in-person & virtual therapy | Maryland & washington, dc
Neurodiversity-affirming therapy for adults & TEENS
You’re not broken. you’re simply
processing a loud world deeply.
You're full of curiosity, depth, and intensity. You have an extraordinary ability to notice nuance, seek patterns, and find joy in passionate interests. You’re built of integrity, complexity, and brilliance.
And yet, as a Late-Diagnosed Neurodivergent individual, you’ve gone through life feeling misunderstood, and at times lonely. Your differently-wired system can leave you overwhelmed, overstimulated, exhausted.
In your darker moments you’ve wondered if there’s something ‘wrong’ with you — if you even belong on this planet. You’ve beaten yourself up for being “too sensitive.” And so, to survive, you did what felt safest: you disconnected from your body, shut down, and made yourself smaller.
Except, of course, that leads to burn out, and then trying to understand why everything seems so much harder for you.
Now that you’re finally beginning to connect the dots – learning about neurodivergence that took a lifetime to name - you’re starting to review your past through new eyes and safely begin the process of unmasking.
Here, you can be seen and accepted in your full depth. You can learn to balance the safety of your solitude with your natural craving for connection. Together we will work to replenish your energy, restore motivation, and help you make sense of your world in a way that honors your difference without diminishing your worth.
“there are few Clinicians whose clinical judgement I trust as much as Melanie’s. whether it’s a blind spot i need revealed or a hard truth i need to hear, she supports my growth with warmth and compassion.”
Sonia Kahn, Psy.D.
OFFERINGS
for teens & adults
neuro-affirming therapy
I offer depth-oriented therapy that weaves together a healing retrospective of your past, an understanding of your unique neurobiology, and strategies for navigating the overwhelm of daily life. The goal is to help you build supportive relationships, and feel seen and celebrated for who you are.
I help you learn to honor and make space for your needs. We move towards viewing you through a lens of complexity and wholeness while shifting away from stigma and shame.
Informed by psychodynamic, relational therapy, I’m attuned to you. I focus the therapy on both intricacy of your mind and thinking, and the wisdom held in your body and emotions. I support you in undoing the experience of feeling misunderstood, and feeling less alone as you move towards healing.
neuro-affirming group therapy
the doorway: post-Diagnosis
writing & process group
For many late-identified neurodivergent folks, getting diagnosed provides information that validates your experience and answers questions that have puzzled you your whole life. Often this can bring feelings of relief and grief.
Sometimes a diagnosis is all the permission you need to start understanding how to shift your life according to your needs. But often, you need space and emotional support to process this new identity.
This group is designed to provide just that: a container that catalyzes the healing process. It offers a committed, structured community centering self and group reflection, creative expression, and support around making concrete changes.
for teens & adults
therapy for creatives
For a neurodivergent or sensitive mind, creative expression isn’t a hobby—it is your vital life force. Your creative practice is integral to how you make sense of the world. It helps you process the depth of your experience and the array of facets and fragments you take in.
Yet, navigating a loud world with many demands can easily leave your nervous system overstimulated, disconnected from your process, and burned out. You might find yourself paralyzed by perfectionism, self-doubt, or struggling to balance work with creativity.
Through neuro-affirming support, we look at how your unique brain navigates the creative process. We work to quiet your inner critic, and unpack your creative blocks. I help you reclaim your voice, protect your energy, and build a sustainable creative practice so you can thrive.
how to get started
01.
Free phone consult
We’ll have a 15-minute conversation to talk about any struggles you’re facing and see if I’m the right therapist to support your needs and goals.
02.
complete paperwork
You’ll complete paperwork through a secure client portal where I’ll share details about my practice and gather more information about your history and therapy needs.
03.
intake session
In the first 1-2 sessions, we’ll go deeper into your current struggles, clarify how you want to feel and what you want your life to look like, and create therapy goals to guide our journey forward.
explore the blog
Self-compassion can come in a moment, unexpectedly. Or you can bring it forward, and practice honing the skills.