SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
Therapy | Assessments | Coaching
Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy in Tennessee
If you are autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, or otherwise neurodivergent, it can be exhausting to feel like you have to hide how your brain works all the time. ScienceWorks Behavioral Health offers neurodivergent-affirming therapy in Tennessee to help you unmask safely, reduce burnout, and build a life that fits your brain.
You might be a good fit for neurodivergent therapy if:
You spend so much energy masking that you crash for days afterward.
Your anxiety or depression feels tangled up with ADHD or autistic traits, not separate from them.
You live with chronic burnout, overwhelm, or shutdowns from trying to keep up with neurotypical expectations.
You want support with unmasking, identity, and life planning that respects your sensory needs and capacity.
Top Statistics Related to Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy in Tennessee
Stat 1: VUMC reports that national autism prevalence in the CDC network was 1 in 31 (3.2%) based on 2022 data (2022). Source: VUMC: CDC Autism Data (2025)
Stat 2: A systematic review pooled 15 community studies and found anxiety symptoms in autistic youth were 33% by self-report (2024). Source: Thiele-Swift 2024 (Springer)
Stat 3: CDC reports that 18.2% of U.S. adults had symptoms of anxiety in 2022 (2022). Source: CDC NCHS Report (2024 PDF)
Stat 4: In 2022, 30.1% of children with current ADHD did not receive any ADHD-specific treatment (medication or behavioral treatment) (2022). Source: Danielson 2024 (PubMed)
Stat 5: A population study of autistic adults found depression prevalence of 25.90% and anxiety prevalence of 22.40% (2022). Source: Underwood 2022 (PMC)
Stat 6: NAMI reports 1,370,000 adults in Tennessee experience a mental illness each year (2025). Source: NAMI Tennessee Data Sheet (2025 PDF)
When Neurodivergent Therapy Can Help
Many neurodivergent adults in Tennessee seek therapy only after years of being told to try harder, be more organized, or act more normal. By the time you find neurodivergent-affirming care, you may be carrying layers of shame, confusion, and exhaustion. Our work together focuses on understanding your nervous system, not blaming it.
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy may be helpful if you are experiencing:
Long-term masking at work, school, or in relationships that leaves you depleted or numb.
Burnout, shutdowns, or meltdowns from ongoing sensory overload or constant demands.
Executive function overwhelm with tasks like email, paperwork, cleaning, or starting projects.
Intense rejection sensitivity or people-pleasing that makes it hard to set boundaries or say no.
Feeling like you are too much, not enough, or never quite the right amount anywhere you go.
Questions about your identity after a new ADHD or autism diagnosis, or long-term self-suspected neurodivergence.
You are not broken or lazy; your nervous system has been working overtime to keep you functioning in a world that was not built for you.
How neurodivergent therapy works at ScienceWorks
At ScienceWorks Behavioral Health, neurodivergent-affirming therapy brings together CBT, trauma-informed therapy, parts-informed work, and practical skills coaching. We adapt these approaches for autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and otherwise neurodivergent adults so that tools match your brain, sensory profile, and real life demands. You can read more about our specialized services at scienceworkshealth.com/specialized-therapy.
What Sessions Look Like
Step 1: Collaborative mapping
We start by learning about your history, sensory needs, masking patterns, strengths, and current stressors. Together we name what is happening in your nervous system so therapy feels grounding, not pathologizing.
Step 2: Build a capacity-aware plan
Using CBT, trauma-informed therapy, and parts-informed work, we co-create a plan that honors your energy, body, and access needs. We focus on small, realistic shifts instead of drastic life overhauls.
Step 3: Practice skills in real life
In ongoing sessions, we experiment with sensory-friendly coping skills, executive function supports, scripts, and boundary-setting that match your context. Skills coaching is practical and flexible, not one-size-fits-all.
Step 4: Adjust and integrate
We regularly check in about what is helping, what is not, and what your nervous system is telling us. Together we refine the plan so it stays sustainable, especially during seasons of burnout or big change.
Our style is collaborative and curious. We move at the pace of your nervous system, not a rigid protocol, and we never shame you for needing accommodations, stims, or rest. You are always in charge of your goals, your boundaries, and how much demand you can handle in any given session.
Who We Help in Tennessee and Across Tennessee
We provide secure online neurodivergent therapy to adults who are physically located anywhere in Tennessee. Many of our clients identify as autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, or otherwise neurodivergent, and are looking for care that understands their lived experience instead of trying to erase it.
People we often work with include:
Autistic adults exploring unmasking, sensory needs, and identity.
Adults with ADHD or AuDHD navigating executive function, time blindness, and demand-sensitive motivation.
Late-identified neurodivergent adults processing past invalidation or misdiagnosis.
Professionals and students juggling high expectations with chronic burnout or shutdown.
LGBTQIA+ and multiply neurodivergent folks seeking affirming, intersectional care.
Caregivers, partners, and parents who are also neurodivergent and want support for their own nervous systems.
Sessions are offered via secure telehealth by clinicians licensed in Tennessee, so we can meet with you anywhere in the state as long as you are physically in Tennessee during sessions. ScienceWorks Behavioral Health is not a crisis service; if you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Why Choose ScienceWorks for neurodivergent therapy?
Neurodivergent-Affirming Care
We do not view autism, ADHD, or AuDHD as something to cure. Our work centers on honoring your neurotype, reducing shame, and making sense of how you got here so you can move toward a life that fits your brain instead of constantly fighting it.
Evidence-Based And Practical
Our clinicians draw from CBT, trauma-informed therapy, parts-informed work, and skills coaching, grounded in current research on neurodivergence. We translate these approaches into concrete, doable strategies for things like emotion regulation, executive function, and navigating relationships.
Collaborative, Non-Blaming Style
You are the expert on your own experience. We bring clinical expertise, you bring lived expertise, and we make decisions together. There is no gold star for suffering through more than you can handle; we adjust goals and expectations to match your capacity, not some imaginary neurotypical standard.
Sensory- And Capacity-Aware Planning
Therapy tasks and life changes are always planned with your sensory profile, energy, and support systems in mind. We pay attention to masking load, sensory overload, and recovery time so that change is sustainable instead of another path to burnout.
Getting Started with neurodivergent therapy in Tennessee
Starting something new can feel like a lot, especially if you are already overwhelmed. We keep the process simple and transparent so you know what to expect at each step.
Reach Out
Use our secure contact form at scienceworkshealth.com/contact and mention that you are interested in neurodivergent-affirming therapy in Tennessee. You can share as much or as little detail as feels safe.We Match You
Our team reviews your information and recommends a clinician whose training and schedule align with your needs, including experience with autism, ADHD, AuDHD, trauma, or burnout if that applies.Begin Sessions
In your first sessions, we focus on getting to know you, clarifying your goals, and creating a sensory- and capacity-aware plan together. We will talk through pace, communication preferences, and what helps you feel safe in therapy spaces.
If you live anywhere in Tennessee, including cities like Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, or Chattanooga, and are looking for neurodivergent-affirming therapy, we would be honored to support you. When you are ready, you can schedule a consultation through our contact page at scienceworkshealth.com/contact.
FAQs About neurodivergent therapy in Tennessee
Q: Do you offer neurodivergent therapy entirely online?
A: Yes. All sessions for this service are provided via secure telehealth to adults who are physically located in Tennessee at the time of each session.
Q: Do I need a formal ADHD or autism diagnosis to work with you?
A: No. Many of our clients are self-identified or exploring possible neurodivergence. As long as your needs fit what we offer and you are located in Tennessee, we can collaborate on goals that make sense for you. If you are interested in formal testing, you can learn more about assessments at scienceworkshealth.com/psychological-assessments.
Q: Can you help if I also have trauma, OCD, or other conditions?
A: Yes. Many neurodivergent adults also live with trauma histories, OCD, anxiety, or depression. Our team includes clinicians with training in these areas, and we consider how all parts of your experience interact. You can read more about our focused services at scienceworkshealth.com/ocd and scienceworkshealth.com/trauma.
Q: How long do people usually stay in neurodivergent therapy, and what about fees?
A: Length of therapy varies by person and goals; some people work with us for a few months around a specific transition, while others prefer longer-term support. We will talk openly about options, frequency, and cost before you commit. Insurance coverage and out-of-network benefits differ by plan, and we can provide documentation such as receipts or superbills when appropriate so you can explore reimbursement with your insurer.
About ScienceWorks Behavioral Health
ScienceWorks Behavioral Health is a neurodivergent-affirming practice based in Tennessee, offering therapy, psychological assessments, skills coaching, and groups for people whose brains and life stories do not fit into neat boxes. We frequently work with ADHD, autism, AuDHD, anxiety, depression, masking and unmasking, burnout, and rejection sensitivity. You can explore more about our team, including Dr. Kiesa Kelly and other clinicians, at scienceworkshealth.com/meet-us-1 and scienceworkshealth.com.
