Choosing a counsellor, consultant, or other professional to work with can involve a lot of questions. This can be especially true if you are neurodivergent, have had difficult experiences with therapy in the past, or are not quite sure what kind of support you need.

People sometimes ask me what neuroaffirming counselling actually means, whether they need a diagnosis to work with me, whether I work with parents or couples, and what the difference is between counselling, coaching, and consulting.

So rather than waiting for you to ask, I thought I would answer some of the questions that may be on your mind.

What are your credentials?

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in British Columbia and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). I am also a PsyD candidate, currently completing my doctoral dissertation on autism and Adlerian therapy.

My clinical foundation is in Adlerian psychology, and my work is informed by trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming approaches. My professional experience includes working with neurodivergent individuals and families, as well as consulting on neurodiversity and workplace practices.

My credentials matter, but they are only part of the picture. Finding a counsellor who understands your concerns and with whom you can build a good working relationship matters, too.

What does neuroaffirming counselling mean to you?

For me, neuroaffirming counselling starts with the understanding that neurodivergence is not something that needs to be fixed.

That does not mean that being autistic, having ADHD, or being otherwise neurodivergent is always easy. It can come with very real challenges. Sensory overload, executive functioning difficulties, burnout, anxiety, communication differences, trauma, and the demands of navigating a world that was not designed for your brain can all have a significant impact on your life.

The difference is in what we do with those challenges.

I do not start with the assumption that a behaviour needs to change simply because it is different from what a neurotypical person might do. Instead, I want to understand what is happening. 

Why is this happening? What purpose is it serving? What is it costing you? And, most importantly, do you actually want it to change?

Sometimes the answer will be yes. Sometimes you may decide that what you really need is an accommodation, a different environment, better understanding from the people around you, or permission to stop fighting against something that is part of how your brain works.

My approach is client-led. You decide what you want help with and what a meaningful outcome looks like for you.

Why does it matter whether my counsellor understands neurodivergence?

I believe that, when possible, a neurodivergent person should have the option of working with a counsellor who is also neurodivergent.

Clinical training and experience matter, but there are aspects of neurodivergent experience that can be difficult to fully understand from the outside. A neurodivergent counsellor can bring both professional knowledge and lived experience to the work.

For me, that includes understanding the intersection between mental health, sensory processing, executive functioning, and nervous-system regulation. A neurodivergent nervous system does not necessarily respond to sensory input, demands, stress, or the environment in the same way a neurotypical nervous system does. Those differences can affect everything from emotional regulation and energy levels to relationships, communication, burnout, and the ability to function in everyday environments.

I have spent many years learning about neurodivergence professionally, but I also discovered my own neurodivergence as an adult. That personal experience changed the way I understand both neurodivergence and counselling.

That does not mean every neurodivergent counsellor will be the right fit for every neurodivergent client. We are individuals, too. Your counsellor still needs to have the clinical skills, experience, and approach that fit your needs.

But if you have repeatedly struggled to find a therapist who really seems to understand you, I think it is worth considering whether you have been looking for a neurodivergent counsellor.

You might find a neurotypical therapist who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and a very good fit. But you should also have the option of working with someone who understands neurodivergence from the inside as well as from their professional training.

And I do not assume that every neurodivergent person wants the same things from therapy. Some people want to reduce masking; others need or choose to mask in particular environments. Some want to focus on accepting themselves, while others want practical strategies for navigating a world that may not accommodate them well.

I will not decide that for you.

My job is to understand your experience, your goals, and what you want your life to look like…and work with you from there.

Do I need an ADHD or autism diagnosis to work with you?

No.

You do not need a formal diagnosis to come to counselling with me.

Some people have a diagnosis and want help understanding what it means for their lives. Others strongly suspect they are autistic or have ADHD but have never pursued formal assessment. Others simply recognize that many of the experiences associated with neurodivergence describe their lives without being sure whether a particular diagnosis applies.

I can work with you based on what you are experiencing rather than requiring you to arrive with a particular label.

In fact, this is something I have written about before. Earlier in my career, when I worked in special education, I was given files containing my students’ diagnoses. I deliberately tried not to let the diagnosis tell me who the child was before I got to know them. I continue to bring that same principle into my work now: I want to understand the individual, their concerns, and where they want help.

Should I pursue an ADHD or autism diagnosis?

That is a different question from whether you need a diagnosis to work with me.

For some people, pursuing a diagnosis is very useful. It can provide an explanation for experiences that have previously felt confusing, help someone understand themselves differently, or provide documentation for accommodations or services.

For other people, the decision is more complicated.

Assessment can involve significant financial and time costs. Depending on your circumstances, you may also have concerns about stigma, how a diagnosis could be understood by employers or other systems, insurance or immigration considerations, or whether a diagnosis will actually provide the support you are hoping to receive.

I don’t tell clients whether they should pursue a diagnosis.

Instead, we can talk through what you hope a diagnosis would accomplish, what the potential benefits and costs are for you, and what other options may be available.

Do you work with parents?

Yes. In fact, working with parents is an important part of my practice.

I often work with parents of autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent children. Sometimes the most useful support does not involve counselling the child directly.

Children exist within families, schools, and other environments. Changing the way the adults around a child understand and respond to them can make a substantial difference.

We might look at communication, expectations, sensory needs, executive functioning, emotional regulation, demand avoidance, routines, conflict, or what is happening before and after a particular behaviour.

Parents are often trying incredibly hard. They may also be exhausted, overwhelmed, or carrying a great deal of guilt about whether they are doing things “right.”

Sometimes having another perspective can make it easier to see what has been difficult to see when you are in the middle of it.

I have supported families of neurodivergent children for many years, and parent sessions can include counselling as well as practical problem-solving and brainstorming about how to support your child and manage family life.

Do you work with children or teenagers?

I do not work with young children.

I do work with some older teenagers who are comfortable with talk therapy and want to participate in counseling themselves.

When I work with a teenager, I focus on their concerns, their experience, and what they want help with. Depending on the situation, parent involvement may also be useful.

For younger children, I generally believe that working with the parents and changing the environment around the child can be more useful than asking the child to change.

Do you work with couples?

Yes, although couples counselling is not the largest part of my practice.

I am particularly interested in working with couples where neurodivergence is affecting the relationship.

Sometimes what looks like a communication problem is actually a difference in communication style, sensory needs, executive functioning, emotional regulation, expectations, or the way each person understands the other’s behaviour.

One person may interpret something as not caring when the other person is experiencing executive dysfunction. A difference in sensory needs may create conflict around everyday life. One partner may feel overwhelmed by demands while the other experiences the lack of follow-through as a lack of commitment.

Understanding what is actually happening can change the conversation.

Do you use CBT?

I use some CBT-informed strategies when they are useful to the individual client, but I do not approach therapy as though every thought or behaviour that differs from the norm needs to be corrected.

Traditional CBT can sometimes miss an important question for neurodivergent clients: Is this thought or behaviour actually dysfunctional, or is it a reasonable response to the person’s circumstances, nervous system, sensory environment, or neurotype?

Before deciding that something needs to change, I want to understand it.

That might mean looking at sensory processing, executive functioning, nervous-system regulation, perceived demands, communication differences, burnout, masking, trauma, sleep, or the environment someone is living and working in.

For example, if someone is struggling to complete a task, I don’t want to automatically assume that they need to become more disciplined or challenge an “unhelpful thought.”

Maybe the task requires executive functions that are currently depleted. Maybe the environment is creating sensory overload. Maybe the person is burned out. Maybe the task itself is not actually aligned with their priorities.

The intervention depends on the problem.

Can you help with executive functioning?

Yes.

Executive functioning is an area I work with frequently, particularly with ADHD and neurodivergent adults.

That can include difficulties with planning, starting tasks, organizing, prioritizing, remembering, shifting between activities, managing time, or following through on things you genuinely want to do.

But I don’t believe the answer is simply to give someone another planner.

Sometimes the problem is a practical skills gap. Sometimes it is burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, demand avoidance, sensory overload, or an environment that requires more executive functioning than someone can sustainably provide.

Sometimes you know exactly what you need to do and simply cannot make yourself do it.

We can work on the underlying barriers as well as the practical problem

What is the difference between counselling and consulting?

There can be some overlap, but the purpose and context are different.

Counselling focuses primarily on mental health, emotional well-being, relationships, patterns, trauma, and the concerns that bring you to therapy.

Consulting is generally about helping an individual, business, or organization address a specific problem or improve the way something is working.

I also sometimes incorporate practical problem-solving, brainstorming, and accountability into my work with clients. The distinction is less about whether we ever talk about practical things and more about the purpose and professional context of the work.

For example, I work with small-business owners who need help with their own executive functioning, planning, accountability, and getting important things done. I also provide organizational consulting related to neurodiversity and workplace practices.

What kind of consulting do you provide?

My consulting work extends beyond individual work.

For organizations, I can provide leadership consultation, manager education, neurodiversity education, workshops and presentations, accommodation consultation, and support in developing more neuroinclusive workplace practices.

I can also help organizations look at policies, processes, and workplace expectations through a neurodiversity-informed lens. That might include reviewing how work is structured, considering universal-design approaches, or helping an organization understand the needs of a particular employee or team.

For small-business owners, consulting can be more individual. You might need another perspective on how you are running your business, help with executive functioning and follow-through, or someone to help you think through a problem you have been circling for months.

My goal is not to provide a generic neurodiversity presentation and send everyone back to work.

I want to understand the actual problem and help you figure out what would make a meaningful difference.

How do sessions work if I am local to New Westminster?

Most of my practice is virtual, but I also offer walk-and-talk sessions in New Westminster for clients who prefer to meet outdoors.

For some people, sitting across from a therapist in an office, or even sitting in front of a screen, does not feel like the most natural way to talk. Walking can provide movement, reduce some of the intensity of face-to-face conversation, and simply make counselling feel different.

Walk-and-talk sessions are arranged with individual clients based on location, weather, privacy, and what makes sense for the work we are doing.

Do you offer virtual counselling?

Yes. My practice is primarily virtual.

Sessions take place by Zoom, which means you can meet with me from home or another private location that works for you.

For many neurodivergent clients, virtual counselling can also remove some of the practical and sensory barriers associated with travelling to an office. And if the screen is still causing sensory overload, we have the option to turn off our cameras.

Can I work with you if I don’t live in British Columbia?

Possibly. 

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia and a Canadian Certified Counsellor., The professional and legal requirements for counselling vary depending on where you live.

I also provide consulting and other services outside the scope of BC counselling, where appropriate. That allows me to work with people in a broader range of locations. 

If you are outside of British Columbia, the easiest thing to do is contact me and we can determine what type of service is appropriate for your location and situation.

Do you accept insurance or third-party funding?

I work with several insurance and third-party funding arrangements.

Depending on your coverage and circumstances, I can invoice Sun Life, Pacific Blue Cross, and Telus eClaims. Telus coverage can vary by policy, so you will want to check your specific benefits before booking.

I also currently work with clients through FNHA, CVAP, and AFU, where applicable.

Coverage and reimbursement can vary between plans, so it is always worth checking directly with your provider about whether your specific plan covers services from an RCC or CCC and what documentation is required.

How do I know whether you are the right counsellor for me?

This may be the most important question.

There is no counsellor who is the right fit for everyone.

The quality of the working relationship between the client and the counsellor matters enormously. You can have a counsellor with excellent credentials and a long list of therapeutic techniques, but if you do not feel understood, respected, or comfortable enough to be honest with them, the work is unlikely to be what you need.

That does not mean counselling should always feel comfortable. Sometimes therapy involves difficult conversations, uncomfortable realizations, or being challenged. But there needs to be enough trust and safety in the relationship for those things to be useful.

You may want someone who shares some of your lived experience. You may want someone who understands ADHD or autism without requiring you to educate them about it. You may want someone who will challenge you. Or you may need someone who will help you slow down and understand what has been happening before asking you to make changes.

Those are all reasonable things to consider.

I offer complimentary consultations so that we can talk about what you are looking for, what brings you to counselling, and whether my approach seems like a good fit.

You do not have to arrive at that conversation knowing exactly what you need.

Sometimes figuring that out is part of the process.