Finding a Safe Place to Thrive, Exactly As You Are
Have you always felt different from those around you, and wondered if you are neurodivergent? Are you a person (self-diagnosed or professionally identified), living with ADHD, ASD or someone with another neurodivergent profile living in Vancouver? If you’ve felt misunderstood, judged, or told to simply “try harder” by traditional therapy or the wider world, you’ve come to the right place.
At Haven Wellness Collective, we offer neurodiversity-affirming counselling that is rooted in respect, not correction. We recognize that your unique brain wiring is not a disorder to be fixed, but a natural form of human diversity. Our goal is to create a therapeutic space where you can shed the burden of masking, process the trauma of living in a neurotypical world, and build a life that truly supports your authentic self.
What is Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy?
Unlike outdated models that focus on deficits, our approach is strength-based and anti-oppressive. It’s about more than just checking a box—it’s about a foundational understanding of the neurodivergent experience.
This means we:
- Affirm your identity: We embrace who you are and do not pathologize traits like stimming, hyperfocus, or differences in communication. We believe you are the expert on your own experience.
- Validate your struggles: We recognize that anxiety, burnout, and depression are often a logical response to sensory overload, executive functioning demands, and societal pressure to mask.
- Adapt the therapeutic environment: Our sessions are flexible. We welcome fidgeting (and have fidgets to offer you!), offer options for virtual or in-person therapy in Kitsilano, and move at your pace.
- Prioritize self-advocacy: We work with you to understand your unique needs and develop strategies to advocate for them in relationships, at work, and in the community. While we welcome those with a diagnosis, we also don’t require you to have a diagnosis to believe you that you are a neurodivergent individual.
We Support Your Unique Neurodivergent Experience
Our experienced Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) specialize in the intersection of mental health and neurodiversity. Our team has taken specific neurodiversity affirming trainings, and some of them are neurodiverse themselves. If you are looking for a therapist with lived experience of being a neurodivergent individual, and the lived experience of being in a neurodivergent relationship please reach out to us and we will connect you with them! Our team provides tailored support for:
Adults with Late or Self-Diagnosis
- Processing the grief, anger, and relief that can follow an adult diagnosis of Autism (ASD) or ADHD.
- Exploring your identity and unlearning years of masking behaviours.
- Developing genuine self-compassion and acceptance.
Neurodivergent Burnout & Executive Functioning
- Recovering from chronic ADHD burnout and mental exhaustion.
- Creating personalized, non-judgmental systems for executive functioning challenges (time blindness, task initiation, prioritization).
- Managing the intense anxiety and overwhelm caused by living in an inaccessible world.
Emotional & Sensory Regulation
- Understanding and managing Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and emotional dysregulation.
- Developing strategies for coping with sensory sensitivities and overload.
- Using therapies like EMDR and OEI Trauma Therapy to process traumatic experiences related to being misunderstood or marginalized. We also adapt these therapies to fit your unique needs and ways of processing.
Neurodiverse Relationships
- Supporting individuals in neurodiverse partnerships (where one or both partners are neurodivergent).
- Improving communication and boundary setting within a framework that respects both neurotypical and neurodivergent processing styles.
- Supporting you in your parenting and family relationships as a neurodivergent individual.
Ready to Start Counselling?
You don’t need a formal diagnosis or referral to book a session. We welcome people who are questioning, self-identified, or professionally diagnosed. Our team in Vancouver, BC, is here to help you move from surviving to truly thriving.
Book a free consultation call with a neurodiversity-affirming therapist today!
How Can Therapy Help with Executive Functioning?
We don’t try to force a neurotypical structure. Instead, we collaborate to find ADHD-friendly systems that work with your unique brain, helping you reduce procrastination, manage time, and navigate overwhelming tasks without shame.
Do you work with children and teens with ADHD or Autism?
Yes, several of our Registered Clinical Counsellors are experienced in working with neurodivergent youth and children (Ages 5+), using developmentally appropriate and affirming modalities like Art Therapy and play-based approaches. We also direct bill to Autism Funding if this is applicable for you and your family.
How do I know if Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy Right For Me?
This approach is ideal if you’ve found traditional talk therapy unhelpful, if you feel exhausted from having to explain your needs, or if you suspect you may be Autistic or have ADHD and are looking for a therapist who “gets it.” This approach is affirming of who you are, and the strengths that come with being an neurodivergent person, while supporting you with the unique challenges that you are facing. This approach is not about shaming or “fixing” you, but supporting you in ways that make sense for you and your unique brain.
