# ADHD and neurodiversity > ADHD, autism, masking and burnout, and neurodiversity-affirming therapy with clinical psychologist Jess Chadakorn in Melbourne's north-east and by telehealth. Source: https://jess.ac/areas-of-support/adhd-neurodiversity/ Being autistic or having ADHD can shape how a person focuses, processes sound and light, manages energy and connects with others, and ordinary days can be more tiring than they look. Jess has a particular interest in working with neurodivergent children, teenagers and adults, and her approach is neurodiversity-affirming. ## What neurodiversity means Neurodiversity, a term usually credited to Australian sociologist Judy Singer, describes the natural variation in how human brains work. People whose brains work differently from what is considered typical may describe themselves as neurodivergent, and neurodivergence takes in ADHD, autism, dyslexia and more. ADHD involves differences in how attention and activity are regulated, which can make it hard to direct focus towards tasks that feel dull. Autism involves differences in social communication and sensory processing, and many autistic people value routine and have deep, focused interests. The two often overlap, and people with the same diagnosis can have very different strengths and difficulties. Jess uses whichever language you prefer, identity-first (autistic person) or person-first (person with autism). ## How it can feel day to day Much of what people notice relates to executive function, the mental skills involved in planning, starting tasks, tracking time and switching between activities. When these work differently, a phone call can be hard to begin, or an afternoon can disappear into one absorbing task (hyperfocus). None of this reflects a lack of effort or intelligence, although many people were told otherwise growing up. For some neurodivergent people, bright light, background noise or clothing textures feel far more intense, and a busy shopping centre or open-plan office can be exhausting. Others seek out movement or firm pressure because it helps them feel settled. Many neurodivergent people also mask, hiding or toning down their natural ways of being to fit in. When masking and other demands build up over months without enough rest or support, some people reach what autistic adults call autistic burnout, a prolonged exhaustion in which everyday skills slip for a time. People with ADHD sometimes describe something similar. ## What therapy can focus on Therapy starts by exploring your history, strengths and current difficulties, including any anxiety or depression that has built up after years of feeling out of step with others. This leads to a treatment plan agreed with you, based on a formulation of what makes day-to-day life harder. Early work often focuses on your patterns of attention and energy and on strategies that suit how you think, such as very small first steps or planned recovery time. Learning you have ADHD or are autistic as an adult can bring relief that the past makes sense, and grief for a younger self who struggled without an explanation. Therapy offers room to revisit those experiences and question harsh beliefs about yourself that grew out of being misunderstood. ## How Jess works Jess adapts sessions when something isn't working, for example by explaining an idea another way, drawing it on paper or using more concrete language, and reviews the treatment plan with you as you both learn what suits you. Sessions are available in person or by telehealth. Some people find it easier to talk from home, where they control the lighting and noise, and others prefer a separate place to go. ## Things people often notice - Finding it hard to start tasks, even ones you care about - Losing track of time, or becoming absorbed for hours - Feeling drained after a day of masking - Sensory overload in noisy or busy places - Emotions that arrive quickly and take time to settle - A long-held sense of being different from others ## Approaches Jess may draw on - **[Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)](https://jess.ac/approaches/cbt.md).** CBT works on practical skills such as planning and starting tasks, and on anxious or self-critical thinking. Australia's ADHD clinical guideline recommends cognitive behavioural approaches for teenagers and adults, and adapted CBT is often used for anxiety in autistic people. - **[Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)](https://jess.ac/approaches/act.md).** ACT focuses on making room for difficult feelings and directing energy towards what matters to you. A small trial of an adapted group version for autistic adults found improvements in stress and quality of life compared with usual care, and research is continuing. - **[DBT skills](https://jess.ac/approaches/dbt-skills.md).** DBT skills offer practical ways to tolerate strong emotions and return to the present moment, and DBT-based group programs have been studied with adults with ADHD. - **[Schema Therapy](https://jess.ac/approaches/schema-therapy.md).** People who grew up feeling different sometimes carry long-standing beliefs about themselves, such as that they are lazy or will never fit in. Schema therapy looks at where these beliefs began and how to respond to them with more understanding. ## For children and teenagers Some neurodivergent children hold it together at school and let the exhaustion out at home. Jess adapts sessions to how each young person communicates, using pictures, movement or a favourite interest, and parents and carers of younger children often learn alongside their child. ## Questions ### Do I need a diagnosis to start therapy? No. Some people come while still wondering whether they have ADHD or are autistic, others years after a diagnosis. Jess considers requests for a formal ADHD or autism assessment case by case, and you can raise this with her. Psychologists do not prescribe medication. ### Will therapy try to change who I am? Neurodiversity-affirming therapy regards ADHD and autistic ways of thinking as part of who you are, so the focus stays on what feels hard for you now, such as anxiety, burnout or making sense of a recent diagnosis. You and Jess decide those goals together. ### Can sessions be adjusted to fit my needs? Yes. Sessions can include movement breaks or a short written summary to take away. The Warrandyte clinic backs onto the Yarra River, and sessions there can be held outdoors, which some people find eases the pressure of eye contact. ## Further reading - [Neurodiversity and neurodivergence](https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/neurodiversity-and-neurodivergence) (healthdirect Australia) - [What is ADHD](https://www.adhdaustralia.org.au/what-is-adhd/) (ADHD Australia) - [What happens when you realise you are Autistic later in life?](https://www.amaze.org.au/2022/09/what-happens-when-you-realise-you-are-autistic-later-in-life/) (Amaze)