Peter Keenan Linden

LCSW

For members of the neurodivergent community, barriers to accessing psychotherapy and other forms of healing extend beyond the typical challenges faced by neurotypicals. Systemic marginalization prevents many members from feeling safe, loved, and accepted, all of which hamper their ability to meet their access and support needs. Access needs include creating sensory-friendly environments—such as dim lighting, soundproofing, stimming toys, and comfortable furniture—to ensure neurodivergent people feel safe and comfortable. Support needs go a step further by removing obstacles to completing day to day tasks, providing services like individual psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and specialized educational resources. Without these supports, neurodivergent people struggle to succeed and are more likely to be impoverished, medically fragile, and even, die. When access and support needs are met—ideally from an early age—neurodivergent people develop the scaffolding to thrive, heal, and fully live in the world, including achieving financial independence. Addressing these barriers is not a tokenistic exercise in being "inclusive". It is necessary to create a world based on love, non-violent communication, peace, and kindness.

A first session is a 1.5 to 2-hour intake designed to explore your reason for seeking therapy, personal history, and other challenges. Here, I will not only ask questions to better understand your reason for seeking therapy. I will also slow down and notice whatever feelings, sensations, needs, and shifts emerge to honor your experience as a human being. This is designed to be therapeutic and facilitate the development of our relationship.

The relationship itself is the key to a psychotherapeutic relationship. Here, I am not an expert, enforcer, or agent of the violent system. Rather, I am part of a co-created relationship based on authentic relating, kindness, love, the wonder of curiosity, fallibility, and honoring our shared humanity. In the words of Fritz Perls, one of the founders of gestalt therapy, "I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations. And you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you, and I am I, and if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful. If not, it can't be helped".