services (all Services are available for online delivery)

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 Individual therapy focuses on helping you overcome any difficulties that are keeping you from enjoying life.  For neurodivergent folks, this is most commonly anxiety and/or depression. It can also include neurologically based issues such as executive functioning problems (that is, organizing and getting stuff done), or addressing sensory issues, meltdowns, and burnout. Therapy is only offered to individuals residing in Colorado or Indiana, for those 18 and above.

Many couples where one or both partners have neurodiversity have been disappointed in traditional couples therapy. Traditional couples therapy is often "feelings focused," which typically leads the neurodivergent partner to feel further deficient, and the neurotypical partner to feel further alienated. Therapy is focused on understanding the unique dynamics of the relationship within the context of neurodiversity.  Education on neurodiversity occurs, but attention is often given to the neurotypical partner who often feels ignored, overloaded, and alone.  The goal of therapy is to increase understanding, connection, and decrease conflict cycles that are hindering intimacy.  

Neurodivergent individuals often face a myriad of challenges after having grown up in a neurotypical environment. This may have included abusive or exploitative experiences by others close to them, the school system, and even mental health professionals. Trauma can include PTSD symptoms that have resulted from a single event, but neurodivergent individuals may suffer Complex Post-Traumatic Disorder, or CPTSD. Rather than being caused by a single event, CPTSD develops over many years of repeated traumas. This may include repeated mistreatment by family, school administration, or school bullies, among others. This leads to anger, distrust, feelings of emptiness or numbness, dissociative symptoms such as depersonalization, and difficulties with emotional regulation. Treatment typically involves trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy, and may include referral for medication management. 

 Coaching differs from therapy in that we look at what resources individuals already have within them to address their own problems, rather than teaching these skills in a therapy format. In therapy, we assess and diagnose problems, but in coaching we focus on solutions to overcome problems. Those solutions are co-created in the coaching process. Coaching is goal focused, action oriented, and less focused on insight than psychotherapy. Mental illness is not treated in this format; if treatment is needed a referral is made to a licensed professional.  Individual coaching is available in persons from all states.

Neurodiverse Couple Consultation is a one-time meeting assessing the strengths and limitations of your relationship.  It is a 70 minute meeting with Dr. Hecker, where she interviews you regarding your relationship history, conflict cycles, and the impact of neurodiversity. Psychoeducation is provided, and couples are provided with a detailed list of recommendations regarding how to improve their relationship.  Dr. Hecker is the previous director of the Purdue University NW Couple and Family Therapy Center, and the author of Different Planets: Understanding Your Neurodiverse Relationship, and a co-editor of the textbook An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy.  Her goal is to educate and normalize society on neurodiverse relationships, and helping couples understand their unique strengths while increasing connection. 

Consultation involves each partner filling out forms regarding the history of the relationship prior to the consultation interview.  

We have a neurodivergent men's group that runs on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month; and a neurodivergent women's group that runs the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. The group is a support group format, is not therapy, but a place where you can discuss concerns and resources with other neurodivergent individuals.  The groups are held at 6-6:50 p.m., mountain time, and are available to people in all states.