In-person & Online Neurodiverse Couples Therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California
Neurodiversity-Affirming Counseling for Neurodivergent and Mixed Neurotype Couples
When you first met and fell in love, things felt easy. Or at least easier. Sure, you had some differences, but every couple does! Your partner’s quirky way of doing things drew you to them in the first place. Their unique way of moving through the world was endlessly endearing and exciting.
Fast-forward to now—sometimes, it seems like you can hardly stand one another. And you’re starting to think that neurodivergence plays a big part in your struggles.
Whether you or your partner are autistic, ADHDers, highly sensitive, dyslexic, or have sensory processing difficulties, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, synesthesia, or OCD, neurodiverse couples face unique challenges.
Even if you’re neurodivergent in similar ways, you’re still SO different.
It’s like you speak different languages sometimes. And that gaping chasm between you? It’s growing larger and more painful with every fight.
As you navigate the unique challenges of being a neurodivergent or mixed neurotype couple and the pressures of daily life, it can be incredibly challenging to maintain a sense of closeness and harmony.
You find yourselves caught in the same arguments about intimacy, communication, sensory sensitivities, or even managing daily routines. The stress and misunderstandings can make it feel like you're constantly on edge.
You long to return to the deep connection you once enjoyed.
Many neurodivergent and mixed neurotype couples seek therapy when they find themselves having the same fights over and over. Sound familiar?
You and your partner are juggling demanding careers, family responsibilities, and the complexities of navigating a neurotypical world. This leaves little time for nurturing your relationship, resulting in feelings of disconnection, frustration, and neglect.
When couples fail to acknowledge, affirm, and support their inherent neurodiversity, they get stuck in seemingly insurmountable disagreements. Mixed neurotype couples often have different ways of understanding and expressing emotions, making it difficult to resolve conflict and stay connected.
Neurodiverse couples counseling can help you navigate these challenges, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of each other’s unique traits and building a stronger, more resilient relationship.
Why Consider Neurodiverse Couples Therapy?
Every relationship is unique, and neurodiverse and mixed neurotype couples often face distinct dynamics that can be both challenging and enriching. Neurodiverse couples therapy provides a tailored approach to address these specific needs, helping you and your partner thrive together.
Benefits of Neurodiverse Couples Counseling
Through neurodiverse couples counseling, you can:
Enhance understanding and appreciation of each other’s neurodivergent traits.
Develop effective communication strategies tailored to your unique needs.
Address sensory sensitivities.
Improve emotional co-regulation.
Develop conflict resolution skills and reduce misunderstandings.
Strengthen emotional and physical intimacy.
Create a shared vision for your future together.
How to Know if Neurodiverse Couples Therapy Can Help You
Do any of these describe you or your partner?
You or your partner are autistic, ADHDers, highly sensitive, or have other neurodivergent traits such as dyslexia, sensory processing difficulties, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, synesthesia, or OCD.
You experience frequent misunderstandings or conflicts due to neurodivergent traits.
You desire better communication and connection in your relationship.
You want to navigate the challenges of a neurodivergent marriage confidently and easily.
You struggle with defensiveness, intimacy issues, overstimulation, or the need to explain yourself constantly.
If these scenarios sound familiar, know that your experiences are valid and common among many neurodivergent and mixed-neurotype couples.
While deeply rewarding, building a happy relationship is easily one of humans' most challenging feats. Add to that the weight of surviving a neurotypical, ableist, and otherwise discriminatory society, and we’re talking about a near-Herculean task.
That’s why it’s important to get support.
Remember, prioritizing your relationship is not selfish. In fact, fostering a healthy partnership can greatly enhance your well-being, not to mention make you a better partner and community member.
Neurodiverse Couples Therapy Can Help You Reconnect
Imagine a life where you and your partner can:
Communicate clearly and effectively, understanding each other's unique needs.
Navigate sensory sensitivities and emotional regulation with ease.
Strengthen your emotional and physical intimacy.
Feel fully supported and understood in your neurodivergent traits.
Model a resilient, healthy relationship to those around you.
Neurodivergent couples therapy can help you navigate life's challenges as a united team, fostering a deeper connection and a stronger, more fulfilling partnership.
Our Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to Couples Therapy
At the Relationship Center, our team is dedicated to supporting neurodivergent and mixed-neurotype couples, including ADHD, autistic, and highly sensitive couples, as well as those with dyslexia, sensory processing difficulties, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, synesthesia, or OCD. We feel deeply fulfilled by helping neurodivergent couples rediscover the joy and connection in their relationships.
Many of our clinicians are neurodivergent themselves or have extensive experience working with neurodivergent individuals and couples. We are passionate about providing neurodiversity-affirming care and seek training to ensure we center our clients’ unique needs, not neurotypicality.
Fueled by our mission to create a safe space for neurodivergent couples, we integrate our lived experiences and specialized training with evidence-based approaches to help you and your partner fall in love all over again.
Our team is also proudly LGBTQ-affirming. We take pride in offering a safe space to the significant portion of our neurodivergent clients who identify as queer, trans, kinky, non-monogamous, or otherwise LGBTQ+. This includes offering queer couples therapy.
We are passionate about helping you and your partner to become experts in soothing one another, especially in moments of stress. By exploring your neurotypes, attachment styles, love languages, and past experiences, you'll find new ways to communicate with love and understanding.
Through neurodivergent couples therapy, you'll learn neuroscience-informed communication skills that will help you diffuse conflict and manage sensory sensitivities. Our team at the Relationship Center aims to help you reach new levels of closeness and mutual support, fostering a resilient and fulfilling partnership.
How Neurodiverse Couples Therapy Works
Neurodiverse couples therapy sessions are typically 50 minutes long and focus on your unique relationship struggles. Here’s what you can expect as counseling progresses:
1. Creating a Safe Space: Your therapist will create a supportive environment where both partners can openly discuss their experiences and challenges.
2. Understanding Neurodiversity: Your therapist will gain a deep understanding of your neurodivergent traits and relationship dynamics through attentive listening and tailored questions.
3. Addressing Immediate Concerns: Your therapist will help diffuse your most pressing issues and address the strong emotions contributing to frequent arguments.
4. Building Communication Skills: You’ll learn evidence-based communication techniques tailored for neurodiverse and mixed-neurotype couples, which will help you express your needs and resolve conflicts effectively.
5. Addressing Sensory and Emotional Needs: You will discover new ways to compassionately manage your sensory sensitivities and emotional regulation challenges, fostering a more harmonious relationship.
6. Deepening Understanding: Build awareness of how your neurotypes contribute to your relationship dynamics and develop a neurodiversity-affirming approach to meeting one another’s needs.
7. Learning Through Action: Since many neurodivergents learn better through practice, your therapist will use structured, experiential approaches to help you integrate new skills and insights into your daily life.
8. Achieving Your Goals: As therapy progresses, you will work towards creating the relationship you desire, with a strong foundation of trust, understanding, and love.
Research shows that couples therapy can significantly improve communication and relationship satisfaction. It helps you release resentments and negative emotions and reconnect with the love you initially shared.
Ready to Get Started with Neurodiverse Couples Therapy in the San Francisco Bay Area or Online?
Ready to strengthen your relationship and build a lasting connection? Fill out an application and request a free 30-minute consultation.
Our Care Coordinator will discuss your relationship goals and help determine how our team can best support you. If we’re a good fit, they’ll assist you in choosing your best-fit neurodiverse couples therapy provider and scheduling your first session.
We’re here to help you and your partner find your way back to one another again, stronger than ever.