Therapy for Neurodivergent Teens in Englewood, CO
For the ADD/ADHD, Autistic, or AuDHD teenager who’s ever felt like they’re “too much” and “not enough” in the same moment.To the Parents or guardians:
If you're reading this, there's a decent chance it's late, your kid is in their room, and you've just typed something like "therapist for teenager with ADHD near me" into a search bar, possibly not for the first time.
Maybe there's a diagnosis already. Maybe there's just a strong suspicion: theirs, yours, or TikTok algorithm's. Maybe you've already tried a therapist, and they were a perfectly nice person who never quite clicked with your kid.
Maybe your teenager is angry in a way that scares you, or shut down in a way that scares you more. And maybe some part of you is thinking: I love this kid so much, and I don't understand them.
You're not failing. And your kid isn't broken. What you're both dealing with is a brain that runs on a different operating system: in a school system, social world, and family routine possibly built for a different one. That mismatch is exhausting for everyone. It's also completely workable. This is, quite literally, my specialty.
To the teenager reading this (yes, you silly)
Your parent probably found this page, but this part is for you.
I'm not going to pretend I know exactly what your life is like. But here's what I've got: I taught middle and high school for about a decade, so I've spent thousands of hours with people your age, and I'm AuDHD myself, diagnosed as an adult after many years wondering why things that looked easy for everyone else felt like pushing a boulder uphill. So when you tell me your brain won't cooperate, I'm not going to hand you a planner and tell you to try harder. I've owned that planner. It didn't work for me either.
Therapy with me is not sitting on a couch while an adult nods and writes things down. Sometimes it's the lights in my office changed to whatever color your day feels like. Sometimes it's a walk in the park next door because sitting still is the worst. Sometimes it's playing with toys and fidgets, or being as funny as possible.
The goals we work on are yours: not your parents', not your school's. And you get a say in all of it, because you’re in charge of your mental health. I’m here to be your co-pilot and figure all this out with you.
What neurodivergent teens
tell me
"I think I have ADHD. I've seen the things online, and I feel like I have all of the things."
"I know how to do the work. I just can't make myself start. And everyone thinks I'm lazy. I’m not lazy.”
"Everyone is just trying to fix me."
"I'm supposed to be all these things all the time and be perfect."
"It would just be really nice to talk to someone who kind of gets it."
What the work actually looks like
We start with trust, because nothing works without it. Then, once you feel comfortable, we build a unique plan for You: usually drawing on CBT and ACT, because thoughts shape your feelings, and those feelings shape your actions. This is a framework teenagers can actually use, and underneath most of the presenting stuff, the real work is almost always feeling understood, accepted, and safe.
With neurodivergent teens specifically, that tends to mean:
Figuring out how their brain actually works: executive function, sensory stuff, emotional intensity, without shame attached
Turning "what's wrong with me" into "here's how I'm wired, and here's what works for this wiring"
Real strategies for school, friendships, and family friction, not generic advice that assumes a neurotypical brain
Taking the self-diagnosis research they've already done online seriously, and sorting the accurate parts from the algorithm parts together
Building skills until they're muscle memory because the goal is for them to gain independence and coping skills that work everywhere
Why families end up here
Most therapists avoid teenagers. Fewer still specialize in neurodivergent teenagers. That’s not a slight against them, because working with teenagers is difficult, and I love the work.
I seek this population out professionally, clinically, and academically. I'm one of the very few male therapists in the south Denver metro working in this lane, and for many teenage clients, this is the difference between talking and not talking.
The parents who find me have usually already tried something that didn't land. If that's you: the last therapist not clicking wasn't your kid failing at therapy, nor was it the fault of the therapist.
It was a fit problem. Fit is fixable.
A note for parents and caregivers
You're the one searching, scheduling, and paying, so your involvement matters, and we'll stay connected in a way that respects your teen's need for a space that's theirs.
In Colorado, teens can consent to their own therapy starting at age 12 (with certain criteria), and buy-in from your kid is what makes this work. I'm also happy to collaborate with school counselors, PCPs, and psychiatric providers so care stays connected.
One thing I don't do: formal diagnostic evaluations. If a full ADHD or autism assessment would help, I'll point you to the right people and work alongside whatever comes back.
What's the next step?
A free 20-minute conversation with you, and if they're willing, with your teen. No pressure, no commitment, no clipboard. Just a chance for your kid to see whether I'm another adult performing at them, or someone worth actually talking to.
Want the wider picture? Here's my general approach to Teen Therapy, what Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy means in practice, and the practical stuff: Pricing & Insurance and How Therapy Works
And if your teen's anger is what brought you here, check this out: What your Teen’s Anger Really Means