Accepting Support
Building Safety
Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy in Kitsap County
Therapy that integrates trauma processing with a deep understanding of neurodivergent experiences and support needs.
You're unique, your care should be also
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You're unique, your care should be also
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You're unique, your care should be also
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You're unique, your care should be also · You're unique, your care should be also · You're unique, your care should be also ·
What is Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy?
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Helping You Live Authentically
Trying to please everyone in a world that expects us all to be the same is exhausting, traumatizing, and impossible. I’m with you. We need support that validates our worth and meets our nervous systems where they are - not where others think they should be.
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Putting Assumptions Aside
My goal is to approach with curiosity so we can understand what your body is asking for. Neurodiversity-affirming counselling puts assumptions aside and honors the uniqueness of your experience.
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Meeting Needs Not Forcing Change
Neurodivergent needs and behaviors have long been stigmatized and misunderstood by society and the medical field. Too often, patterns are treated as symptoms to fix rather than needs to be understood and supported. I trust there is a reason for what you do. I want to learn about it and support what your system is asking for.
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Avoiding Misdiagnosis
I know that what looks like anxiety is sometimes a response to sensory overload and I have met Autistic people experiencing Autistic burnout who are being treated for depression. While it’s possible to experience anxiety, sensory triggers, depression, and burnout, it’s important to understand which are true for you.
Open to learning your unique story.
While I have specialized training in supporting ADHD, Autism, and AuDHD, I approach your experience with openness and curiosity so I can understand how to best support you. I know there are many forms of neurodivergence and continually expand my knowledge to better serve the individuals I meet.
My Approach to Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy
Neurodivergent people deserve therapy that supports their unique nervous systems and bodies. Therapy with me is tailored to you — your needs, your goals, and your nervous system.
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Using mindfulness, stress cycle education, and taking time to build emotional safety in therapy helps your nervous system feel ready to process.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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My goal is to approach with curiosity so I can understand what your body is asking for and support the needs that truly fit. Neurodiversity-affirming counselling sets assumptions aside and honors the uniqueness of your experience, so you feel supported for who you are rather than feeling pressured to be someone else to be understood.
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I’ve seen many clients develop a sense of safety in their bodies, in their relationships, and in the world around them that they didn’t realize was possible. This kind of healing takes time, and research tells us that steady, consistent engagement in therapy supports the deepest and most sustainable change.
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Because every person’s experiences are different, healing unfolds differently, too. Some clients attend weekly sessions for several months and then feel ready to pause. Others continue longer-term, either for ongoing support or for deeper self-exploration beyond trauma processing. We revisit your goals and progress along the way to ensure therapy continues to meet your needs.
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The initial 50-minute session is $200 and includes additional time outside of session for diagnostic assessment and treatment planning. Ongoing 50-minute sessions are $180 for the duration of your course of treatment.
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I am an out-of-network provider and offer Superbills, which many clients use to seek reimbursement from their insurance companies.
When you begin therapy, you will also receive a Good Faith Estimate outlining the anticipated cost of services for the year, so you can plan and budget with clarity and no surprises.
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I use SimplePractice as a secure, all-in-one client portal. You’ll receive an emailed video link before each session, and you can use the portal to manage appointments, update reminder settings, access shared resources, and download billing information for insurance reimbursement.
Meet your Trauma Informed Therapist
I’m Stephanie Thiessen, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor offering trauma-informed therapy grounded in compassion, curiosity, and relationship. Since 2017, I have helped clients understand and gently shift the emotional patterns shaping their relationships—with others and with themselves—so they can feel more grounded, connected, and at ease.
A Little About Me
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My Speciality
I specialize in supporting adults navigating trauma from harmful relationships at home, within religion, or from not being accepted in the world as a whole.
For many clients, these experiences show up as perfectionism, anxiety, burnout, loneliness, or a sense of being disconnected from who they truly are. I can hold the weight of those experiences and offer a safe place to feel seen and understood.
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My Training
My trauma therapy approach is informed by specialized trauma training in both Observed and Experiential Integration and Emotion Focused Individual Therapy.
These are experiential trauma-processing approaches that help you safely feel and work through emotions that once felt overwhelming or unsafe.
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Additional Insights
I also bring additional training in neurodiversity-affirming counseling—an approach that honors who you are at your core and never asks you to be someone you aren’t. Many clients come to me feeling like they’ve had to mask, perform, or be “less” to belong; therapy with me is a space where that pressure can soften and your lived experience is met with care and respect.
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My Style
I show up with warmth, clarity, and a collaborative presence—holding space for the messy, tender parts while supporting sustainable, meaningful change.
You are always going to see the real me as I create a safe place to be the real you.
