Now Serving Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area
Now Serving Orange County and the San Francisco Bay Area
I currently have a limited number of openings available for new clients. Because availability is limited, openings may fill quickly.
If you'd like to explore working together, please complete the contact form to inquire about current availability. Additional therapist referrals and self-help resources are available on the Resources page.
AUTISTIC or AuDHD FOCUSED
NEURODIVERGENT AFFIRMING THERAPY
I provide therapy for Autistic and AuDHD adults navigating burnout, masking, self-care, identity, and authentic living. If you are an Autistic or AuDHD adult or someone who has been looking for autism-focused and neurodivergent affirming therapy, I will help you feel safe, supported, and heard with compassion. Plus, as an Autistic therapist myself, I truly get it!
My Services Focus on Your Needs
Whether you are just starting to explore the possibility of being Autistic, you have received a late autism diagnosis as an adult, or you have a long-term understanding of your neurodivergent self, I am glad that you are reaching out to me.
Who I Work Best With: Right now you may be experiencing anxiety, depression, masking and Autistic burnout, emotional distress caused by meltdowns and shutdowns, low self-esteem, and difficulties with work or school performance. You may be gifted academically or talented in your area of work, and yet still struggling to manage daily life. You may have chronic illnesses that just add to your overall cognitive and emotional load. You just want to feel regulated and able to cope!
Therapy with me may be right for you if:
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People praised your competence but missed your exhaustion,
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You don't know who you are without masking,
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You're successful but constantly overwhelmed,
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You can analyze everything except yourself,
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Your coping strategies of perfectionism or people pleasing led to Autistic burnout/AuDHD burnout.
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You have a spiky profile (exceptional or even gifted (twice exceptional/2E) in some areas of your life) but feel challenged by many other areas,
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You've spent decades believing you were the problem or feeling shame, or
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You're Autistic or AuDHD and LGBTQIA+ or a person of the global majority (PGM/BIPOC) or disabled or chronically ill and you want a therapist who understands systemic barriers and inequities.
Why I focus on neurodivergent affirming therapy: I don't believe your nervous system is broken. I don't measure success by how well you imitate neurotypical or neuronormative people. Therapy is about helping you build a life that fits your brain, not teaching your brain to fit someone else's life.
I will work with you to address your concerns in a holistic manner. I understand that each person is unique. Thus, I provide a personalized therapy experience that is customized to your specific needs. Together we can develop a better understanding of your lived Autistic or AuDHD experience, inspire self-care options and sensory strategies that really work for you, and create opportunities for you to achieve your goals.
Let's use The Reweave Framework™ to understand yourself, build safety, and design a life where you, and those around you, can truly flourish.
Recognize: Understand your neurotype, nervous system, and story.
Regulate: Build safety instead of just surviving.
Reclaim: Create a life rooted in your authentic identity and strengths.
Reweave: Design relationships, communities, and systems where everyone can flourish.
I Welcome Your Full Authentic Self
I am also LGBTQIA+, non-binary, and transgender affirming; disability informed; and aware of intersecting forms of discrimination. I strive to create a safe and inclusive space for all of my clients, and I understand the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities for people of the global majority (PGM/BIPOC) I embrace liberation psychology!
Contact Me and Begin Your Journey Toward Happiness
If you are looking for an Autistic therapist who understands and affirms neurodiversity, I would be honored to be a part of your journey towards healing and self-discovery.
Simply scroll down or use the menu buttons for more information. Then, visit my Contact Page to schedule a free consultation.
Benefits of teletherapy include convenience, comfort, and flexibility for your busy life.
Neurodivergent Affirming Care is Crucial
As an autistic therapist myself, I get it. For far too long you have been looking for a neurodivergent affirming therapist who will understand you at your core. You may be experiencing anxiety, depression, autistic meltdowns, or burnout from masking. You may feel completely overwhelmed.
Therapy with me is a safe space to reduce those difficult feelings and increase your happiness. You may also be exploring what it means to be authentically autistic. If so, you've come to the right place. Autism and neurodivergent affirming therapy is my passion. Let's find what autistic traits bring joy to your life.
This world wasn't designed for neurodivergent people like us. We are often invalidated for our emotional states and responses, sensory needs, and communication differences. I will meet you where you are and create that validating space where you can thrive.
For the autistic community, terms like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Asperger’s Syndrome can be problematic. I do not operate from a deficit based medical model, nor do I expect a formal diagnosis. There are many reasons that people do not seek out a formal diagnosis and I honor that. I will listen to your valid experiences with respect.
I will emphasize your strengths, prioritize your needs, and focus on your challenges to help create a world that works for you. Contact me when you are ready for your free consultation.
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I strive to help you realize growth by working together to inspire positive mental health, achievable goals, and healthy relationships.
I graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Chicago. During my subsequent career in California, I saw how the failure to address mental health concerns created greater adversities for individuals and families.
I chose to follow my passion of helping others by attending a graduate program in Clinical Psychology. I received my Master of Science in Psychology at California State University Fullerton (CSUF). My training also included a practicum at S.T. Counseling of Orange County. In private practice, I have continued that education by specializing in neurodiversity affirming therapy focused on autism, late diagnosed autistic adults, anxiety, and emotional distress.
On a personal level, I am an autistic therapist with a great appreciation for geek culture, superhero movies, science fiction, and virtual reality gaming. I also encourage you to explore your focused interests and share them with me as much as you desire. Unmask and be your authentic self!
What will therapy with me actually be like?
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Sensory accommodations and full permission to stim
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Silence is okay and movement to regulate is encouraged
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No forced eye contact
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Direct communication welcomed
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Collaborative agenda
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I see differences not defects (less pathologizing)
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Strengths-based exploration
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Info-dumping encouraged (What do you love? I also love to talk about how neurodivergent affirming research applies to and can benefit your life.)
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Neurodivergent Affirming Liberation Psychology recognizes that healing involves understanding not only yourself, but also the relationships, environments, and systems that have shaped your experience.
I believe that together we can create a new way to live that honors your authentic self by being both mindful of the present and hopeful for the future. I welcome you to contact me when you are ready to start that journey.
CONTACT
Fill out the therapy services contact
form to schedule your free consultation call
Phone/Text
Northern California: (415) 358-6700
Southern California: (714) 696-8840
contact@rileymorgantherapy.com
Address
2211 Post Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, CA 94115
