Neurodivergent Care
Helping you reconnect with your authentic self through compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming therapy.
When the World Feels Like It Wasn’t Built for You
You may feel like you’re always trying to catch up, moving through life with anxiety, depression, sensory processing challenges, and a constant sense that you don’t quite belong. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by shifting moods, stuck in cycles of negative self-talk, or quietly questioning who you really are beneath the mask. That ongoing loss of identity can feel disorienting, and it’s easy to believe something is wrong with you.
But the truth is, there’s nothing wrong with how your brain works. You’re not broken—you’re neurodivergent, and that deserves care rooted in understanding. At Driftwood Psychotherapy, we offer neurodivergent affirming care in Barrie and across Ontario that honours your unique experience and supports you in reclaiming your authentic self with compassion, clarity, and confidence.
What Neurodivergent Affirming Care Looks Like
It begins with your story, what shaped you, how masking became a habit, and where self-trust started to slip. This is space to unlearn what no longer fits and reconnect with what does.
Working with us, therapy is grounded in a neurodiversity affirming approach. It’s a space to reconnect with your authentic self-expression, to name your needs without shame, and to practice new ways of being that feel true to you. As a neurodiversity therapist, I offer support that honours your lived experience and holds space for healing from both trauma and life’s challenges.
Common Challenges Neurodivergent Clients Bring to Therapy
Many clients come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or unsure of how to move forward.
A deep loss of identity
Constantly feeling like you're doing something wrong
Intense anxiety and depression that’s hard to explain
Feeling overstimulated by daily sensory processing challenges
Shifting moods that leave you feeling ungrounded
Struggling with relationships, communication, or boundaries
Feeling disconnected from your body or emotions
Tired of masking, but unsure how to stop
If you recognize yourself in these struggles, Neurodivergent therapy can help you sort through it all with support, care and understanding.
How Trauma Can Show Up in Your Life
Unprocessed trauma can affect many areas of life. The signs aren’t always obvious, but they often show up in ways that feel confusing or overwhelming. You might notice:
Difficulty focusing or ongoing mental confusion
Using substances to cope or feel in control
Changes in behaviour that don’t feel like you
A sense of being stuck, as if nothing is really helping
Feeling like you’re always in survival mode
Constant feelings of fear, guilt, or helplessness
Trouble sleeping or restless nights
Sudden mood swings or emotional ups and downs
Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected from yourself
Unexplained chronic pain or other physical symptoms
When these patterns continue, they can lead to low energy, emotional exhaustion, and a cycle of coping that never truly brings relief.
What Working Together Looks Like
In the first session, we’ll understand how trauma has shaped your experiences. We start with grounding tools to help you feel steady. Then, when you’re ready, we begin to process trauma using EMDR. You won’t need to relive every detail—just what feels necessary to help your system let go.
You set the pace. Some people want more support between sessions, others prefer to move directly into trauma focused therapy. We will collaborate and ensure the process supports your goals and your nervous system.
Your sessions are guided by a trauma-informed therapist who understands the complex ways trauma can affect both mind and body.
What Healing from Trauma Really Feels Like
Healing means no longer reacting to life as if the past is still happening. Many people notice:
More restful sleep
Less tension and discomfort in the body
Fewer emotional triggers and more control in stressful situations
Improved ability to focus and make clear decisions
A stronger sense of self and emotional stability
Through healing emotional pain, you may start to feel lighter and more grounded in your day-to-day life. Whether through EMDR or a combination of trauma resolution therapy and body trauma therapy, you can reconnect with the parts of yourself that once felt distant or overwhelmed.
Start EMDR and Trauma Therapy in Barrie
If you are an adult dealing with the effects of trauma, support is available. You don’t have to keep carrying it alone. Driftwood Psychotherapy offers EMDR and trauma therapy in Barrie, available both in-person and virtually.
FAQs About EMDR and Trauma Therapy
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories so they no longer cause the same emotional or physiological reactions. It’s often used in the treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related issues. EMDR has many applications. If there’s a brain and body connection, EMDR can be effective.
What does trauma really mean?
Trauma is any experience that felt too much to handle at the time. It’s not just what happened, but how it continues to affect you.
How long does therapy take?
We begin with a history and build tools for stability. Processing starts when you’re ready. Sessions are paced to fit what feels right for you.
