ADHD and Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy In Person and Online

Foster Counseling and Therapy provides supportive and tailored individual therapy to empower you to celebrate your neurodivergent brain and assist you in enhancing the tools and confidence you seek. In-person services are accessible to the communities of Lake in the Hills, Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Huntley, and McHenry County, and online services are provided throughout Illinois.

Do you feel like your brain operates differently? Like you have a unique way of thinking and behaving that doesn’t always fit in with the world around you?

We Get It.

It is common for people with neurodivergence to feel different. At Foster Counseling and Therapy, we get it. It’s not easy to feel alone in our experiences, and the world often feels like it’s operating with neurotypical rules. It can be hard to feel understood, even more difficult to feel affirmed and supported. We make it our priority to give you a positive experience that’s understanding, supportive, and encouraging.

What does neurodivergence look like?

Neurodivergence can vary greatly in the way it presents, the way it’s experienced and the ways you may have learned to consciously or unconsciously mask it. ADHD is just one type of neurodivergence. As someone with a neurodivergent brain you may encounter one, some, or many of the following challenges when interacting with the neurotypical world:

Sensory Sensitivity

Neurodivergent individuals often experience heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory input. This can mean finding loud noises unbearable, being bothered by lights that others don't notice, or not feeling pain as intensely as others might.

Intense Focus and Interests

Many neurodivergent people have the ability to focus intensely on subjects of interest, sometimes referred to as hyperfocus. This can lead to deep dives into hobbies or topics, providing a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Social & Communication Challenges

Social interactions can be challenging. Neurodivergent individuals might struggle with understanding social cues, maintaining eye contact, or managing the give-and-take of conversation. They may avoid artificial conversations or small-talk making it hard to initiate connection with new people. This can make socializing exhausting and anxiety-inducing, though the degree of difficulty varies widely.

Creative and Unique Thinking

Neurodivergence often comes with unique perspectives and problem-solving abilities. Many neurodivergent people see connections that others might miss and have original ideas that break from conventional thinking.

Challenges with Executive Function

Tasks that require planning, organization, and multitasking can be particularly challenging. This might manifest as difficulties in starting tasks, prioritizing them, or seeing them through to completion without becoming overwhelmed.

Emotional Sensitivity

Emotional responses can be more intense in neurodivergent individuals, which means emotions can be deeply felt and sometimes overwhelming. This sensitivity can provide a rich inner life but may require strategies to manage intense feelings.

What’s considered neurodivergent?

ADHD

Autism
Dyslexia
Epilepsy
OCD

Ready to enrich your life with greater insight, fostering growth and transformation?

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

The Beauty of Neurodivergence

Neurodivergence can come with challenges and it can also come with many gifts. Perhaps you’re extremely creative, able to think outside the box to make an idea come to fruition, or your ability to hyperfocus on a task or a goal makes you extremely driven and determined when you put your mind to it. Perhaps you’re someone whose memory serves you exceptionally well in retaining and sharing details about your special interests. Perhaps your emotional sensitivity allows you to deeply connect with music or the arts and you have a knack for playing an instrument or creating beautiful drawings that are captivating. The world is a better place because of your gifts!

Why Try Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy?

Neurodivergent-affirming therapy is a therapeutic approach specifically tailored to honor the unique experiences and needs of neurodivergent individuals. This type of therapy moves away from viewing neurodivergent traits as deficits to be corrected, and instead focuses on fostering self-acceptance, enhancing strengths, and providing strategies that align with the individual's inherent processing style. By understanding and valuing the neurodivergent perspective, Foster Counseling and Therapy creates a supportive environment where individuals can explore their identity, address challenges, and develop coping mechanisms without the pressure to conform to neurotypical norms. Such an approach not only validates the experiences of neurodivergent individuals but also helps in building resilience, promoting personal growth, and improving overall well-being. We encourage clients to embrace their unique neurology as a vital and enriching aspect of their identity, thereby fostering a positive self-image and a more satisfying life experience.