Everything is starting to make sense.
Many of the women I help...
- have recently realized they're neurodivergent but don’t know what to do next.
- are questioning who they really are beneath the masking, people-pleasing, and constant overcompensating.
- feel stuck in cycles of burnout and nothing they've tried seems to actually stick.
- are tired of traditional advice that sounds simple but never quite works for their brain.
- want to stop surviving their lives and start building ones that feels sustainable, aligned, and actually supportive of who they are.
I help women who are new to identifying as ADHD, Autistic, or AuDHD navigate this next chapter with the clarity, confidence, and support they deserve.
Realizing you're neurodivergent affects every area of your life.
Sense of self
You may feel like you’re meeting yourself for the first time.
The roles you’ve played, the traits you’ve been praised or criticized for, even your identity can start to feel uncertain.
There’s often a pull to unmask and be more authentic, alongside fear of what that might change.
The roles you’ve played, the traits you’ve been praised or criticized for, even your identity can start to feel uncertain.
There’s often a pull to unmask and be more authentic, alongside fear of what that might change.
work/school
What used to feel like “I just need to try harder” starts to look different.
Executive functioning challenges, burnout, difficulty with focus, or sensory overwhelm may become more noticeable.
You might question your career path, your capacity, or what it would look like to work in a way that’s actually sustainable.
Executive functioning challenges, burnout, difficulty with focus, or sensory overwhelm may become more noticeable.
You might question your career path, your capacity, or what it would look like to work in a way that’s actually sustainable.
Marriage/Partnership
Patterns of people-pleasing, over-giving, masking, or feeling misunderstood come into focus.
You may start to recognize your needs more clearly, but not yet know how to communicate them.
This can create tension, guilt, or a sense of distance as you figure out what’s changing.
You may start asking for things you haven’t before.
Things like more structure, more alone time, clearer expectations, or different ways of connecting.
This can improve the relationship, but it can also create tension while you both adjust.
You may start to recognize your needs more clearly, but not yet know how to communicate them.
This can create tension, guilt, or a sense of distance as you figure out what’s changing.
You may start asking for things you haven’t before.
Things like more structure, more alone time, clearer expectations, or different ways of connecting.
This can improve the relationship, but it can also create tension while you both adjust.
Parenting
You start to see your parenting through a new lens.
Things you may have judged yourself for begin to make sense.
Things like struggling with routines, feeling overwhelmed by noise, needing more downtime.
This can bring relief, but also grief about how hard it’s been.
Things you may have judged yourself for begin to make sense.
Things like struggling with routines, feeling overwhelmed by noise, needing more downtime.
This can bring relief, but also grief about how hard it’s been.
You may recognize neurodivergence in your child.
Many late-diagnosed women recognize similar traits in their kids.
This can bring both clarity and concern.
You want to support them well, while also navigating your own needs.
Many late-diagnosed women recognize similar traits in their kids.
This can bring both clarity and concern.
You want to support them well, while also navigating your own needs.
There’s potential for deeper connection.
As you understand yourself better and learn how to meet your needs, many women find they become more empathetic, intentional, and authentic with their kids.
You’re not just managing behavior. You’re modeling self-awareness and self-acceptance.
As you understand yourself better and learn how to meet your needs, many women find they become more empathetic, intentional, and authentic with their kids.
You’re not just managing behavior. You’re modeling self-awareness and self-acceptance.
Friendship and social life
Socializing may feel more draining or confusing once you’re aware of how much effort it takes.
You might pull back, re-evaluate certain relationships, or crave more depth and understanding than what you’ve had before.
You might pull back, re-evaluate certain relationships, or crave more depth and understanding than what you’ve had before.
Mental health
Anxiety, depression, and chronic stress are often intertwined with years of masking and unmet needs.
While the realization that you are neurodivergent can bring relief, it can also temporarily intensify emotions as you process your experiences through a new lens.
While the realization that you are neurodivergent can bring relief, it can also temporarily intensify emotions as you process your experiences through a new lens.
Physical health
Chronic stress, sensory overload, and burnout often show up in the body as fatigue, tension, sleep issues, or feeling constantly depleted.
You may start noticing just how much your nervous system has been carrying.
You may start noticing just how much your nervous system has been carrying.
Daily functioning
Tasks that once felt like personal failures may now be understood differently.
But knowing why doesn’t automatically make it easier, which can feel frustrating and discouraging.
But knowing why doesn’t automatically make it easier, which can feel frustrating and discouraging.
Life direction and decisions
As your understanding deepens, you might begin questioning long-standing choices.
There can be a desire to realign your life in a way that actually fits you, even if that path feels uncertain.
There can be a desire to realign your life in a way that actually fits you, even if that path feels uncertain.
This stage isn’t just about understanding your neurodivergence.
It’s about renegotiating how you move through the world and relate to yourself and others.
It's about creating a life that fits who you are.
How Therapy Works
We start with understanding your neurodivergence in a personalized way.
Not just general traits, but how ADHD, Autism, or AuDHD specifically show up in your thoughts, emotions, energy, relationships, and daily functioning.
Not just general traits, but how ADHD, Autism, or AuDHD specifically show up in your thoughts, emotions, energy, relationships, and daily functioning.
From there, we process the emotional impact of realizing you are neurodivergent.
This can include grief, anger, self-compassion, and more.
Instead of rushing past this, the work allows you to actually metabolize these emotions so they don’t stay stuck.
We begin unpacking masking and survival strategies.
We explore what you’ve learned to do to get by with people-pleasing, overworking, or perfectionism, and gently sort out what feels authentic versus what’s been adaptive.
We explore what you’ve learned to do to get by with people-pleasing, overworking, or perfectionism, and gently sort out what feels authentic versus what’s been adaptive.
There’s also a strong focus on nervous system regulation and capacity.
You learn how your system responds to stress, overwhelm, and sensory input and how to support it in ways that are realistic and sustainable.
You learn how your system responds to stress, overwhelm, and sensory input and how to support it in ways that are realistic and sustainable.
The goal of therapy isn't a "fixed" version of you.
It’s a more grounded, self-aware, and supported version of you.
My Approach to Therapy
My approach is flexible and collaborative. The pace adjusts to you. Goals evolve as you do. Setbacks are expected and worked with, not treated as failures.
Rather than pushing rigid goals or one-size-fits-all tools, I tailor the work to your needs, capacity, and real life.
I move at a thoughtful pace, support nervous system regulation, and help you translate self-understanding into concrete changes in daily life, relationships, and decision-making.
Rather than pushing rigid goals or one-size-fits-all tools, I tailor the work to your needs, capacity, and real life.
I move at a thoughtful pace, support nervous system regulation, and help you translate self-understanding into concrete changes in daily life, relationships, and decision-making.
Therapy can help you...
- move from confusion and self-questioning to a clearer, more grounded understanding of yourself.
- develop self-compassion while reducing shame and the pressure to “push through”.
- learn to work with your brain, leading to a more sustainable way of living.
- experience fewer and less intense burnout cycles by honoring your limits.
- build skills to navigate overwhelm and anxiety.
- improve relationships through clearer communication, healthier boundaries, and less people-pleasing.
- strengthen self-trust in your needs, instincts, and decisions.
- begin building a life that feels aligned, supportive, and sustainable.
Explore Other Areas of Support:
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Women New to Identifying as ADHD, Autistic, or AuDHD
Do you accept insurance?No. Living Bridge Counseling is a private-pay therapy practice and does not bill insurance directly. If you have out-of-network benefits, I can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible reimbursement. Many clients seeking specialized neurodiversity-affirming therapy choose to work with an out-of-network therapist because it allows for more individualized support. I do accept HSA and FSA cards. What is your session fee?Sessions are $250 per session. |
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Do I need a formal ADHD or Autism diagnosis to work with you?No. You do not need a formal ADHD, autism, or AuDHD diagnosis to work with me. I welcome women who are formally diagnosed, self-identified, or exploring whether they may be neurodivergent. Together, we can make sense of your experiences, better understand how your brain works, and develop strategies that support your unique strengths and challenges. Whether you're processing a recent realization or simply wondering if ADHD, autism, or AuDHD fits your experience, therapy can provide a supportive space for self-discovery and growth. How long does this process take?There’s no set timeline. Identity work is layered and evolves over time, but even early on, many clients begin to feel relief, clarity, and a stronger sense of self. |
Check out my frequently asked questions page.
Marissa Williams, LMFT 86022
Living Bridge Counseling
Living Bridge Counseling