Counseling for Neurodivergent Individuals
Supporting Unique Minds with Understanding, Respect, and Compassion
At Life Balance Counseling Peoria, we recognize that neurodivergent individuals — including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, learning differences, sensory processing differences, and other cognitive variations — experience the world differently. Life can sometimes feel overwhelming, isolating, or challenging, especially in a world designed for neurotypical expectations.
Our therapists provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where neurodivergent clients and their families can feel understood, validated, and supported in navigating daily life, relationships, and personal growth.
Understanding Neurodivergence
Neurodivergent individuals often face unique challenges such as:
Difficulty with social communication or interpreting social cues
Managing sensory sensitivities or overload
Emotional regulation and stress management difficulties
Executive functioning challenges (organization, planning, time management)
Anxiety, depression, or other co-occurring mental health concerns
Navigating relationships, work, or school environments
While challenges exist, neurodivergence is also a source of strength — offering creativity, focus, resilience, and unique problem-solving abilities. Therapy focuses on leveraging strengths while addressing challenges in practical, compassionate ways.
Our Approach to Neurodivergent Counseling
We provide person-centered, neurodiversity-affirming care tailored to each client’s needs and goals. Our approaches may include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) adapted for neurodivergent thinking
Social skills development and communication coaching
Emotion regulation and mindfulness strategies
Support for executive functioning, organization, and life skills
Family counseling to foster understanding and reduce conflict
We work collaboratively with clients and their families to create strategies that are realistic, sustainable, and empowering, honoring neurodivergent ways of thinking and being.
Supporting Families and Caregivers
Families of neurodivergent individuals often face unique stressors and questions. Our therapists provide guidance to help families:
Understand and embrace neurodivergent traits
Navigate parenting, education, and advocacy
Manage conflict or communication challenges
Build resilience and emotional support for all family members
We emphasize empathy, connection, and practical tools for daily life.
Why Choose Life Balance Counseling Peoria?
Our clinicians are trained to provide inclusive, compassionate, and individualized support for neurodivergent clients of all ages. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or your child, we focus on creating strategies that fit your life — not the other way around.
Our therapy is a safe place where neurodivergent individuals are heard, respected, and celebrated.
Begin Your Journey Toward Understanding and Growth
Therapy can help neurodivergent clients navigate challenges, build confidence, and strengthen relationships — all while honoring their unique minds.
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Ashley Heeren, MA
Ashley passion for this field is rooted in both my professional training and my personal life. She graduated from Bradley with a Masters in Counseling and worked in Addiction Recovery Center with experience in providing comprehensive evaluations of addiction.
Beyond her credentials, Ashley is also mother to a wonderful daughter on the spectrum. This lived experience has given her a deep, firsthand understanding of the family journey—from the initial steps of diagnosis and finding the right resources to navigating school systems, social interactions, and the day-to-day realities of life with an autistic family member. This personal connection allows me to approach my clients and their families with not just clinical knowledge, but genuine empathy and practical insight. I understand the "triumphs and heartbreaks" you may face and am here to help you find joy and celebrate every accomplishment, big or small.
If you're seeking a therapist who truly "gets it" and can blend professional expertise with a lived understanding of the autistic experience, I invite you to connect with me.
Areas of Expertise:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) parental & family support
Anxiety and depression in neurodivergent individuals
Social skills and communication support
Parenting support and family dynamics
Neurodiversity-affirming practices
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Amy Kelch-Cohen, LCPC, EMDR, CADC
Amy specializes in providing compassionate, evidence-based therapy to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. Her approach is rooted in the belief that every individual possesses unique strengths and perspectives. Amy utilizes a blend of cognitive-behavioral techniques, social-emotional learning strategies, and person-centered planning to help clients navigate social complexities, manage anxiety, and achieve their personal goals.
Areas of Expertise:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) education & support
Anxiety and depression in neurodivergent individuals
Social skills and communication support
Parenting support and family dynamics
Neurodiversity-affirming practices
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McKenzie Wilson, NCC, LPC
As a counselor, McKenzie’s passion is supporting individuals who feel misunderstood or out of sync with a neurotypical world. She specialize in providing autism-affirming therapy for adolescents, teens, and adults, particularly those who are newly diagnosed or suspect they might be on the spectrum.
McKenzie’s professional approach is informed over a decade of personal experience having many friends on the spectrum instilling tremendous empathy for the neurodivergent. Her approach is truly enriched by her lived experience and the deep, meaningful connections she shares with many individuals in the autistic community. Well before her professional career, the principles of neurodiversity were a part of her life; many close friends and loved ones are on the spectrum, and she learned invaluable lessons about authentic connection, communication, and being in the world from the neurodivergent.
McKenzie uses a client-centered, collaborative approach, tailoring each session to your unique needs and goals. This means we focus on your version of success and well-being, not on trying to "fit a square peg in a round hole" or training you to mask your authentic self.
Areas of Expertise:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) education & support
Social skills and communication support
Anxiety and depression in neurodivergent individuals
Support dealing with parents and family dynamics
Neurodiversity-affirming practices
