Fall 2026: Now Accepting New Clients
Our licensed therapists provide neurodiversity affirming therapy for autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent adults and teens, in person at our Coralville and North Liberty offices near Iowa City and by secure telehealth across Iowa. We take a non-pathologizing approach that treats your traits as part of who you are, not problems to fix, whether you're working through burnout, masking fatigue, sensory needs, executive-function challenges, or a late or self-identified diagnosis.
Meet the clinicians who provide this care on our Coralville and North Liberty teams.
Yes, our therapists have training and experience in providing neurodiversity-affirming services. Among other things that means we pay attention to sensory needs in our office environment, including having a variety of fidgets at hand and encouraging clients to stim as needed. It also means we take a non-pathologizing approach to providing support, encouraging self-advocacy, and inviting clients to collaborate while also offering more structured support when necessary.
Absolutely. One of the most important approaches we take is helping our clients feel comfortable and safe enough to unmask in therapy. We also support folks in choosing when, where, and how to unmask in other aspects of their life.
At Alli Center, we take a non-pathologizing approach to mental health treatment. That means we look at the functions behind behaviors, rather than categorizing our clients based on a list of symptoms. One of the consequences of this approach is that we look to our clients as experts in their own lives, as they know best what they value and what change they want to pursue.
We do. Sometimes clients come to us because they have done their own learning about autism and found parallels between their experience and others on the spectrum. Sometimes folks have been through formal diagnosis and are looking for additional support. And sometimes we see clients who are questioning whether they are neurodiverse. Whatever your journey has looked like, we are ready to help.
Part of working with neurodiverse clients means our therapists are familiar with these sorts of common experiences as well as helping clients sort through the challenges in their lives with a more compassionate, kind perspective that can help them make sense of their experiences while also providing essential support.
Yes, we do. We know that masking can be exhausting, lonely, and sometimes necessary. We work with our clients to understand both sides of masking, the needful and the painful, while helping them feel safe enough to choose when and with whom to unmask.
We love a good info-dump. Our therapists are excited to hear about your passions. It’s part of what makes therapy so vibrant. We also know that everyone’s communication needs are different, and so we modify our approach to best meet the needs of each client. Sometimes that means allowing long pauses, answering direct questions, asking more questions, or helping out with scripts to build trust and safety.
What you can expect when you come into our office is comfy couches, a quiet space, and gentle lighting. You can also expect to hear white noise machines, which we use to protect each client’s privacy. We encourage a quiet environment in shared spaces because we know that this feels safe for most of the clients who come to us. If you have a sensory need that our office environment isn’t meeting, please let us know.
Yes, we offer both in-person and online appointments. We strive to be as accessible as possible for our clients.
Our therapists are collaborators at heart. We want to work alongside you, learn what is most important in your life, and help you make the changes necessary to live into each of your values. That can mean offering supportive challenges, discussing contradictions, or getting curious about what seems to be getting in the way.
Our therapists are knowledgeable about working with folks who have multiple, overlapping experiences of autism, ADHD, anxiety, and trauma. Part of our approach is treating the whole person, not just focusing on symptoms, which means helping clients see these connections, identify their needs, and advocate for themselves.
Yes, we want you to feel comfortable when you’re here. If that means grabbing a fidget, stimming, or getting up and moving around during your session, then please do so. Our therapists strive to make their offices a safe space that welcomes everyone, whatever their needs.
Yes, our neurodiversity-affirming therapists can help you manage autistic burnout. When you get started working with one of our therapists, they will begin by identifying what challenges you are facing and what’s bringing you in for treatment. As part of that conversation, they will also work with you to identify a treatment plan that meets your specific needs. This could be anything from identifying signs of autistic burnout to practicing strategies for recovery and everything in between.
Shame is a powerful emotion that can lead to shut down and withdrawal, which only makes executive functioning difficulties that much harder to handle. Our therapists are experienced in helping neurodiverse clients navigate shame, practice self-compassion, and employ strategies that support executive functioning.
We know from working with many different clients how exhausting it can be to mask, and the pain and confusion that can come along with masking, not just at work but also in relationships and at school. Your therapist will work with you to unmask safely, to honor your needs and self-knowledge, and to advocate for yourself.
Yes, we understand that navigating social expectations can be stressful for our neurodivergent clients. We also understand that some of those social expectations can show up in therapy as well. Our therapists keep this in mind. We know chronic stress can have long-term impacts on health and wellbeing, and so we will work with you to identify when you’re experiencing chronic stress and help you come up with a plan that’s right for you–one that doesn’t blame you for doing your best to live in a neurotypical world.
Yes, we are. We have therapists who provide both individual and couples therapy and are skilled in navigating how autism and ADHD-related traits show up in intimate relationships. Our therapists have experience helping clients sort through communication issues, attachment styles, sensory needs, intimacy, executive functioning, and other dynamics that come into play in personal relationships.
We do. Your therapist will work with you to identify what supports will help you get the most out of your work together, which can include using visual tools, providing summaries of sessions, and tracking progress on important goals and milestones each week.
While we don’t offer psychological evaluation (sometimes known as autism and ADHD testing), we are always happy to support folks with an appropriate referral. That said, we know that formal diagnosis is not right for everyone. Sometimes it’s enough to self-identify how neurodivergent traits are present in your life. Our therapists are well-trained in helping folks navigate what a diagnosis might mean in their life and helping empower them to pursue the path that’s right for them.
We take the trust that our clients demonstrate by showing up for this work seriously, especially when that trust has been damaged by past experiences. One way we do this is by acknowledging the limits and gaps in the mental health field, especially how this field has treated (and continues to treat) those with marginalized identities. Pathologizing can be one harmful form of this and so can psychiatric policing. When you work with one of our therapists, they will talk to you about your concerns and collaborate with you on an approach to treatment that best fits your needs.
Whether you’re in Coralville, Iowa City, North Liberty, or anywhere in Iowa connecting through telehealth, we’re here to support you.
Request Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy or Contact Us today.