Between Spaces Counselling

Therapy for Neurodivergents in Toronto and Calgary

Online therapy available to residents across Alberta and Ontario
In-person therapy available to Calgary residents only

You're a neurodivergent person who...

Was diagnosed later in life with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or another neurotype
Is currently seeking or waiting for a formal diagnosis
Received a diagnosis earlier in life, but wasn't told about it, or was dismissed, minimized, or misunderstood

Now, as an adult, you're learning to navigate life without constantly masking.
But it's still hard, you often...

Feel "too much" or "too different," and you feel pressured to shrink yourself to fit in
Find starting or completing tasks to feel overwhelming, even impossible, despite how simple they seem to others
Pour 10× the effort into things that appear effortless for neurotypical people
Long for others to understand why certain things are so challenging for you, without it sounding like you're making excuses

I get it, because I've lived it.

Buu Dao, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) providing neuro-affirming therapy in Toronto and Calgary

As a fellow neurodivergent person, late-diagnosed with ADHD, I know how exhausting and painful it can be to grow up in a world not built for your brain. The pressure to conform, to mask, to "just try harder"… it takes a toll.

When I became a therapist, I committed to doing things differently. That's what neuro-affirming therapy is all about.

What is Neuro-Affirming?

Short for neurodiversity-affirming, this approach recognizes that neurological differences, like ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, (and other neurotypes) are natural and valid forms of human diversity.

Your brain doesn't need to be "fixed." It needs to be understood, respected, and accommodated.

What Does Neuro-Affirming Therapy Look Like?

Instead of pathologizing your way of thinking, feeling, or being, we work with your neurotype, not against it. That might include:

  • Challenging internalized stigma, unpacking the limiting beliefs you've absorbed from a neurotypical-centered world
  • Honouring your resilience, acknowledging how much energy it's taken just to survive, let alone grow
  • Co-creating strategies that align with how your brain actually works, rather than forcing square pegs into round holes
  • Building self-advocacy skills, so you can communicate your needs at work, school, in relationships, and beyond

It also means your sensory and communication needs are welcomed and accommodated, not treated as an afterthought.

In session, it's perfectly okay to:

  • Adjust the lights or sound levels
  • Not make eye contact
  • Use fidget tools or stim freely
  • Move your body: sit on the floor, lie down, pace, cross your legs
  • Skip or simplify parts of the intake if it feels overwhelming (you decide how much, or how little, to share)
  • Speak up if something doesn't feel right—we'll figure out what works better together

If you're looking for therapy that sees, values, and affirms your neurotype, you're in the right place.

Book a FREE 50-minute consultation