“We are all stars in this galaxy. All of us. No one's greater than the other.”

-Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers

Image ID: A photo of the night sky with the Milky Way. Millions of stars can be seen.  Photo credit:  Lorrin Baker

What does it mean to be “neuroaffirming”?

I know that, as a community, our strength is in our neurodiversity. To quote a Sonny Jane Wise’s latest book, “We’re All Neurodiverse.”

Whether you are autistic or experience attention differences/hyperactivity, anxiety, depression, or any other form of neurodivergence, I believe that your brain can do wonderful things. I’d like to work with you to help figure out what those things are.

Image ID: a view of Memorial Bridge in Springfield, MA, taken from the bank of the river. The sky hazy is blue and cloudless and the water is still and casts an almost perfect reflection of the bridge.

Who am I?

I’m a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), based in Western Massachusetts, providing outpatient therapy both in person and via telehealth. I specialize in working with autistic, ADH, queer and/or transgender teens and adults with difficulties related to executive functioning, anxiety, and mood. I use a strengths-based and client-centered approach, while also offering tools and techniques from many different therapeutic modalities.

I use the term “neuroqueer”, defined here by Dr. Nick Walker, to describe both who I am and what I do. More specifically, I’m a queer autistic ADH parent who’s experienced both anxiety and depression. I offer my perspective and support as both a licensed clinician and (if requested) as a person with lived experience. I’m also a middle class, cisgender, white women who has been able to access and afford higher education. I strive to practice cultural humility regarding my privilege.

I’ve had past careers in professional theater (as a stage manager) and education. I’ve lived in Western Mass for most of my life and my wife and I are parents to an incredible young adult. When I’m not working, I enjoy playing games, watching shows (live and recorded), traveling, and making and viewing art.

Image ID: an outdoor headshot of me, a white woman with slightly greying short brown hair. I am wearing brown tinted glasses, a purple V-neck t-shirt, and a black sleeveless fleece vest and I’m smiling. Photo credit: Shannon Cooley

Contact Me

Interested in finding out more?

  • Free 15 minute consults for prospective clients available upon request.

  • Free consultations available to autistic therapists on starting a private practice or for clinical questions.

  • Consultation also available for businesses and organizations that are seeking to develop a more neuroaffirming practice or environment.

Fees

I am currently contracted with Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Optum and have applied to several other health plans. You can request to be added to a waitlist to be notified if/when I become contracted with your health plan.

Private pay rates are $200 for intake assessments and $150 for ongoing 1 hour sessions. A limited number of sliding-scale slots are available for people who don’t have insurance or can’t use their insurance for safety reasons.

Rates for professional consultation available upon request.