The “Dopamine Menu”: A Lifeline for Thriving with ADHD
Written by: Colleen Carty, MSW, ACSW :: Neurodivergent Affirming Coach If you are living with ADHD, the pursuit of dopamine is a central theme in your daily life. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is linked to motivation, reward, and focus. Dopamine often operates at lower levels in ADHD brains, which makes i
Dr. Tony Meiners to Present on Neurodiversity Informed + Affirming Support at IECA 2025
Dr. Tony Meiners to Present on Neurodiversity Informed + Affirming Support at IECA 2025 DETROIT, MI – May 6th, 2025 – Dr. Tony Meiners, Clinical Director of The Neurodivergent Collective, based in Newport Beach, CA, will join a distinguished panel at the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA
When Traditional Eating Disorder Approaches Fall Short for Neurodivergent Individuals
Written by: Emily Bown, MS, RDN Eating disorder treatment has come a long way in recognizing the complexities of disordered eating. However, many standard approaches still fail to consider the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with sensory sensitivities and conditions like Avoidant/
Neurodivergent-Affirming vs. Neurodivergent-Informed Care
Written by: Dr. Tony Meiners, PsyD :: The Neurodivergent Collective’s Clinical Director Neurodivergent care is evolving, and with it comes the need to differentiate between two essential but distinct approaches: neurodivergent-affirming care and neurodivergent-informed care. While both are critical, they
AUTISM IS NOT THE PROBLEM
Written by: Rebecca Rosenzweig, BA Historically, autism has been blamed for the challenges autistic people face. Struggling to stay in school? Get a job? Make friends? “It’s because of the autism.” The belief is this: If autistic people are trained to behave like someone without autism, they wil
The Value of Occupational Therapy
The Value of Occupational Therapy An Interview with :: Dr. Hana Khan, OTD, OTR/L, CCTP WHY SHOULD NEURODIVERGENT INFORMED TREATMENT TEAMS VALUE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY? Occupational therapy is so new and I’ve really been drawn towards these non-traditional settings. I think that there’s so much room fo
A Creative Outlet for Connection & Growth
Written by: Dr. Tony Meiners, PsyD | Clinical Director PROGRAMMING EVOLUTION :: A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR CONNECTION & GROWTH At The Neurodivergent Collective, we are proud to announce an exciting evolution in our programming that highlights the creativity, authenticity, and voices of our community. Introducing
Identifying Emotional vs Hunger Cues
Identifying Emotional vs Hunger Cues An Interview with :: Dr. Marina Yacoub, PsyD HOW DO YOU START TEACHING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMOTIONAL CUES VS HUNGER CUES? That mind body connection and building that interception. The body cues are not easy, and hunger cues are not easy. So sometimes I have to really sit
Common Barriers to Commitments for Autistic People
Written by: Rebecca Rosenzweig, BA :: Peer Mentor – Transitions Program Common Barriers to Commitments for Autistic People Autistic individuals frequently have the skills for success in education, careers, and relationships, but appear ‘stuck.’ This is because COMMITTING IS SO MUCH MORE THAN J
The Impact of Neurodivergent Shame
The Impact of Neurodivergent Shame An Interview with :: Alicia Marie Hutton, MS, LMFT, ACRPS HOW DOES SHAME PRESENT ITS SELF WITH NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE? So when I work with neurodivergent folks, one of the biggest themes that I see is shame. And most often when they come into the therapy room and I see them [&h