Neurodivergent Parents

Neurodivergent Affirming Support for

ADHD, Highly Sensitive, and Autistic Moms and Dads

The transition into parenthood can be a rollercoaster as a neurodivergent person. Before having children, life may have felt under control. Your house was clean enough and you were able to get the important things done, even if you could never find your phone when you were trying to leave the house. You felt valued in your workplace and found your job meaningful.

Perhaps now baby is here and you’re back at work. You’re still able to be successful in your workplace, but you’re drowning at home. The dishes are staying in the sink too long. The laundry is pilling up. Your old systems to get things done aren’t working anymore.

Somedays everything can feel like too much. Maybe you are trying to leave for work and your toddler is being so incredibly slow. She insists on putting her shoes on herself. After she finally gets her shoes on, your toddler demands that she must switch to her sandals instead of her sneakers. You feel so irritated and snap “It doesn’t matter! Just wear the sneakers!”. You feel so much shame afterwards.

You might feel exhausted from trying to navigate the parent dynamics at your child’s preschool or elementary school. You want to put yourself out there so your kiddo gets playdates but you’re also so tired and you hate the small talk.

Old thoughts may start roaring back:

  • That you’re lazy

  • That you’re not trying hard enough

  • That you’re not enough 

  • That you’re too much

The reality is that having a baby adds a 100 more things to do everyday (well maybe not a 100 but it feels that way) and leaves way less time for self care. There’s more noise, less control of your daily schedule, and less time for hobbies. Add in some sleep deprivation and all these extra tasks and demands can make life go from feeling doable to overwhelming.

Many clients that I support have learned about their neurodivergence as an adult, sometimes after a child received a diagnosis. You might still be wrestling with what your neurodivergence means for you, your life, and your parenting journey. Often this involves reevaluating many different life experiences from a new lens, which can give both relief and grief.

There’s very little cultural conversation about what neurodivergent people need during pregnancy, postpartum and parenting.

There’s not a ton of people talking about how after a person with ADHD has a baby, often old strategies for getting daily tasks done don’t work anymore. This can make it feel like everything is falling apart or makes people question their competence as a parent. Or how changes in the sensory environment (going from being able to control the noise level at home to have a screaming baby for example) impact the body and mind, especially if someone is already sensitive to noise. And that in parenting, sometimes the typical guidance from books or trusted professionals just doesn’t work. I believe that struggle without context often leads to internalizing difficulties as personal failings. Part of what I offer is to help fill in the context from a neurodivergent affirming lens.

And I can confidently tell you:

You’re not too much.

You’re not lazy.

You’re not too sensitive.

You’re needs aren’t too big.

You have always been enough.


Want to get started? Reach out here.

  • Nope! No formal diagnoses are required. If you related to the above or are questioning if you’re neurodivergent, feel free to connect!

  • Absolutely. It’s pretty common for ADHDers to have autistic traits and Autistic adults to have ADHD traits. Or to be both ADHD and autistic. I love supporting this combo! For autistic and ADHD parents, we might look at communication styles and feeling misunderstood, sensory experiences along with movement needs and executive functioning needs.

  • No. ADHD or executive functioning (EF) coaching serve a different role than psychotherapy. ADHD/EF coaching tends to focuses more on concrete strategies, like helping with procrastination or staying more consistent with daily tasks. In contrast, my work may include using EMDR to process early traumatic or difficult experiences that contribute to negative beliefs like not feeling good enough. Or we may look at how anxiety, OCD or other mental health conditions can also be impacting an individual. My work can involve exploring executive functioning and supports, but does not center around EF tips and tricks.

  • This is a great question. My focus is more on the health and wellbeing of the parent (you) vs parenting strategies. Parenting strategies sometimes come up naturally in my work, but my focus is more on helping parents feel grounded, regulated, and improve relationship with self. I think it’s easier to implement strategies when you’re feeling good!

  • For sure. I’m happy to help neurodivergent parents in any phase of parenting.