Online Therapy for Neurodivergent Women in Portland, Oregon
Finding Your Authentic Self Through Specialized Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy
If you're reading this from Portland, you're probably familiar with the exhaustion that comes from decades of masking. Maybe you've recently discovered you're autistic or AuDHD. Maybe your child's diagnosis opened your eyes to your own neurotype. Or perhaps perimenopause has made your executive dysfunction impossible to ignore anymore. Whatever brought you here, I get it—because I've been there too.
I'm Dr. Erica Aaten, and I provide specialized online therapy for neurodivergent women throughout Portland and Oregon. My practice focuses on helping late-diagnosed and self-identified autistic adults navigate the complex journey from "Oh, I have autism" to genuine self-integration and authentic living.
Understanding the Unique Mental Health Landscape for Neurodivergent Women in Portland
Portland has always prided itself on embracing diversity and neurodiversity. Yet even in our progressive city, autistic women and AFAB individuals face unique challenges. The intersection of being neurodivergent, often queer or trans, and navigating professional or parenting responsibilities creates a perfect storm of complexity that traditional therapy approaches often miss.
My practice addresses these specific intersections. I work exclusively online, which means you can access specialized care from the comfort of your own sensory-friendly environment—no fluorescent lights, no overwhelming waiting rooms, no commute through Portland traffic.
The Reality of Late Diagnosis and Self-Discovery
Most of my clients are women in their 30s to 50s who've spent lifetimes being praised for being "so responsible," "such a people-pleaser," or "incredibly detail-oriented." These supposed compliments came at an enormous cost—your energy, your authenticity, and often your mental health.
You might be a professional excelling in a demanding field while secretly burning out. Perhaps you're a parent trying to balance family needs with your own neurodivergent requirements. Many of my clients are both—high-achieving individuals who've pushed through decades of masking only to find themselves asking, "What now?"
My Therapeutic Approach: Evidence-Based and Neurodivergent-Affirming
I bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to my practice. As a neurodivergent mom who's navigated the challenges of high achievement while staying authentic, I understand the delicate balance you're trying to maintain. My doctorate in psychology and specialized training allow me to offer evidence-based treatments tailored specifically for neurodivergent brains.
Specialized Treatment Modalities I Offer
My therapeutic toolkit includes several evidence-based approaches that I've found particularly effective for neurodivergent clients:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) works exceptionally well for the anxiety and OCD patterns that often accompany autism. I adapt traditional ERP protocols to respect sensory sensitivities and processing differences.
Inference-based CBT (I-CBT) helps address the obsessive doubt and uncertainty that many autistic individuals experience. This approach recognizes that your brain's tendency to generate "what if" scenarios isn't a flaw—it's a different way of processing information that we can work with, not against.
Cognitive Processing Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy address the trauma that often accumulates from years of masking and not fitting into neurotypical expectations. Many neurodivergent women carry complex trauma from constantly adapting to a world that wasn't designed for their neurotype.
Who I Work With: Beyond Traditional Categories
My practice specializes in serving individuals who exist at multiple intersections of identity. The majority of my clients identify as:
Autistic or AuDHD women and AFAB individuals
Members of the LGBTQ+ community
Late-diagnosed or self-identified neurodivergent adults
Parents navigating their own neurodivergence while supporting their families
Professionals managing careers while unmasking
I particularly connect with two groups that have been seeking my services recently. First, mothers who've had children diagnosed as autistic and suddenly see their own experiences reflected back at them. Second, perimenopausal women discovering that hormonal changes have made their lifelong coping strategies ineffective, leading them to explore their neurodivergence for the first time.
The Journey from Masking to Authenticity
Unmasking isn't just about dropping the personas you've created—it's about discovering who you are underneath layers of adaptation. This process can feel overwhelming, especially when you've been rewarded for your masking abilities your entire life.
In our work together, we explore what authenticity means for you specifically. There's no template for being autistic "correctly." Some of my clients discover they need more structure; others realize they've been forcing themselves into routines that don't serve them. Some find that their special interests deserve more space in their lives; others learn to set boundaries around hyperfocus tendencies.
Integration, Not Elimination
I don't aim to "treat" your autism or ADHD—these are fundamental aspects of how your brain works. Instead, we focus on integration: understanding your neurotype, working with your brain's natural patterns, and addressing the anxiety, trauma, and OCD that often develop from living in a neurotypical world.
This might mean developing strategies for executive dysfunction that actually work for ADHD brains. It could involve processing the grief that comes with late diagnosis. Often, it includes learning to advocate for your needs without apologizing for them.
Portland-Specific Considerations for Neurodivergent Adults
Living in Portland offers unique advantages and challenges for neurodivergent individuals. Our city's culture of acceptance can be liberating, but it can also create pressure to have everything figured out. The tech industry, creative sectors, and academic institutions that employ many of my clients often attract neurodivergent individuals—but these environments can also be overwhelming without proper support.
The Pacific Northwest's sensory landscape—from our grey, quiet winters to our bustling summer festivals—affects neurodivergent nervous systems differently. We'll work together to understand how Portland's rhythms interact with your sensory profile and develop strategies that work with our local environment, not against it.
Beginning Your Therapeutic Journey
Starting therapy when you've already done significant self-discovery work requires a different approach. You're not looking for crisis management or basic coping skills—you need sophisticated support for complex challenges.
My intake process respects the work you've already done. I offer a free 15-minute consultation where we can discuss your specific needs and determine if we're a good fit. If we move forward, our initial session involves a comprehensive review of your history and a holistic biopsychosocial assessment. Together, we'll establish goals that honor both where you've been and where you want to go.
Following our intake, I work with clients to establish a consistent therapeutic rhythm. Most of my clients prefer recurring appointments that provide structure and predictability—something many neurodivergent brains crave. However, I understand that life happens, and we can adjust schedules as needed through email communication.
Additional Support Services
Beyond individual therapy, I offer specialized assessment services for adults seeking formal autism and ADHD evaluation. These comprehensive assessments are designed specifically for adults who may have been overlooked by traditional diagnostic criteria that center young, white, male presentations.
For mental health professionals seeking to better serve neurodivergent clients, I provide clinical supervision and business development consultations. These services help expand the network of truly neurodivergent-affirming providers throughout Portland and beyond.
Creating Space for Your Whole Self
Therapy with me isn't about fitting into predetermined boxes or meeting neurotypical standards of success. It's about creating space for your whole self—the parts that excel, the parts that struggle, and everything in between.
We might explore how your pattern recognition abilities contribute to anxiety. We'll likely discuss how your attention to detail serves you professionally while exhausting you personally. We'll definitely talk about the complex relationship between masking and identity, especially for those who've been high achievers their entire lives.
Taking the Next Step
If you're ready to work with someone who truly understands the neurodivergent experience—not just from textbooks but from lived experience—I invite you to reach out. Whether you're in Portland, elsewhere in Oregon, or across the border in Washington State, my online practice is designed to meet you where you are, literally and figuratively.
You've likely spent years adapting to others' expectations. This is your opportunity to work with a therapist who adapts to you. Together, we can navigate the journey from exhausted masking to energized authenticity, from confusion to integration, from "What's wrong with me?" to "This is who I am."
Contact me today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. Let's discuss how specialized, neurodivergent-affirming therapy can support your journey toward authentic living. Your neurotype isn't something to overcome—it's something to understand, integrate, and ultimately, embrace.