Our Brains Work Differently!

(Hooray for us!)

Neurodiversity-affirming therapy for ADHD, AuDHD, ASD, and other neurotypes. We help you understand your unique wiring, manage executive functions, and thrive on your own terms.

Thrive in Your Unique Way

There’s Nothing to Be “Fixed.” Just a YOU to Be Understood.

For decades, neurodivergent folks have been told they are "lazy," "disorganized," or "too much." They've been prescribed willpower to overcome executive dysfunction and told to suppress their natural energy. But the problem isn't your brain; it's a world built for a different kind of mind.

At Jupiter Pines Counseling, we embrace Neurodiversity-Affirming Care. This means we don't try to make you "act neurotypical." Instead, we explore how your unique neurotype (ADHD, AuDHD, Autism Spectrum, Dyslexia, etc.) shapes your experience of the world. We work to:

  • Stop the shame cycle of "why can't I just do this?"

  • Build systems that work with your brain, not against it.

  • Navigate sensory needs and emotional regulation in a way that honors your biology.

We Support The Full Spectrum of Neurodivergence

  • Struggles with focus, time blindness, hyperfocus cycles, and impulsivity.

  • A unique intersection of ADHD and Autism, often involving intense sensory needs alongside executive dysfunction.

  • Navigating social nuances, sensory processing differences, and the exhaustion of "masking."

  • Difficulty starting tasks, organizing time, managing emotions, or switching between activities.

  • Overwhelm from lights, sounds, textures, or a need for deep pressure and movement.

  • The exhaustion of hiding your natural behaviors to fit in socially or professionally.

Three Offerings to Support Your Neurotype

We provide three distinct service offerings to honor your neurodiversity as a strength-based asset; each approach to the work is different.

Clinical Counseling*

The Path to Healing

Inward / Present-Focused / Past-examining

Clinical counseling looks internally to heal the wounds of living in a world not built for you. It is a secure space to process deep emotions, navigate mental health challenges, and understand your personal history. This work often includes clinical assessment and/or diagnosis.

Ideal for: those needing to heal trauma, reduce anxiety, or gain clarity on their mental health needs.

*Available to residents of WA State only.

Coaching

The Path to Growth

Outward / Future-Focused / Strategy-driven

Coaching looks outward to build strategies that leverage your unique wiring. It is educational and developmental, focused on actionable results in career, leadership, relationships, executive function, or resilience.

Ideal for: Those ready to build systems, achieve goals, and turn neurodivergence traits into personal and professional superpowers.

Groups & Workshops

The Path to Connection

Shared / Community-Focused / Skill-based

Groups and workshops bring the power of shared experience to the table. These are structured, time-limited sessions where we learn together, build relational and practical skills in real time, and overcome isolation through connection with others who “get it.”

Ideal for: Those seeking connection, affordable skill-building (e.g., sensory tools, career prep), or a supportive environment without the 1:1 unilateral intensity.

Clinical Counseling vs. Coaching

Selecting the Best Support For Your Unique Season of Life

  • The struggle of “knowing what to do” vs. “doing it.”

    Clinical Counseling

    Focus: The “Why” & Emotional Regulation
    We investigate the emotional roots of executive dysfunction. Why does starting a task feel impossible? Is it fear, shame, or past trauma?

    • The Work: Processing the grief of "unfulfilled potential," working through paralyzing anxiety around deadlines, and re-framing self-criticism into self-compassion.

    • The Outcome: A calm, regulated nervous system where executive function can actually operate without being hijacked by shame.

    Coaching

    Focus: The "How" & Strategic Systems
    We build external scaffolding and systems to bypass internal friction. What are the specific cues, timers, and body-doubling tactics that work for your brain?

    • The Work: Designing custom workflows, breaking large projects into micro-steps that align with your dopamine rhythm, and creating accountability structures that respect your neurology.

    • The Outcome: Reliable systems that turn "chaos" into a predictable routine, allowing you to execute on life and career goals.

  • The struggle of connection, masking, being (un)seen, and misunderstanding

    Clinical Counseling

    Focus: Healing the Connection
    We heal attachment wounds and understand how your neuro-traits (e.g., directness, need for solitude, various hobbies) were misinterpreted in childhood or past relationships or at work.

    • The Work: Unpacking the trauma of being told you are "too much" or "not enough." Processing the exhaustion of constant masking (camouflaging) and working toward authentic connection.

    • The Outcome: Deep, authentic intimacy where you feel safe enough to be your true self without fear of rejection.

    Coaching

    Focus: Optimizing the Interactions
    We leverage your social style as a leadership asset. How do you communicate clearly without burning out on "masking," and how do you set boundaries that protect your energy?

    • The Work: Role-playing difficult conversations, strategizing how to disclose neurodivergence in professional settings effectively, and identifying relationship patterns that drain your battery.

    • The Outcome: Enhanced social confidence, clearer communication boundaries, and the ability to navigate team dynamics with strategic ease.

  • The struggle of potential vs. performance

    Clinical Counseling

    Focus: Removing the Barriers
    We can address imposter syndrome rooted in trauma, process workplace burnout, and navigate the emotional toll of “neurotypical” office cultures.

    • The Work: Deconstructing the belief that you mus work twice as hard to be half as good. Healing from failures that were actually misunderstandings of your neurotype.

    • The Outcome: A restored sense of professional identity and the emotional resilience to stay in a role that fits you.

    Coaching

    Focus: Accelerating the Trajectory
    We can identify high-leverage areas in your life or career that match your cognitive profile (e.g., pattern recognition, hyper-focus). We can strategize accommodations, routine adjustments, or career pivots to negotiate your ideal performance environment.

    • The Work: Strategic career mapping, skill-gap analysis, and designing a “neuro-affirming” career path where your hyper-focus becomes a superpower rather than a liability.

    • The Outcome: A clear, actionable roadmap for relationship check-ins, or a roadmap to your promotion, a successful career pivot, or creating a business model tailored to your unique strengths.

  • The struggle of survival mode vs. thriving

    Clinical Counseling

    Focus: Restoring safety and regaining functionality
    We treat the cumulative trauma of living in a neurotypical world (e.g., rejection sensitivity, sensory overload) as triggers. We process complex PTSD.

    • The Work: Somatic processing of sensory flashbacks, working through emotional dysregulation, and integrating fragmented parts of the self.

    • The Outcome: Stability, security, and a building your resilience to and recovery from exposure to daily triggers.

    Coaching

    Focus: Expanding possibility
    While not deep trauma work, we can build your resilience skills after healing has begun. We focus on “future self” visualization and overcoming fear of failure.

    • The Work: Using neuroplasticity principles to rewire habit loops, setting bold goals that push comfort zones, and maintain sustainable momentum during high-stress periods.

    • The Outcome: High performance, innovation, and the ability to lead and be creative during change without burning out.

Strategies That Fit Your Brain, Not the Other Way Around.

Traditional therapy often relies on rigid structures that can feel impossible for neurodivergent brains. We adapt our methods to meet you where you are, using a flexible blend of modalities:

❋ ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy)

Helps us separate you from your symptoms. Instead of fighting "distraction," we learn to notice it with curiosity and gently guide attention back to what matters. It's about making room for the ADHD brain while still moving toward your values.

❋ Somatic & Gestalt Approaches

Because neurodivergent bodies often feel out of sync or overwhelmed. We use grounding, movement, and sensory regulation techniques to help you downregulate when sensory overload strikes or when emotions feel like a tidal wave.

❋ Narrative Therapy

To rewrite the story from "I am a failure" to "I am a neurodivergent person navigating a neurotypical world." We identify the times you succeeded despite the odds and build an identity of resilience.

❋ Motivational Interviewing

To help you find the intrinsic motivation to change behaviors that matter to you, rather than forcing compliance based on external expectations.

❋ Adapted CBT & REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy)

We challenge the internalized messages of "I'm lazy" or "I'm broken." However, we don't just do cognitive restructuring; we build practical behavioral experiments to test what actually works for your specific brain type (e.g., body doubling, visual timers).

❋ Attachment Theory & Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT)

For those who feel isolated or misunderstood, we use the therapeutic relationship to practice connection without judgment. We explore how early experiences with "not fitting in" shaped your self-worth.

❋ Positive Psychotherapy

Focusing on your strengths, like creativity, hyperfocus, resilience, and unique problem-solving skills, to build a life where these traits are assets, not liabilities.

❋ Ecofeminist & Person-Centered Lens

For many (especially those in marginalized communities), systemic oppression and environmental injustice are factors of our lived experience. We validate these feelings as legitimate responses to real-world conditions, not just internal pathologies.

Specialized Support for the Neurodivergent Experience

This path is designed for you if:

  • You've been told you're "smart but lazy" or "not trying hard enough."

  • You feel exhausted from constantly masking your true self to fit in at work, school, or social events.

  • You struggle with executive function (starting tasks, time management) despite knowing what needs to be done.

  • You experience sensory overload or deep emotional dysregulation that feels overwhelming.

  • You've tried standard therapy but felt misunderstood or judged for your neurotype.

I’m Willing to Learn Your Language With You!

As a clinician who practices Neurodiversity-Affirming Care, I understand that your "symptoms" are often just different ways of processing the world. I don't view ADHD or Autism as defects to be corrected; I see them as distinct neurotypes with their own strengths and challenges.

My approach is flexible, collaborative, and non-judgmental (read: CREATIVE!). We’ll work together to:

  • Unmask: Explore the authentic parts of your behavior and discover which are survival strategies.

  • Accommodate: Build a life that accommodates your sensory needs and executive function style.

  • Advocate: Learn how to communicate your needs to employers, partners, and family members.

Whether you are an adult newly diagnosed, a parent navigating these challenges with your child, or someone who has struggled their whole life without understanding why, I am here to help you start working with your brain.

Featured
Emily Ann Peterson, MS-CMHC, MBA, LMHCA-pending
Emily Ann Peterson, MS-CMHC, MBA, LMHCA-pending

Emily Ann is principal clinician at Jupiter Pines Counseling, practicing under supervision and specializing in trauma-informed care and neurodivergent-affirming therapy. She brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, creativity, and lived experience to creating a secure, judgment-free space where high-functioning individuals and marginalized communities can truly thrive.

MORE ABOUT EMILY ANN

Ready to Start Working With Your Brain?

Let's build a life that honors your neurotype, leverages your unique strengths, and reduces the daily friction of existence.

Schedule a Consultation for Neurodivergent Support

For clinical offerings, we serve clients in Tacoma, Bellevue, Gig Harbor, Bellingham, Olympia, and throughout Washington State. For non-clinical offerings, we serve Washington State and beyond.