The Deficit Model of “Neurodivergence” Misses the Mark

The term “neurodivergent” was meant to move away from pathologizing language, but it still quietly centers an assumed norm. Even when used respectfully, it can imply that some minds are standard and others are deviations from that standard. I don’t find that framework particularly useful. ADHD and AuDHD (ADHD + Autism) can involve real struggle, but they are poorly understood when reduced to deficit alone. I use these familiar labels because they help people find care and make sense of their experience, but human minds are far more varied and far less neatly categorized than our current language suggests.

Managed well (and especially when positioned in the right environment), ADHD and AuDHD can be assets.

People with ADHD often have wide-ranging interests, paving the way for multipotentiality. We tend to be creative, intuitive, ingenious, and energetic. The ADHD brain can track multiple conversations at once while hyperfocusing intensely on topics of deep interest. Living with ADHD requires creative problem-solving and resilience to navigate obstacles and setbacks. These traits—curiosity, adaptability, ingenuity, and multipotentiality—foster exploration, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking. You can learn how to manage attentional weaknesses, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and executive functioning challenges; however, ADHD traits like creativity, resilience, and ingenuity are often inherent gifts.

AuDHD is not simply a diagnosis to be managed — it is a neurodevelopmental difference that can come with strengths. Many autistic individuals demonstrate deep focus, exceptional pattern recognition, intellectual rigor, and a strong internal moral compass. We may experience the world with heightened sensory awareness and emotional depth, bringing richness and intensity to our interests, relationships, and creative pursuits. While challenges do arise in a world designed for “neurotypical” norms, autism also reflects authenticity, integrity, and the capacity for deep expertise and meaningful connection. My approach honors both the struggles and the gifts, helping individuals understand and leverage their strengths while building supportive strategies for areas of difficulty.

I bring a psychologist’s diagnostic training, a scientist-practitioner framework, and a whole-person lens to this work. That means I understand the limits of the diagnostic tests used and look beyond them to understand masking, learned skill, giftedness, life stage, and the many reasons “neurodivergence” can be missed or misunderstood in adults - especially women.

ADHD and AuDHD Assessments

I bring both clinical training and lived experience—including 15 years parenting “neurodivergent” kids—to provide a thorough, insightful evaluation. My own late-recognized ADHD/AuDHD profile informs my empathy for this work, but my evaluations are grounded in clinical training, standardized assessment, and careful differential diagnosis that captures the full picture of who you are, not just your symptoms.

My evaluations are designed for adults with complex, subtle, or high-masking presentations—including people who have long felt “different” but were missed because they did well enough in school, built successful careers, or developed strong compensatory strategies. Assessments typically include clinical interview, developmental history, standardized measures, review of relevant records, and collateral input when helpful. The goal is a careful differential understanding of how your mind works and what support would actually help you.

I offer comprehensive ADHD and AuDHD evaluations for adults, using a multi-method, evidence-based approach to ensure accuracy and reliability. My assessment process includes:

• A thorough clinical interview

• Developmental history

• Scientifically validated assessments

• Input from someone close to you

• A medical review to rule out conditions that may mimic or contribute to ADHD symptoms

My goal is for your evaluation to be affirming, insightful, and a positive experience. I will help you understand and leverage your strengths while building supportive strategies for areas of difficulty. My evaluations are typically completed in 3–4 sessions and include a differential diagnostic evaluation (i.e., evaluating you for a range of other psychological conditions).