Neurodivergent Couples Intensives

The Neurodivergent Couples Intensive is structured to be a bridge partners can walk on together. As one or both of you start the process of discovering your neurodivergent identity, or rediscovering your identity through a neurodiversity-informed lens, the profound, and sometimes overwhelming, realizations that emerge about the self can also crest into your relationship.

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The longer format with an increase session interval provides time for more weaving, meaning making, and deep processing. The extended session allows the space to identify emotions (whether you are someone who feels flooded by them or have always struggled with being able to put words to what you feel), sit through your initial response to see what else is true, and to say the thing you want to say while we are still together instead of on the drive home. ​

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Intensives are great for:

• Couples who are discovering one or both partners' neurodivergent identity. 

  • No formal diagnosis is needed​

  • Neurodivergent is an umbrella term that includes all brains that don't fit in a neurotypical box. Identities or experiences that are most often associated with neurodivergency are Autistic, ADHDer, Dyslexic and other learning differences, cPTSD, OCD, and sensory processing differences. It includes so much more even than these, and is certainly not limited to just Autism and ADHD

• Couples who feel that they keep on getting into the same negative cycles that leave them feeling disconnected from their partner, even though they love and like each other

• Couples who have found they feel stuck in a caregiver/care receiver role and want space to process and evaluate their roles to find more understanding and equity

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Due to the infrequency of sessions, intensives are not intended for:

• Couples who are highly escalated with frequent arguments that leave one or both partners feeling that they no longer wanting to be in the relationship ​​

• Couples where a betrayal/affair has occurred and has not been processed in previous couples therapy

• Couples where physical aggression or other abusive behavior is present 

→ If any of this applies to your relationship, you and your partner deserve more frequent sessions so that you can receive the level of support you deserve

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The Intensives are informed by Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, which is rooted in attachment and attunement. In addition to EFCT, I also pull from my years of practice, research, and teaching about the Neuroaffirming Paradigm and neuroaffirming couples therapy. Sessions will include time for learning more about neurodivergent traits and how they can show up within a relationship, attachment patterns, and what is happening for both of you as negative relationship cycles pop up. 

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The sessions are typically scheduled as 3 sequential 50 minute sessions, or a total of 150 clinical minutes--but we can adjust depending on your needs. We can meet virtually or in-person in my office in Brea. The appointments are usually scheduled on the weekend about every four weeks. The total number of sessions is based on your goals for our work together. 

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Intensives are billed at the current 50-minute couples session rate. Some insurances will provide out-of-network coverage for the first hour, but not for the subsequent hours.