge worlds. I carry forward the insight, empathy, and hard-won clarity I gained from that relationship with deep gratitude. It made me who I am today. Now, I’m over a decade into a new relationship with someone I truly consider my soulmate. But “soulmate” doesn’t mean easy. It means we’re committed to doing the work—especially the work of blending families, healing old wounds, and growing through inevitable friction. We still have our differences. We still stumble. But we keep showing up with curiosity, humility, and care. Having lived through both disconnection and deep repair, I bring a grounded, compassionate hope to couples who are struggling. I don’t offer quick fixes—I offer real tools for real relationships. 🧠 How I Work with Neurodiverse Couples I specialize in helping neurodiverse couples —whether autistic, ADHD, or both—untangle the confusing, painful cycles that often arise when two very different nervous systems and communication styles collide. I don’t see either partner as “the problem.” Instead, I help couples understand how their unique wiring, regulation needs, and processing styles impact the way they connect—or miss each other. Together, we: Slow things down so both people feel safe and heard Shift out of blame and into shared curiosity Build a relational language that works for both neurotypes Learn how to repair misattunements with compassion and intention Respect sensory needs and differences in emotional pacing My approach blends depth and structure. Some of the methods I draw from include: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for co-regulation and secure attachment Imago Therapy for exploring how early wounds shape current conflict Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help each partner access compassion for their own inner world Gottman tools for practical support around communication, rituals, and conflict management Somatic and bioenergetic work to address what's held in the body, not just the mind Every couple is different—and in neurodiverse relationships, that difference is often wider and more profound than in neurotypical ones. That’s not a deficit—it’s just reality. With the right support, it can become a strength. 🌿 The Body Knows—Especially in Neurodiverse Relationships Before I became a therapist, I practiced acupuncture for 17 years. I’ve also trained in somatic healing and bioenergetic therapy, and I bring that deep respect for the body into my work with clients every day. Neurodiverse individuals—especially autistic folks—often live disconnected from their bodies. They may struggle with interoception (the ability to sense what's going on inside) or feel overloaded by sensory input, leading them to numb out or dissociate. Others may live in a state of chronic stress without even realizing it. In my work, I help clients tune back in—gently and safely. Whether through breath, movement, somatic tracking, or body awareness tools , we reconnect to the body not as a “fix,” but as a source of wisdom and regulation. This is especially important in relationships, where the body holds unspoken tension, patterns of shutdown, and the longings we can’t always verbalize. My training and experience include: Acupuncture and holistic bodywork Somatic therapy and bioenergetic release Support for postpartum health and hormonal transitions Women’s health and trauma recovery Personal experience as an athlete, injury survivor, and circus arts performer This embodied lens helps me work with clients whose nervous systems are exhausted, disconnected, or over-activated—especially in the context of neurodiverse relationships. 🌱 Parenting Neurodivergent Children I’m a mom of two amazing kids. My daughter is 9, and my son is 14 and autistic. Parenting a neurodivergent child has taught me more than any book or training ever could. I've come to understand the sensory challenges, the meltdowns, the brilliance, the beauty, and the fatigue. What’s more, I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, which helped make sense of so many struggles I carried silently as a child—overwhelm, internal shame, and the constant feeling of falling short in a world that didn’t match how I was wired. This personal journey allows me to support other parents—especially those navigating diagnoses, school systems, and the emotional toll of loving a child who may not be understood by the world around them. I walk alongside you not as an expert from afar, but as someone in the trenches who deeply gets it. 👨👩👧👦 Co-Parenting After Separation I’ve lived the real-world challenges of co-parenting —trying to communicate with an ex while staying grounded in your values, protecting your kids' emotional safety, and managing the logistics of schedules, boundaries, and big feelings. Co-parenting can feel impossible at times, especially when there’s unresolved hurt or different parenting philosophies. I work with clients to develop r ealistic, compassionate strategies for communication, boundary-setting, and conflict de-escalation. My goal is to help you shift from power struggles to problem-solving, so your children get the best of both parents. 🏡 Blended Families: A New Blueprint Blending families isn't just about combining households—it’s about building a completely new system with its own rhythms, rituals, and rules. As someone who’s part of a blended family, I know the loyalty binds, the role confusion, and the emotional landmines that can appear unexpectedly. There’s grief for what was, hope for what could be, and lots of tension in the “in between.” I help blended families navigate common challenges like stepparent roles, co-parenting across households, discipline differences, and how to build connection when trust is still forming. Together, we create a new blueprint that honors everyone involved—including the kids. 🎨 And Just for Fun I’m endlessly curious and deeply creative. I love women’s soccer, making music, and getting lost in hands-on projects. I find beauty in the messiness of being human and believe that humor, creativity, and embodiment are essential parts of healing. Education & Clinical Training M.A. in Counseling Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy) – National University M.S. in Oriental Medicine – Pacific College of Oriental Medicine Certified Bioenergetics Therapist – Southern California Institute of Bioenergetics (in progress) Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #145908 Supervised by Dr. Harry Motro, LMFT #53452 Employed by New Path Family of Therapy Centers Trained in: Somatic Therapy & Nervous System Regulation Internal Family Systems (IFS) Trauma-Informed Couples Work Fertility, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Mental Health Women's Health & Holistic Medicine Acupuncture and Embodiment Practices Podcast Creator & Host: The Messy Middle (2016–2021) – Personal growth and emotional healing Body Talk (2024–Present) – Exploring somatic therapy, mind-body connection, and holistic wellness Specialty Areas: Autism, ADHD, Parenting (Neurotypical & Neurodiverse), Blended Families, Somatic Therapies, IFS, Trauma, Neurodiverse Couples, Accepting New Couples & Indiv. Clients, Attachment, AuDHD, Communication, Couples Retreats/Intensives, Discernment, Emotion Focused Therapy, Highly Sensitive People (HSP), Multicultural Challenges, Teens, General Couples Coaching, Family Conflict, Betrayal/Affair Recovery, Integrative Spiritual Therapy, Cassandra Syndrome, Emotional Intimacy, Emotional Regulation, Life Transitions Maring Higa Take an Autism Test

Neurodiversity-affirming family therapy across generations for autism, ADHD, and AuDHD. Reduce blame, improve repair, and build a shared language.

Neurodiverse Couples Retreats WHAT IS A NEURODIVERSE COUPLES RETREAT? If you are in a neurodiverse relationship and feel like you need significant support, you're in the right place. Our Neurodiverse Couples Retreat offers private, personalized therapy sessions designed specifically with you and your partner in mind. This isn’t a group retreat – every aspect is tailored to address the unique dynamics of your relationship , ensuring you receive the focused attention and care you deserve. Whether you prefer remote sessions or an in-person experience , we provide a customized environment to help you reconnect and grow. Jumpstart Your Relationship Our retreats offer an opportunity to jumpstart your relationship in ways that weekly therapy often cannot. To maintain the progress you make, we also offer ongoing support after the retreat, helping you sustain and build upon your momentum. Our Team Our team consists of experts in neurodiverse relationships , trained to understand the nuances of autism, ADHD, and other neuro-differences. We recognize how these differences influence relationships and approach each couple with empathy and expertise. Unlike traditional therapists who may inadvertently try to fit neurodivergent partners into a neurotypical mold, we celebrate and work with the strengths of neurodiversity. Our specialists are skilled at getting to the heart of the matter quickly, providing insight and guidance that can transform your relationship. Flexible and Accessible We know you live a busy so, so we offer multiple retreat options to fit your schedule. Online couples therapy intensives are a powerful alternative to weekly sessions. A one-day retreat can serve as a valuable tune-up, while a three-day retreat can achieve the equivalent of three months of therapy in just a few focused days. If you’re ready to embrace a new path forward and rediscover the beauty in your neurodiverse partnership, we invite you to learn more and take the first step toward meaningful change. Click the link below to visit our dedicated site, Neurodiverse Couples Retreats , and explore everything our retreats have to offer! Visit Neurodiverse Couples Retreats Top 5 Frequently asked questions 1. Who are these retreats for? Our retreats are specially designed for Neurodiverse couples. You can read all about "neurodiversity" and our imperfect attempt at describing it at our parent site, the Neurodiverse Couples Counseling Center . We also welcome all types of relationships: married, partnered, engaged, or even just dating And all genders: female male non-binary And all combinations of the above! 2. Will other couples be involved? No. These are private therapy sessions, not small group retreats. 3. What happens at the retreat? Well, that depends on what your unique set of needs are but here is a SAMPLE healing schedule: ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING Review your background so we understand the challenges. We do this based on the intake forms you will complete before the retreat. Clarify your goals and build a healing and growth roadmap. Learn to identify and understand your differences with a focus of appreciating strengths and supporting areas where each of you struggle. NEURODIVERSE FUNDAMENTALS Communication across the neurodiversity divide Setting neurodiverse-sensitive boundaries Time together and apart Finding new ways for connection WORK ON PATTERNS Identify triggers from past wounds and learn new strategies to cope in a better way. Break old patterns that are based on misunderstanding your brain differences. Work to build new health patterns with a neurodiverse-aware approach. HEALING TRAUMA Identify emotional wounds that are rooted in: your current relationship and your childhood. Work on healing and forgiveness of wounds. APPLICATION TO EVERY DAY ISSUES Kids Work Money Sex Travel / Vacation In-laws Sleep POST-RETREAT PLANNING Build a support system in the relationship and for each person. Build a relationship vision that recognizes the strengths and challenges of your neurodiversity. Construct an on-going maintenance plan for after the retreat. Please know that: We NEVER cover all the topics listed above but jointly figure out what would be most helpful to you. Every therapist will have her own variation on the sample approach shown above. 4. When does the retreat occur? Since the retreats are for one couple at a time, we work to make it fit your schedule. 5. Why should we attend? Online couples therapy intensives are a compelling alternative to weekly couples therapy. For example: Our 1 day retreat can serve as a serious tune-up for your relationship, and. Our 3 day retreat is the equivalent to 3 months of therapy in just a few days. In a focused and concise way, our highly trained neurodiverse couples specialists get to the heart of the matter quickly and with great care. We utilize neurodiverse-sensitive methods to give you the best chance at understanding and healing what’s not working in your relationship. We Offer Virtual & In-person Retreats VIRTUAL: Join the retreat virtually from the comfort of your home. IN-PERSON: Or fly to California for a true retreat getaway. Ready to change your relationship and improve your overall quality of life? Visit Neurodiverse Couples Retreats Use our Trait Wheels to better understand your strengths and challenges: Autism Trait Wheel ADHD Trait Wheel AuDHD Trait Wheel

Bridge communication gaps with AI-assisted couples therapy — personalized, secure, and led by neurodiverse relationship experts. Book a free consult. AI-Assisted Therapy Neurodiverse couples therapy just got a major upgrade. We’ve fused the warmth and wisdom of expert human therapists with the precision of smart AI technology. The result? Unmatched clarity. Deeper understanding. Real connection. Think of it as your therapist, supercharged. You get the insights that will help you bridge the gap and truly see each other. How AI-Assisted Therapy Can Work for You Our secure, confidential AI tools work in the background to support your therapist and empower your growth. Here’s how: 1. Uncovering Deeper Insights & Patterns Sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from seeing the connections you didn't know were there. Our AI helps your therapist identify recurring themes, communication patterns, and hidden dynamics that emerge over time. Our therapist uses this to help you both move past the surface-level issue and address the core patterns underneath. 2. Tools and Exercises Tailored Just for You No more generic worksheets. Based on the specific themes of your session, our system helps your therapist create personalized homework, reflection prompts, and skill-building exercises. These are tools designed for your unique dynamic, helping you apply what you learn in therapy to your daily life. 3. Empowering Your Growth Between Sessions For those who enjoy exploring on their own, we provide you with expertly crafted prompts to use with your own personal AI tools (like ChatGPT). This is a completely optional way for you to continue reflecting and discovering insights on your own terms, in a way that feels comfortable to you. Your Therapist is Always the Pilot Let's be clear: You are not in therapy with a robot. You are in therapy with a skilled, compassionate human who is an expert in neurodiverse relationships. The AI is simply a powerful co-pilot, handling data and spotting patterns so your therapist can focus on what matters most: you, your partner, and your connection. What AI Cannot Do: Read Nonverbal Cues & Rapport: A computer cannot see a softening posture, a tear, or a sudden change in eye contact. It misses the subtle patterns of connection and the difficulties in building rapport that tell the real story behind the words. Understand Developmental & Cultural Context: While AI processes words, it lacks the deep understanding of the developmental history and cultural background that shape who you are. It often misses the situational nuance—the "why"—behind your behaviors. Provide Normed, Standardized Diagnostics: Common AI tools are not a replacement for truly standardized, validated psychometric instruments. There is currently no valid test administration available through AI. Distinguish Effort from Genuine Barrier: AI can provide a roadmap, but it cannot do the driving. It lacks a qualitative sense of human effort and cannot distinguish between when you are engaging in suboptimal effort versus facing a genuine barrier to growth. The hard work of vulnerability remains yours alone. Offer Clinical Intuity: AI lacks clinical intuition honed by thousands of hours of experience. Relying on it alone creates safety risks: it may minimize symptoms (causing you to delay care) or catastrophize normal issues (causing unnecessary panic). You should know that: Your therapist makes all clinical decisions. Empathy, trust, and human connection remain the heart of our practice. The AI provides data; your therapist provides the wisdom. Your Privacy is Our #1 Priority We know that therapy is a private space, and sharing your story requires trust. Protecting your confidentiality is a responsibility we take very seriously. For those who wants to know more, please take a look at the separate section on security below. Is AI-Assisted Therapy Right for Us? This enhanced approach can be incredibly powerful if you: Often feel like you and your partner are speaking different languages. Want to move beyond recurring arguments and understand the root cause. Appreciate data-driven insights and a clear view of your progress. Are looking for practical, personalized tools to use between sessions. An Innovative Option: Your Choice & Comfort This service is completely optional. We understand that this approach is new, and your comfort is our priority. If you prefer traditional therapy without these tools, we fully support and respect that choice. AI-assisted therapy is a specialized service currently offered by select therapists in our practice who have received specific training. If you are interested in exploring this option, please be sure to mention it when you schedule your consultation so we can match you with the right therapist. Ready to Discover a New Way to Connect? Experience the clarity that comes when human expertise and smart technology work together for you. Schedule Your Free Consultation Today Your Privacy & Security (Powered by Google Workspace) We run every part of our AI‑assisted workflow inside Google Workspace Enterprise—the same cloud platform trusted by governments, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 companies. Here’s what that means for you: End‑to‑End Encryption All emails, files, and AI‑generated transcripts are encrypted while they travel across the internet and while they rest on Google’s servers. Even if someone grabbed a hard drive, they couldn’t read a byte without Google’s multi‑layered keys. No Ads, No Data‑Mining Google contractually guarantees that Workspace customer data is never used for advertising or any purpose beyond delivering the service. Your therapy information stay yours—full stop. Independent Compliance Audits Google Workspace is regularly examined against SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and more. Granular Access & Audit Logs Only your therapist and a small, security-trained QA team from Google can open your session data. Enterprise AI, Not Public Chatbots Our AI runs inside this locked‑down Workspace environment and never feeds your data back into public models like free Gemini or ChatGPT. When we give you optional self‑reflection prompts to use in your own personal AI tools, we’ll also show you how to do so safely—and what not to share. Want to read the fine print? Google publishes detailed security resources that back all of the claims above, including: Google Workspace Overview of Security Architecture Google Workspace Google Workspace Encryption Whitepaper (how data is encrypted in transit and at rest) Google Services Google Workspace Security Whitepaper (full privacy & compliance commitments) Google Workspace Feel free to dive in—then come back knowing your therapy data is protected by some of the most robust security infrastructure on the planet.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often intersects with neurodivergent conditions such as Autism and ADHD. Our therapists understand the unique challenges this brings and are here to help guide you toward your goals. OCD & AUTISM < Back OCD & AUTISM OCD, AUTISM, & ADHD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) often intersects with neurodivergent conditions such as Autism and ADHD, creating a complex web of intertwined experiences. Recognizing and understanding these intersections is crucial for providing tailored support that meets your needs. Research indicates that a significant number of Autistic individuals, up to 37%, also grapple with OCD . The manifestation of OCD in Autistic individuals varies widely, necessitating a nuanced approach to diagnosis and treatment. The intersection of OCD and Autism presents challenges affecting daily life, impacting sensory experiences, routines, and social interactions. WHAT IS OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER? OCD is characterized by persistent, distressing thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions (compulsions) aimed at alleviating the… Show More

Meet Cassie Clayton, our Client Care Coordinator. She'll match you with the right neurodiversity specialist and answer any questions along the way. Have questions about getting started? Meet Cassie!

Build a couple's trait wheel together — map each partner's strengths and support needs side by side, then download a worksheet for reflection or therapy. Instructions

Build a neuroaffirming AuDHD trait wheel that maps autistic and ADHD-related challenges and strengths, then download a reflection worksheet. Instructions

Neurodiversity-affirming couples counseling for neurodiverse relationships. Share your story and get matched with the right therapist within 24 hours.