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Short Introduction

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in MA and a Registered Art Therapist. I am also a neurocomplex (Mackereth, 2023), heterosexual, cisgender woman, LGBTQIA+ ally, nature geek, maker, collector, and proud member of Gen-X. My practice and services are neurodivergent-affirming(Dr. Neff/ Neurodivergent Insights, 2024), trauma and grief-informed. I primarily use identity-first language (ASAN), but respect and honor other choices and expressions.

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Self Discovery

In my mid-thirties, after years as a therapist, I discovered my own learning differences and neurocomplexities (Mackereth, 2023). This was a transformative period for me, and I realized I needed support to process and learn.

The professional and medical advice I received often pointed me to sources that did NOT align with my values and often made me uncomfortable with their perspectives.

Then, an (actually) autistic advocate voice found me through my messy algorithm. They discussed the neurodiversity paradigm versus the medical model (Walker, 2014). Almost immediately I knew this was what I was seeking. From then on, autistic individuals, advocates, and neurodivergent communities have been the best guides and teachers.

I believe my journey would have been much harder without these safe and informed places to land. I continue to pay this forward by elevating autistic and AuDHD voices of all ages whenever I can. I am proud to be part of this diverse community, working hard to build community, break cycles, and challenge harmful systems so that our current and future generations can accept and celebrate differences.

Where I Began

My first fifteen years as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Art Therapist were focused on art therapy, grief support, and program development for hospice organizations and grief centers throughout Massachusetts.

During this first chapter of my career, I developed and led grief counseling, support groups, workshops, camps, and grief training sessions for individuals, communities, and schools. I also provided support for hospice staff, volunteers, patients, and families navigating grief and end-of-life challenges. These experiences profoundly shaped me and continue to influence every aspect of my life today.

I chose a graduate degree in art therapy because I believed in the transformative power of the creative process, having experienced it firsthand many times. I now see how my first love, art therapy, and learning to trust the creative process provided me a crucial foundation for my future grief, autism and AuDHD experiences and work.

Where I Expanded

After over ten years of learning and unlearning both personally and professionally, I was ready to create a space that would grow and change as I did.

In 2018, I started my private practice aimed at providing a safe place for self-discovery, acceptance, connection, self-compassion, and ongoing learning and unlearning for myself and my clients.

I also wanted the space to explore new areas of interest, such as curiosity, play, nature, autism, AuDHD, PDA, neuroaffirming practices, and neuroscience. Over time, it grew into all of this and so much more.

Commitment to Learning & Unlearning

As a therapist and human, I am committed to continuous learning and unlearning. I consciously work on my personal development, blind spots, barriers, internalized ableism, and privileges.

I enjoy trying to integrate new perspectives with traditional psychological theories and approaches. I like to see what can be adapted to be more client-centered, inclusive, neuroaffirming, accessible, and informed by lived experiences.

I am currently exploring how neurobiology and neuroscience influence psychology and therapy, along with the process of decolonizing therapy.

Acceptance & Authenticity

My journey to understanding and accepting my neurotype helped me understand the fears that once held me back from celebrating my creative, silly, whimsical, weird, and enthusiastic nature.

While masking and fawning are still sometimes necessary for my comfort, I now feel most consistently free and unmasked when I am in my art studio.

I am now proud to say I am an expert dabbler, a creative, a maker, and a collector of projects. I’ve stopped judging my method or medium. I’ve learned to harness my creative energy, even when it moves faster than my hands, abilities, or capacity to “do the thing.” I now lovingly accept and work with my offbeat and very inconsistent creative rhythms.

I can’t wait to see what the next chapter brings!

Registered Art Therapist | Licensed Mental Health Counselor | AuDHD Advocate | Mother & Spouse | Neurocomplex | Dyslexic Thinker | Resource Gatherer | Maker | Collector | Upcycler | Innovator | Photographer | Creative Problem Solver | Gardner | Animal Lover | Observer | Dreamer | Nature Geek | Dendrophile

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