How to Find a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist

As neurodivergent, you may have had experiences where your needs weren’t understood or respected in therapy; where a therapist tried to “fix” who you are instead of working with you as you are.

A neurodiversity-affirming therapist approaches things differently. They see neurodivergence, whether that’s autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or something else, as a natural variation of how human brains work, not as a disorder to be cured. They won’t encourage you to mask, camouflage, or act “more neurotypical.”

Instead, they focus on helping you understand yourself, build strategies that suit your brain, and find ways of living that reduce stress rather than add to it.

Affirming therapists also know that traditional methods don’t always land the same way for neurodivergent clients. They adapt their approaches, make space for different communication and processing styles, and respect sensory and energy needs.

Neurodiversity-affirming therapists should be trauma-informed too, recognising the impact of years of misunderstanding, exclusion, or pressure to hide who you are.

In short: a neurodiversity-affirming therapist works with you, not against your nature. Their role is to support you in building a life that fits your brain, rather than trying to change you into someone you’re not.

Here’s how to find one:

Step 1: Check specialised directories

Start with directories designed to highlight practitioners who are neurodivergent themselves or who work from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective:

• Inclusive Therapists – US-centric. Created to center marginalised identities, and many therapists here highlight neurodivergent-affirming approaches. Most listings are U.S.-based, though some offer online sessions elsewhere.

• Autistic Therapist Directory – International, with a slight U.S./UK tilt. Specifically focused on autistic therapists, many of whom also work from a neurodiversity-affirming lens.

• Neurodivergent Practitioners Directory – International. A global directory of practitioners who are themselves neurodivergent and/or work from a neurodiversity-affirming perspective.

• Neurodivergent Insights Directory – US-centric, but some international listings. Includes a wide range of therapists, coaches, and other providers who identify as neurodivergent or practice from an affirming framework.

• ND Therapists Directory – US-centric, but some international listings. Focused on helping clients find neurodivergent-affirming therapists and coaches, with options for online sessions.

Step 2. Consider therapy across borders

Many neurodivergent-affirming therapists offer online sessions, which makes it easier to find support outside your local area. US-based therapists are usually limited to working with clients in the states where they’re licensed. But in many other parts of the world, therapists don’t face these restrictions and can work with clients internationally.

Step 3. Ask for recommendations

Directories are a great start, but personal referrals can also be valuable:

• Use AI tools – You can ask ChatGPT or another AI to point you toward therapists who match what you’re looking for.

• Online communities – Neurodivergent-led spaces (forums, Facebook groups, Discord servers etc.) are places where people often share their experiences. You may find individual recommendations there if you ask.

• Word of mouth – If you know other neurodivergent people who’ve had good therapy experiences, personal referrals can save you time and energy.

Step 4. Ask Questions in the Consultation

A consultation call is a chance to get a sense of whether a therapist is truly ND-affirming by paying attention to how they talk about neurodivergence and how they answer your questions.

If the therapist doesn't offer an initial consultation, you can ask these questions during your first session instead.

Suggestions for questions to ask:

• What kinds of experience do you have working with people who are (insert your identity, e.g. autistic, ADHD)?

• Have you taken any trainings for working with neurodivergence?

• Do you identify as neurodivergent yourself? (For some people, it’s important that the therapist shares their identity; for others, it isn’t. Therapists differ in how much they want to share about their own identity/diagnoses, but it's always okay for you to ask.)

• Is the therapeutic approach you use suitable for neurodivergent individuals? And if not, have you adapted it to be more ND-friendly?

You don’t need to ask all of these, just the ones that feel most relevant.

What matters most is listening to how the therapist talks about neurodivergence. Are they respectful, flexible and open to answering your questions? And are they curious about how neurodivergence shows up specifically for you or are they jumping into conclusions?

Moving Forward

Finding a neurodiversity-affirming therapist can take time, but it’s worth it. You deserve support that recognises your strengths, honours your needs, and meets you where you are.

The right therapist won’t ask you to mask or erase yourself. They’ll walk alongside you in building a life that works with your brain, not against it.