Neurodivergent Therapy for Late-Diagnosed Adults: What You Need to Know
If you just got diagnosed with Autism or ADHD as an adult, you may be wondering…what’s next?
Even if you haven’t been formally diagnosed, but you’re noticing some traits of neurodivergence, knowing what to do about it can feel really daunting. Lots of adults are getting diagnosed later in life. You may even be in the position where your kid got diagnosed, and then you started wondering if maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
For adults diagnosed later in life, there can be a mix of all sorts of feelings: relief, confusion, excitement, grief, validation, and even anxiety.
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we specialize in helping adults navigate life as a neurodivergent person with neurodivergent therapy.
The Emotional Impact of a Late Diagnosis
When you get any kind of diagnosis, it’s natural to go through some sort of grieving period, even if you feel relief and some positive emotions as well. That’s because it’s a change. Any kind of big change in life can cause us to grieve. We grieve what we thought was true before, what we imagined our future would look like, and all sorts of other things.
So it’s important to allow yourself the time and the space to feel whatever you feel. There are no wrong feelings. If you feel angry, that’s okay. If you feel happy, that’s okay. If you feel anything, it’s all okay.
Neurodivergent therapy can help you process and understand this new diagnosis in a supportive and non-judgmental way. As a neurodivergence therapist, it’s not my place to tell you how you “should” feel or think about it. I’m just there to ask you some thought-provoking questions that help you process and settle into this new normal.
Why Neurodivergent Therapy Can Be Especially Helpful After a Late Diagnosis of ADHD or Autism
When you’re diagnosed with ADHD or Autism later in life, you’ve likely been hearing and replaying the same narrative about yourself in your head for years. Maybe you tell yourself something’s wrong with you or that you’re lazy. Or maybe you have a “nobody wants to be around me” song playing on repeat in your head.
Getting a diagnosis of ASD or ADHD can be a huge relief. And it can also be difficult to fully accept when you still have those negative thoughts about yourself floating around all the time.
Neurodivergence therapy can help you explore where these negative beliefs about yourself come from and develop healthier and more positive views of yourself. Because you deserve to be kind to yourself!
Key Focus Areas in Neurodivergent Therapy for Late-Diagnosed Adults
Once we know (or even suspect) that you are neurodivergent, therapy can focus on understanding your unique way of thinking and seeing the world, preventing burnout and anxiety, building up your toolbox of healthy coping skills, and improving your relationships with this new understanding.
It’s not about trying to “cure” or “fix” the diagnosis. It’s about understanding it so we can help you make your life work better for you. It’s kind of like finding out you’re allergic to your partner’s dog, but still want to be able to be around them. We’re not trying to get rid of the dog or make you and your partner live in separate homes…we’re just trying to figure out ways for you to be around each other without having a sneezing fit every day.
So maybe that means you take an antihistamine, or you and your partner make sure to de-shed the dog’s hair more often so it’s not lying around the house waiting to wreak havoc on your sinuses. The point here is that we’re looking for a middle ground. A way to keep the dog (and your partner) around while limiting your need to sneeze every two seconds.
Neurodivergence therapy works the same way. We want to examine what’s going on and decide what you’d like to change. Then, we work on making changes that help you access what you want in your life and limit what you don’t.
Unmasking in Neurodivergent Therapy
The term “masking” refers to when someone tries to hide some sort of trait or characteristic out of a fear of seeming different from other people. We all do it to an extent. For example, the language we use in a job interview is very different from how we speak with people we’re close with.
Neurodivergent therapy can help you figure out what you think should be “unmasked” and what shouldn’t. Again, it’s completely normal and appropriate to filter how we speak and act depending on the context of the situation, but we want to make sure that you’re not doing it too much or too often. That’s what leads to burnout.
At the end of the day, neurodivergent therapy after a late diagnosis is not about ignoring your needs, and it’s not about starting over and pretending you’re a completely different person. It’s about using this information to help us figure out a plan that works for you. It’s about letting yourself adjust to this new word you’ve been given to describe your experiences in the world. It’s really all about what you need it to be.
Find Support and Understanding Through Neurodivergent Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
It’s never too late to understand yourself more fully and begin healing in a space that truly gets you. At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we offer compassionate, neuro-affirming care designed for late-diagnosed adults navigating life with a new lens. Reach out today to start your journey with neurodivergent therapy in Scottsdale, AZ. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Meet with Lianna, an affirming Neurodivergent Therapist.
Understand yourself fully after a late neurodivergent diagnosis!
Additional Counseling Services at Fuzzy Socks Therapy
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ, neurodivergent therapy for late-diagnosed adults is just one part of the support we offer. We understand that your needs may go beyond neurodivergence, which is why our services are designed to meet you and your family where you are. From individual therapy for children and teens to couples therapy, discernment counseling, youth social skills groups, and parent coaching for families navigating neurodivergence, we’re here to help. Want to find out more about what neurodivergent therapy can offer? Check out our latest blog post!
