What to Do When Therapy Isn’t Helping: A Neurodivergent Perspective

Therapy is often presented as the gold standard for mental health support—but what happens when it doesn’t actually help? For neurodivergent individuals, such as those with autism or ADHD, traditional therapeutic approaches can sometimes miss the mark. You might leave sessions feeling misunderstood, exhausted, or like you're the one failing to “do therapy right.” The truth is, many therapeutic models were built with neurotypical clients in mind. When those approaches don't account for your sensory needs, communication style, or executive functioning challenges, it's not your fault if progress feels stalled.

One of the first steps if therapy isn’t helping is to assess whether your therapist understands neurodivergence—not just academically, but in practice. Do they accommodate your need for stimming? Are they familiar with demand avoidance or autistic shutdowns? Do they pathologize traits like hyperfocus or monotropism instead of respecting them as part of your wiring? A good therapeutic relationship should feel collaborative and validating, not like you're constantly being corrected or “fixed.” If your therapist doesn’t feel like a safe person to be your full self with, it’s okay—and sometimes necessary—to move on.

It’s also worth exploring alternatives or adjuncts to talk therapy. Some neurodivergent people benefit more from coaching, peer support groups, occupational therapy, or even creative outlets like art or music therapy. Body-based practices, like somatic experiencing or movement therapy, can be more effective for people who struggle with interoception or verbal processing. Finding the right support often means expanding beyond conventional mental health systems—and sometimes even building your own toolkit with community support, self-education, and self-advocacy.

Finally, remind yourself that not making progress in therapy doesn’t mean you’re broken or resistant to help. The world isn’t always built with neurodivergent minds in mind, and sometimes the systems that are supposed to help us haven’t caught up. Your needs are real. Your way of processing is valid. Finding the right kind of support might take time, but it's out there—and you're allowed to keep searching until something actually works for you.

Refuge Springs Counseling

Phone: 850-530-6662

Email: refugespringscounseling25@gmail.com

Serving all of Florida