And a mind that finds comfort in the depths of a single issue can be a powerful force, until it is required to keep up with complex, subtle and shifting social dynamics.

 

For many people, the diagnoses of ADHD and autism can come as a relief. Having a name for an issue you have faced your whole life can be validating and even empowering. You can come to see your strengths clearly, as well as the areas where you will need support. Increasingly, a diagnosis also carries a sense of belonging to a larger community of people with similar experiences.

 

And yet, the difficulties of being neurodivergent are real. Whether you carry a formal diagnosis or a long-suspected self-identification, you likely have encountered workplaces and educational institutions that are not designed for your executive function. You may have spent much of your life in social settings that require constant masking, and the deep burnout that follows years of performing a more "typical" self.

 

At Oaklight, neurodivergent-affirming therapy starts with your goals, not with pathology. We want to know what the good life looks like for you. Once we have a sense of where you want to go, then we can start to work with you in an affirming, nonjudgmental way to chart that path.

 

This work is led at Oaklight by Maya Sheppard. Her clinical practice has a particular focus on neurodivergent adults and teens, in person in Bethesda or online throughout Maryland and DC.

 

Contact us to schedule a free 20-minute consultation.