Therapists for Neurodivergence

Get a Therapist Recommendation

Online sessions with one of our Therapists for Neurodivergence

Offered at a specialised price as part of our collaboration with each therapist.

  • Get a Therapist Recommendation

    Online sessions with one of our Therapists for Neurodivergence

    Offered at a specialised price as part of our collaboration with each therapist.

  • What kind of therapist to look for?

    Look for a therapist familiar with neurodivergent affirming approaches who understands conditions like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other cognitive differences, rather than treating these traits as things to fix.

  • What you can work on.

    Common goals include navigating sensory needs, masking and burnout, communication differences, and building routines and environments that fit how your brain actually works.

  • What your iniital sessions will look like.

    Expect to talk through your experiences and where you feel most out of step with typical expectations. Together, you'll identify small adjustments that reduce friction in daily life.

  • How to assess therapist fit

    A good sign is feeling understood without needing to explain or justify yourself constantly. The right therapist works with your brain rather than trying to make it more typical.

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    Dr Dileep Kumar

    Dr Dileep Kumar

    Clinical Psychologist

    Dr Dileep Kumar

    5 Years Exp. | Anxiety | Depression | OCD | Relationship Issues / Marriage | Neurodivergence

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    Palkee Baruah: Anxiety, Panic, OCD, Depression Trauma, PTSD, ADHD Clinical Psychologist in Gurugram

    Palkee Baruah

    Clinical Psychologist

    Palkee Baruah

    7 Years Exp. | Neurodivergence | Trauma & PTSD | Anxiety | ADHD | Depression

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    Jyoti Glory Bernard

    Jyoti Glory Bernard

    Clinical Psychologist

    Jyoti Glory Bernard

    12 Years Exp. | Anxiety | OCD | Trauma & PTSD | Borderline Personality Disorder | Neurodivergence

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What does "neurodivergent" mean, and which conditions are usually included (ADHD, autism, dyslexia, etc.)?

Neurodivergent means that someone’s brain works a little differently from what we usually consider “typical.” When said “works differently,” it refers to the way they may learn, communicate, or experience the world around them. For example, imagine two students sitting in the same classroom. The teacher is explaining something, and one student can sit quietly, listen for 30 minutes, take notes, and remember what was taught. Another student may genuinely want to listen, but their attention keeps wandering.

They might fidget, lose track of what the teacher is saying, or feel like they need to move around in order to concentrate. The basic idea behind neurodivergence is recognizing that not everyone's brain processes information, attention, communication, learning, or sensory experiences in the same way. When we talk about neurodivergence, we commonly talk about conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia/developmental coordination disorder, and Tourette syndrome.

Some people also use the term more broadly for certain mental health conditions, so there isn't one universally agreed-upon list. It is also important to remember that neurodivergence can look very different from one person to another. Two people with ADHD can have very different experiences. One person might struggle mainly with attention and organization, while another might experience restlessness or impulsivity more strongly. So, when we talk about neurodiversity, we're really talking about recognizing that human brains naturally differ. Understanding this can help us move away from judging people for being “different” and instead become more curious about their individual experiences, needs, and strengths.

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What should I look for in a therapist in India who says they specialise in neurodivergence?

When looking for a therapist in India who says they specialise in neurodivergence, look beyond the label and try to understand how they actually approach neurodivergent clients. A neurodivergence-affirming therapist recognizes that autism, ADHD, AuDHD, and other forms of neurodivergence are not things that need to be “fixed” or made more neurotypical. They work with you to understand your experiences, reduce distress, build helpful strategies, and create a life that feels meaningful to you.

They should have relevant professional qualifications and experience working with the specific neurotype and age group they support. It can also be helpful to ask whether they understand experiences such as constantly rehearsing what to say before social situations, feeling completely exhausted after trying to appear “normal,” becoming overwhelmed by noise or crowds, struggling to start everyday tasks even when you genuinely want to do them, or needing significant time alone to recover after a demanding day. These neurodivergent symptoms can sometimes be misunderstood as laziness, rudeness, lack of motivation, or simply “overthinking,” so having a therapist who understands where they may come from can make a significant difference.

A neuroaffirming therapist will not automatically assume that things like avoiding eye contact, moving or fidgeting, speaking differently, following routines, or needing breaks are behaviours that need to be changed. Instead, they will ask, “Is this causing you distress, or is it mainly other people's expectations that are making it difficult?” For example, rather than teaching you to force eye contact, they might help you find ways of communicating that feel comfortable while still meeting your needs.

If you become overwhelmed in crowded places, they might explore practical ways to make those environments easier. They should also adapt therapy itself for example, by explaining things clearly, giving you time to process questions, providing structure, or allowing you to communicate in writing when that feels easier. In India, it can also be beneficial to find someone who understands family expectations, academic and workplace pressures, cultural stigma, and the realities of seeking support here. Ultimately, the right therapist should help you understand yourself with greater kindness, not make you feel that you need to become someone else to be okay.

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Can therapy help if I'm an adult who was diagnosed (or suspect I'm) ADHD or autistic later in life?

If you are an adult who has been diagnosed with ADHD or autism later in life, therapy can help you understand yourself better and make everyday life easier.

You may struggle with focus, staying organised, managing time, starting tasks, or getting things done. A therapist can help you find practical ways to manage these challenges. This could include breaking big tasks into smaller steps, creating simple routines, using reminders, or finding ways to make difficult tasks easier to start.

Therapy can also help when you feel overwhelmed. You may learn to recognise what causes your stress or sensory overload. You therapist can help you find ways to handle these situations and give yourself time and space to recover.

Managing emotions can be difficult too. You may feel frustrated, anxious, misunderstood, or easily hurt by criticism or rejection. Therapy can help you understand these feelings and learn healthier ways to deal with them. You can also work on relationships and communication. A therapist can help you practise expressing your needs, setting boundaries, handling disagreements, and navigating situations that feel socially difficult.

For many adults who discover their neurodivergence later in life, therapy can also help make sense of the past. You may have spent years thinking you were lazy, too sensitive, disorganised, or “not trying hard enough.” Understanding yourself through a neurodivergent lens can help reduce that self-blame.

Therapy can help you recognise your strengths, understand your needs, build confidence, and find strategies that work for you. Most importantly, therapy is not about changing who you are. It is about helping you work with the way your brain functions, manage challenges, and build a life that feels more comfortable, manageable, and true to you.

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How is therapy for neurodivergent adults different from therapy for neurotypical clients?

Neurotypical people generally think, learn, communicate, and respond to the world in ways that are considered more typical. Neurodivergent people may experience and process the world differently. Autism and ADHD are forms of neurodivergence. Being neurodivergent is not an illness that needs to be “fixed.” Like anyone else, neurodivergent adults would also seek therapy for anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, stress, or feeling overwhelmed.

The same therapeutic approaches can be used with both neurotypical and neurodivergent clients. However, the way therapy is explained and practiced may need to be adapted to the individual. A neurodivergent client may benefit from more structure, clearer communication, practical examples, visual tools, or breaking larger tasks into smaller steps.

For example, in REBT, a therapist may help a client understand how an event, their thoughts about it, and their emotional response are connected. With a neurodivergent client, this process can be made more concrete. Instead of asking, “What were you thinking?” the therapist might ask, “What exactly happened? What did you say to yourself at that moment? What did you expect would happen next?” A written ABC worksheet or a simple diagram will make the process easier to understand.

Consider an autistic adult who avoids social situations because they think, “Everyone will think I am strange.” The therapist can explore this belief. At the same time, they can ask whether the person is also dealing with noise, crowded spaces, difficulty understanding unspoken social rules, or exhaustion from trying to fit in.

Similarly, an adult with ADHD would think, “I’m lazy because I can never finish anything.” REBT can help challenge the harsh self-judgment but therapy can also look at what is making tasks difficult. The therapist might help them break a task into smaller steps, use reminders, create routines, reduce distractions, or find ways to make starting a task easier.

Therapy may also involve preparing clients for changes in routine, practising ways to communicate their needs, managing sensory overwhelm, or developing strategies for emotional regulation. Most importantly, therapy should not aim to make a neurodivergent person behave more “normally.” It should help them understand themselves, reduce distress, build confidence, and find ways of functioning that feel comfortable, meaningful, and sustainable for them. Good therapy adapts to the person rather than expecting every person to adapt to the same therapeutic process.

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What kinds of goals can I realistically work on in therapy?

Therapy can be useful for understanding the patterns that make everyday life difficult and finding ways to work with them more effectively. For example, if you struggle with executive functioning, therapy can help with starting tasks, managing time, remembering appointments, or keeping up with responsibilities. Rather than simply setting a goal to “be more productive,” you might work on something specific, such as breaking a task into smaller steps or creating a routine that is easier to follow.

If you experience burnout or overwhelm, therapy can help you identify what is using up your energy and recognise the signs that you are reaching your limit. You might work on setting boundaries, planning recovery time, or learning to say, “I can't take this on right now.”

The therapist can also help you explore through your relationships and communication patterns. This might mean learning to express your needs more clearly, asking for clarification when something is unclear, or finding ways to handle disagreements without becoming overwhelmed. Therapy can also address self-esteem and self-judgment. If you have repeatedly heard that you are “lazy,” “too sensitive,” or “difficult,” therapy can help you look at these experiences more realistically and develop a more accurate understanding of yourself.

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Other common questions

Do therapists for neurodivergence also help with diagnosis, or do I need a separate psychologist/psychiatrist for that?

If you’re considering an ADHD or autism diagnosis as an adult, the process usually involves more than one appointment or questionnaire. You would usually begin with a detailed conversation with a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. They will ask about what you are currently experiencing and how it affects your work, relationships, attention, routines, communication, emotions, and everyday life.

They will also ask about your childhood. This is important because ADHD and autism begin early in life, even when they are not recognised at the time. You may be asked about school, friendships, learning, behaviour, and things your family noticed while you were growing up. You may then complete questionnaires or other assessment tools. These help the professional understand your experiences in more detail. In some cases, they may also speak with a parent, partner, or someone who has known you for many years, especially when childhood experiences are difficult to remember.

The assessment also considers other possibilities. Anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems, learning difficulties, or other conditions can sometimes cause similar difficulties or occur alongside ADHD or autism. For ADHD, the assessment may look closely at attention, impulsivity, organisation, and managing everyday tasks. For autism, it may explore communication, social interaction, sensory experiences, repetitive behaviours, and your need for routine or predictability. They will discuss whether your experiences fit the criteria for a diagnosis and what kind of support could help you moving forward.

How can therapy support me if I'm facing stigma or misunderstanding from family or workplace about my neurodivergence?

In India, neurodivergence can often be misunderstood because people may not have much exposure to it. You might hear things like “everyone gets distracted,” “you just need to adjust,” or “why can’t you be more like everyone else?” Over time, hearing these things can make you question yourself, even when you know that you are genuinely struggling.

This is where therapy can help. Therapy can give you a space to understand what you actually need. What is bothering you, and what you can do about it without having to constantly prove that your experience is valid. There can be time when your family finds it difficult to understand why you need more alone time, a particular routine, or a different way of communicating. Therapy can help you find ways to explain these needs without every conversation becoming a fight.

At work, you might be struggling with things like noisy environments, sudden changes, social expectations, or managing several tasks at once. Therapy can help you figure out what specifically makes these situations difficult and explore practical ways of handling them.

You can also use therapy to think through questions like: “Should I tell my workplace about my neurodivergence?” “How do I explain this to my parents?” “How do I set a boundary without feeling guilty?” You don't have to disclose everything about yourself just because you are seeking support.

Therapy can help you stop measuring yourself against the idea that you should “just be normal.” You can learn to understand how you function, communicate what you need. It can further help you find ways to navigate your family, relationships, and workplace without constantly blaming yourself for being different.

Is online therapy a good option for neurodivergent adults in India, especially if in-person clinics are far away?

Yes. For many neurodivergent adults in India, online therapy can make getting support more accessible. Finding a therapist who understands neurodivergence can be difficult, especially if you live outside a major city. Travelling long distances for appointments can also be tiring or overwhelming. With online therapy, you can speak to a therapist for neurodivergence from a familiar and comfortable space. You don't have to deal with traffic, crowded waiting rooms, unfamiliar surroundings, or the stress of travelling to a clinic.

It can also be easier to fit therapy around work, college, or family responsibilities.

For some people, starting therapy online may feel less overwhelming than walking into a clinic for the first time. If online sessions make it easier for you to access the right therapist and feel comfortable enough to talk openly, they can be a great way to begin.

How do therapists incorporate sensory needs, communication style, and routine into sessions for neurodivergent clients?

Your comfort and preferences can be an important part of your therapy sessions. Your therapist may ask you about things that affect your comfort, such as bright lights, sounds, or the way the room is set up. For example, you may feel more comfortable in a quiet room with softer lighting.

Your therapist can also adjust the way they communicate with you. They would use clear and simple language, give you extra time to respond, or provide information in writing if that is easier for you. Having a regular routine can also make sessions feel more comfortable and predictable. Your therapist can also follow a similar structure each time, such as checking in with you, talking about what is important to you, and ending with a summary.

You can also ask for a break or a change in the routine when you need one. It is important to remember that your therapist should ask what works for you rather than make assumptions about your needs.

Are there therapists in India who combine neurodiversity-affirming approaches with CBT, DBT, or other modalities?

Yes. There are therapists in India who are bringing together approaches like CBT and DBT with a neurodiversity-affirming way of working. Current therapist profiles show practitioners who specifically mention working with neurodivergent clients while using CBT, DBT, or other approaches.

For example, some therapists describe their work as adapting therapy to the person rather than expecting the person to fit a fixed way of doing therapy. This can mean listening to the client’s needs, adjusting communication, allowing flexibility, and focusing on helping them manage real-life challenges without trying to change who they are. It was identified that therapies such as DBT would be helpful for some autistic people, particularly for managing emotions. So, if you’re looking for a therapist, it can help to ask: “Do you have experience working with neurodivergent clients, and how would you adapt your therapy to my needs?” That gives you a chance to understand whether their approach feels right for you.

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