Neurodivergence Support & Education
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I provide support for neurodivergent individuals who are working on post-trauma growth through somatic education, guided embodiment practices, and peer support.
I also provide professional education in Neurodivergence Affirming Care for healthcare providers, teachers, counselors, support workers, families and communities, and any other group who wants to learn more about topics related to embracing neurodiversity in order to better understand the neurodivergent experience and be able to offer better care and support for patients, clients, family members, etc. The majority of my private practice clients are adult women who have had a late in life diagnosis of autism and/or ADHD, many of whom have experienced significant trauma. I also work with:
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Topics explored may include gaining understanding about:
This work may help with:
- Recognizing nervous system states
- Language around neurodivergence and disabilities
- Sensory processing disorders and related challenges
- Executive function challenges and supports
This work may help with:
- Educating families, schools, workplaces, etc about support needs and sensory accommodations
- Building self-awareness and coping skills to support the nervous system
- Learning about environmental and personal supports for self-care and stress reduction
- Building somatic skills for identifying interoceptive cues (practicing self-awareness around what emotions, tension, and other sensations feel like in the body)
- Building body-mind connection to support proprioceptive skills, self-inquiry, and self development
- Reducing daily challenges related to feelings of anxiety, sensory processing challenges, and PTSD
- Supporting sensory diets
Honoring Lived Experience
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My approach honors you as the expert of your own life and values your wisdom and experiences. While working together, we might touch on topics such as personal goals, working with sensory challenges, maintaining boundaries, restorative practices, energetics and how we process experiences, and just generally navigating the world as a person with highly sensitive neuroception.
Sessions may include:
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Please note that sessions are not a substitute for care provided by a licensed professional. Sessions are available by appointment only. On-call support and crisis support is not available.
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My Story
I was formally diagnosed as autistic when I was 39 years old. I was later formally diagnosed with ADHD (combined type) as well. All of a sudden, my entire life started to make sense. Since childhood, I have struggled with severe sensory processing challenges, countless environmental sensitivities, migraines and chronic pain, extremely draining "social hangovers," the need for a lot of alone time, difficulties in social situations, extreme chemical sensitivities, and always feeling like I was out of place. I always knew I was "wired" differently than most people, that I did not enjoy things most people enjoyed, and that I had to put incredible effort into so many things that seemed to come easily for others. Through this process, I was also led to discover that I have a genetic connective tissue disorder and a mast cell disorder, which are more common among neurodivergent individuals. That finally explained the decades of chronic pain that nobody could seem to figure out (which included a lot of medical gaslighting) and the random, inconsistent, allergy-like reactions I have experienced for years.
Upon learning all of this, I was flooded with aha moments and self-compassion. I grieved my lost childhood and was sad and angry about experiencing almost 4 decades of missed opportunities, the lack of support, the fact that nobody seemed to notice how much I was struggling enough to take action, and the hardships I experienced. Through this process, I was also able to see myself as someone who has persevered through unimaginable difficulties, severe abuse, extensive developmental trauma, having no disability accommodations, and many other challenges.
I realized that even with all that extreme trauma and hardship, my heart has stayed soft and open with a desire to help alleviate the suffering of others. I completed an incredibly challenging college degrees, including a masters degree, Summa Cum Laude, and took national board exams with no accommodations. Even with all that, I always get back up after cycles of extreme autistic burnout (more here) and keep myself going, even when I had no idea what autistic burnout was.
Talk about a new appreciation for myself! The underlying sense of misalignment with the world that I had carried deep inside for decades began to dissipate with this new knowledge and perspective. I started seeing myself as the whole, beautifully sensitive, incredibly valuable, neurodivergent individual I am - someone who sees what others don't see, someone who has an immense sense of resourcefulness after so much lived experience with constantly needing to creatively overcome obstacles. Through this deeper level of self-knowledge, I have been able to hone in on my self-care needs and to start advocating for myself much more effectively. Most of all, I found my people!
I am always honored to share lived experiences and to offer support and encouragement to others who have come through similar, difficult circumstances. I offer support and education for those who are seeking a non-clinical listening ear - those who are craving being seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are, those who need help with more fully understanding their own support needs, and those who want support with advocacy around educating schools, workplaces, etc.
I have provided peer support professionally since 2017. In addition to challenges around neurodivergence, I am also experienced providing support for general mental health, PTSD, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking, challenges around hearing voices or experiencing unusual perceptions, and other related concerns.
Like many other women who go decades without a diagnosis, validation, or support, life has presented many challenges. The intention of my work is to provide support and education for others who experince similar challenges and to give people a glimpse into the world of highly sensitive neuroception - the immense depth and beauty as well as the difficulties related to social disabilities and living in a world that is often less than welcoming for those of us who are wired differently.
Upon learning all of this, I was flooded with aha moments and self-compassion. I grieved my lost childhood and was sad and angry about experiencing almost 4 decades of missed opportunities, the lack of support, the fact that nobody seemed to notice how much I was struggling enough to take action, and the hardships I experienced. Through this process, I was also able to see myself as someone who has persevered through unimaginable difficulties, severe abuse, extensive developmental trauma, having no disability accommodations, and many other challenges.
I realized that even with all that extreme trauma and hardship, my heart has stayed soft and open with a desire to help alleviate the suffering of others. I completed an incredibly challenging college degrees, including a masters degree, Summa Cum Laude, and took national board exams with no accommodations. Even with all that, I always get back up after cycles of extreme autistic burnout (more here) and keep myself going, even when I had no idea what autistic burnout was.
Talk about a new appreciation for myself! The underlying sense of misalignment with the world that I had carried deep inside for decades began to dissipate with this new knowledge and perspective. I started seeing myself as the whole, beautifully sensitive, incredibly valuable, neurodivergent individual I am - someone who sees what others don't see, someone who has an immense sense of resourcefulness after so much lived experience with constantly needing to creatively overcome obstacles. Through this deeper level of self-knowledge, I have been able to hone in on my self-care needs and to start advocating for myself much more effectively. Most of all, I found my people!
I am always honored to share lived experiences and to offer support and encouragement to others who have come through similar, difficult circumstances. I offer support and education for those who are seeking a non-clinical listening ear - those who are craving being seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are, those who need help with more fully understanding their own support needs, and those who want support with advocacy around educating schools, workplaces, etc.
I have provided peer support professionally since 2017. In addition to challenges around neurodivergence, I am also experienced providing support for general mental health, PTSD, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking, challenges around hearing voices or experiencing unusual perceptions, and other related concerns.
Like many other women who go decades without a diagnosis, validation, or support, life has presented many challenges. The intention of my work is to provide support and education for others who experince similar challenges and to give people a glimpse into the world of highly sensitive neuroception - the immense depth and beauty as well as the difficulties related to social disabilities and living in a world that is often less than welcoming for those of us who are wired differently.
Artema Somatics LLC
800 Wilson Avenue, Suite 51
Menomonie, WI 54751
800 Wilson Avenue, Suite 51
Menomonie, WI 54751
