My commitment to Neurodiversity

In response to the current administration’s dangerous promotion of disinformation about autism and neurodivergence, I want to clearly state my position on neurodiversity and the therapeutic work I do.

I stand firmly with the scientific consensus. Neurodivergence (including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other cognitive differences) represents natural human variation. These are not deficits to be corrected or cured. Decades of research consistently show that neurodivergent traits have a strong genetic basis and occur organically across all populations [1, 2]. Rising diagnosis rates reflect improved recognition and broader diagnostic criteria, not increased prevalence.

The current political attacks on neurodivergent individuals, including the promotion of debunked theories and the rejection of established science, are not only factually wrong—they are harmful. They create fear, stigma, and barriers to the support and understanding that neurodivergent people deserve.

Neurodiversity strengthens our communities. Different ways of processing information, approaching problems, and interacting with the world drive innovation and creative solutions. Rather than seeking to eliminate neurodivergence through pseudoscientific interventions, mental health professionals should focus on supporting neurodivergent individuals in living lives of meaning and fulfillment.

Understanding one’s own neurotype should be accessible to all as a way to deepen self-compassion, tailor accommodations to meet unique needs, create more supportive environments, and address personal, interpersonal, and systemic barriers to what we each want and deserve in our lives. It is my goal as a provider to make that understanding more accessible and to stand against the political disinformation that is currently creating fear and apprehension around seeking this understanding.

Privacy and Protection

All individuals have a right to the privacy of their medical records and have a choice in who to disclose aspects of their identity to. I do not in any way support governmental registries of neurodivergent individuals against their will and am fiercely protective of my clients’ records as my legal and ethical standards, as well as my personal values, mandate.

Please schedule a free consultation with me if you would like to know more about the ways that I protect the privacy and support the wellbeing of those I work with.

Citations

[1] Tick, B., Bolton, P., Happé, F., Rutter, M., & Rijsdijk, F. (2016). Heritability of autism spectrum disorders: a meta-analysis of twin studies. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 57(5), 585-595. https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12499

[2] Grove, J., et al. (2019). Identification of common genetic risk variants for autism spectrum disorder. Nature Genetics, 51(3), 431-444. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-019-0344-8