Neurodivergent burnout is a state of profound physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion often resulting from chronic stress, masking, and sensory overload. As a neurodivergent person, we live in a world designed for neurotypical brains. Unlike typical burnout, it can cause severe skill regression, increased sensory sensitivity, and prolonged shutdowns. Sometimes it takes a long while to recover.
My therapy room (face-to-face or online) is a place where you can slowly learn to unmask and be authentic. You can stim freely without judgment if you have sensory overload, overstimulation, or autistic burnout. Or, if you struggle with eye contact, I can adjust my room and approach to accommodate you. We don’t have to be sitting on chairs facing each other, if that doesn’t work for you.
I believe that, although we face challenges, we do not need to be ‘fixed’ in any way. I will help you to accept and embrace your authentic self – to find your joy. My approach follows a neurodiversity-affirming model.
However, I also understand the grief and loss around diagnosis. As a trauma therapist, I acknowledge the deficit/disorder narrative. Along with the medicalised model of autism and ADHD can be traumatising. And the heavy burden of knowing you cannot meet the demands of a neurotypical society.
You may be living with overwhelming anxiety and stress that lead to exhaustion or meltdowns. We can work together to address this and find self-care strategies that work for you. I aim to cultivate an awareness of what’s happening in the body and introduce somatic exercises, which can help an exhausted and burnout nervous system fuelled by anxiety and severe stress.
I understand how transformative it can be to talk to someone who understands living as a neurodivergent person in a world set up for neurotypical people. Whether you have been formally diagnosed or self-identified. Or, if you’re beginning to wonder if you might be neurodivergent, I’d love to hear from you.
Please contact me to book a first assessment session.