Neurodivergence-Focused Peer Support
What is peer support? Peer support is a modality of care, primarily defined by people using their own lived experience to offer support and build mutually beneficial relationships with others who have similar lived experience. There are different types of peer support, but they generally aim to bring together people with shared experiences to provide a space where you feel accepted and understood. Here is more about what peer specialists do.
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This kind of care offers support to those who are exploring self-inquiry, personal development practices, working to understanding their disabilities and accommodation needs, dismantling internalized ableism, and other relevant topics. (Scroll down to find several links of interest, videos, and other resources for self-education).
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. The intention of this work is to help others better understand the neurodivergent experience so they can offer better care and support for patients, clients, family members, etc. The majority of my 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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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 navigating sensory challenges, restorative practices, supporting executive function, and just generally moving through 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, along with having strong alignment with the PDA profile. I was later formally diagnosed with ADHD (combined type) as well. With this new information, 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 was always accused of being "too sensitive."
I knew I was wired differently, that I did not enjoy things many people enjoyed, and that I had to put incredible effort into so many things that seemed to come easily for others such as social interaction. Conversely, I easily excelled in academics and with some things that many others seemed to struggle with. Through this process of self-discovery as an adult, I also found out that I have a genetic hypermobility spectrum disorder that impacts my connective tissue and that the strange, intermittent, allergy-like symptoms I had struggled with for years was the result of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome - both of which are more common among neurodivergent individuals. That finally explained the decades of chronic pain that nobody could seem to figure out and the inconsistent allergic reactions I have experienced for years - all of which included decades of medical gaslighting.
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 hardship, my heart has stayed soft and open with a desire to help alleviate the suffering of others. I completed incredibly challenging college degrees, including a masters degree, Summa Cum Laude, and took national board exams with no accommodations. Accomplishments like that are things I am proud of, but also incredibly sorrowful about. The costs were so high and impacted my well-being so negatively. There is deep grief in knowing that I would not have had to suffer and sacrifice so much if I had only known and had accommodations. But, I am resilient if nothing else. It is in my nature to get back up, create a new way, and keep going in whatever way I can after cycles of extreme autistic burnout (more here and here).
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 patterns that others don't see and someone whose sensitivities, while challenging, are a true gift. I live with an immense sense of self-trust and 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. I continue to learn to honor my disabilities and dismantle the internalized ableism that I have absorbed from the culture. While I am not a fan of the pathologizing language used by the industrialized medical system, the beauty that has come from these "diagnoses" has been that I have been able to find my people - to connect with others through shared language and experience. It has led to a new sense of belonging and understanding about the unique gifts I bring to the world.
I am always honored to share lived experiences and to offer support, encouragement, and witnessing to others who are navigating similar circumstances. I offer support for those who are seeking a non-clinical listening ear - those who are longing to be seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are.
I have provided peer support professionally since 2017. In addition to challenges around neurodivergence, I also have lived experience in the following areas and offer peer support for general mental health, PTSD, suicidality, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking, challenges around experiencing unique sensory perceptions, hyper-empathy, complex trauma, and other related concerns. By the way, if you didn't know, neurodivergent women are statistically far more likely to be abused.
Like many other women who go decades without a diagnosis, validation, or support, life has presented many challenges. The intention of this aspect of my work is to provide support and resources for others who experience 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 (and is actually often predatory) for those of us who are wired differently.
I knew I was wired differently, that I did not enjoy things many people enjoyed, and that I had to put incredible effort into so many things that seemed to come easily for others such as social interaction. Conversely, I easily excelled in academics and with some things that many others seemed to struggle with. Through this process of self-discovery as an adult, I also found out that I have a genetic hypermobility spectrum disorder that impacts my connective tissue and that the strange, intermittent, allergy-like symptoms I had struggled with for years was the result of Mast Cell Activation Syndrome - both of which are more common among neurodivergent individuals. That finally explained the decades of chronic pain that nobody could seem to figure out and the inconsistent allergic reactions I have experienced for years - all of which included decades of medical gaslighting.
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 hardship, my heart has stayed soft and open with a desire to help alleviate the suffering of others. I completed incredibly challenging college degrees, including a masters degree, Summa Cum Laude, and took national board exams with no accommodations. Accomplishments like that are things I am proud of, but also incredibly sorrowful about. The costs were so high and impacted my well-being so negatively. There is deep grief in knowing that I would not have had to suffer and sacrifice so much if I had only known and had accommodations. But, I am resilient if nothing else. It is in my nature to get back up, create a new way, and keep going in whatever way I can after cycles of extreme autistic burnout (more here and here).
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 patterns that others don't see and someone whose sensitivities, while challenging, are a true gift. I live with an immense sense of self-trust and 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. I continue to learn to honor my disabilities and dismantle the internalized ableism that I have absorbed from the culture. While I am not a fan of the pathologizing language used by the industrialized medical system, the beauty that has come from these "diagnoses" has been that I have been able to find my people - to connect with others through shared language and experience. It has led to a new sense of belonging and understanding about the unique gifts I bring to the world.
I am always honored to share lived experiences and to offer support, encouragement, and witnessing to others who are navigating similar circumstances. I offer support for those who are seeking a non-clinical listening ear - those who are longing to be seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are.
I have provided peer support professionally since 2017. In addition to challenges around neurodivergence, I also have lived experience in the following areas and offer peer support for general mental health, PTSD, suicidality, survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and sex trafficking, challenges around experiencing unique sensory perceptions, hyper-empathy, complex trauma, and other related concerns. By the way, if you didn't know, neurodivergent women are statistically far more likely to be abused.
Like many other women who go decades without a diagnosis, validation, or support, life has presented many challenges. The intention of this aspect of my work is to provide support and resources for others who experience 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 (and is actually often predatory) for those of us who are wired differently.
Here are the slides from a past talk on embracing neurodiversity, understanding communication differences, and how sensory processing challenges can lead to a trauma response in the nervous system.
Here are the slides from a mini-course, introducing Polyvagal Theory to those in the caring professions.
More Resources of Interest
- Megan Farley (offers diagnostic neuropsychological evaluations in Madison, WI)
- Trauma Geek - Janae Elisabeth
- The Emerald Podcast, For the Intuitives, Part 1, Part 2
- PDA Society
- Kristy Forbes (an especially good resource for kids and families)
- Autism from the Inside
- Brains and Spoons
- Dr. Robert Melillo
- Neurodivergent Rebel
- Prajna Yoga & Pilates (offers a free 7 day trial of on demand classes)
- Neuroclastic
- The Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI®) Method
- Dr. Aimie Apigian & The Biology of Trauma podcast
- Spectrum News
- The Autistic OT
- Hello Michelle Swan
- Sally Kat PDA
- Jenn has ADHD
- Heal with Tracy
Artema Somatics LLC
815 Main Street East
Menomonie, WI 54751
815 Main Street East
Menomonie, WI 54751