What to Expect from Neurodivergent Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ: A Guide for New Clients
If you’ve never had therapy before, you may be feeling really overwhelmed and unsure about what happens in therapy. A lot of people think of what we see in movies, imagining themselves laying on a fancy couch while the therapist, wearing thick glasses and stroking a long beard, takes notes and barely speaks.
The good news is that this image of therapy is outdated, and I don’t look like that! (Although, I do wear glasses 🤓)
In this blog article, I tell you all about the process of neurodivergent therapy, from when you first reach out to the very end of treatment.
Getting Started with Neurodivergent Therapy
Initial Contact: Reaching Out
First, you reach out to me or schedule a free consultation. I always do consults first for two reasons: 1. To make sure I’m a good fit for you, and 2. To answer any questions you have. I want you to understand what neurodivergent therapy will look like and feel good about moving forward. If I’m not a good fit for your needs for any reason, I’ll provide you with referrals to other therapists who may be a better fit.
Paperwork: Getting Started
Next, we schedule our first appointment (or you book it online), and you complete some forms online before we meet.
First 1-3 Sessions: The Assessment Phase
Then, we'll meet! Depending on the type of therapy and your needs, the first 1-3 sessions are focused on assessment. As a neurodivergent therapist, I want to get a really good picture of your history, the issues you want to work on, and what your goals are. It’s like going to the doctor for knee pain. I need to do an x-ray and understand if you’ve had knee issues in the past before I prescribe the treatment.
Therapy Sessions: What They Look Like
Depending on the type of therapy, each session will look a little different. Neurodivergent therapy sessions can include loosely structured conversation, exploring your past experiences, reprocessing traumatic memories, playing games, art activities, sand-play, structured communication exercises, and more.
Ongoing Assessment: Checking in Along The Way
Throughout treatment, we’ll do some check-ins to see how therapy is going. Is there something happening in sessions that’s working well for you? Is something happening that’s been bothering you? Do you feel like you’re making progress? Do you feel like you need something different in therapy? It’s kind of like a nurse taking your blood pressure and temperature occasionally. We want to check in once in a while to see how things are going and make adjustments as needed. This is especially important in neurodivergence therapy because your needs and ways of thinking are going to be unique to you.
Ending Treatment
A lot of people ask how they’ll know they’re ready to end treatment. The answer I usually give is, you’ll probably sense it. For most neurodivergent people, this looks like coming to a session and not feeling like you have much to talk about for a few sessions in a row. Or it could be that you notice that the things you wanted to improve have improved. Whatever it is, we discuss it together, and you decide what works best for you. For most clients, this means tapering off sessions gradually. So maybe we go from weekly sessions to every other week and then step down to once a month. For some clients, that means stopping therapy without decreasing the frequency of sessions. There’s no one right or wrong way. And if we space sessions out for a while, and then you feel like you want to go back to weekly sessions, that’s ok too! It’s all about what your needs are.
For adult clients, most sessions combine going deep by exploring emotions, reactions, and patterns with some sort of concrete skill building, like finding the language to use to set boundaries or manage your anxiety when you feel overwhelmed. For some adult sessions, therapy can also involve play because it’s a fantastic way of exploring what you’re experiencing without having to find the right words to describe it.
For child clients, most sessions will be based on play therapy with the potential for some other interventions as well. This all depends on the developmental age and needs of your child. Some teenagers have a hard time engaging in talk therapy, while some 8-year-olds could talk all day about their feelings. I follow the child’s lead, and the only rule in the therapy session is that we need to stay safe and end at a specific time. Other than that, the client decides what activities we do unless there is a specific activity that would be clinically appropriate. This gives kids a sense of control in a world that doesn’t let them have much at all, so it creates a sense of emotional safety for kids to open up and really process what is going on for them.
Moving Forward with Fuzzy Socks Therapy
At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we’re here to support you through every step of your neurodivergent therapy journey. Whether you're an adult or a child, we tailor our approach to fit your unique needs and preferences, ensuring that therapy feels comfortable and effective for you. Reach out today to start embracing your strengths and building a future filled with understanding and growth.
Feel Empowered With Neurodivergent Therapy in Scottsdale, AZ
If you're ready to explore neurodivergent therapy in Scottsdale, AZ, reach out today to start your journey toward growth and self-discovery. At Fuzzy Socks Therapy, we specialize in creating a comfortable, supportive environment tailored to your unique needs. Contact us now to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward feeling more understood and empowered. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Contact us or click here to book your free consultation with Lianna
Meet with Lianna, a Neurodivergent Therapist.
Begin to feel more empowered and understood!
Other Counseling Services at Fuzzy Socks Therapy
Neurodivergent therapy isn’t the only service we offer in our Scottsdale, AZ, office. We know you may be looking for other services that aren’t related to neurodivergent support. Other therapy services at Fuzzy Socks Therapy include therapy for children and adolescents, addiction therapy, couples therapy, discernment counseling for couples who aren’t sure if they want to stay together or split up, social skills groups for kids and teens, and neurodivergent parent coaching. For more on neurodivergence therapy, check out my blog!
