Lauren Florio, MA, LMFT
Licensed Psychotherapist, Neurodiversity Specialist, and lived experience with AuDHDI have years of experience in this field as a therapist, coach, and from various other mental health roles within the neurodivergent community over the past decade. I specialize in creating inclusive, tailored support for each neurotype.
My passion for understanding and empowering clients comes from my own neurodiverse mind (AuDHD) and knowing how it feels to be misunderstood by professionals who simply do not have the lived experience of a neurodiverse lens.
This drives my mission to provide compassionate and effective care, leveraging my expertise to address diverse cognitive and emotional needs.
I am lucky to love my work. Psychology has been a special interest of mine before I even understood the term. In my free time, I work on my educational podcast , also called The Atypical View. I hope to spread neurodiversity awareness and acceptance through understanding and education.
I am not a “blank slate therapist.” I am what’s called a “identity based practitioner” This means my clients know a bit about who I am. Relationship between client and therapist is incredibly important to therapeutic outcomes, so I am public about about my neurodiversity, my interests, my health, and even my sexuality to create a safe space for clients who can see a bit of themselves in me.
I, like many neurodiverse folks, have a few comorbid conditions that affect my mobility. In the last few years, I discovered I have three major overlapping conditions hEDS, POTS, and MCAS.
I feel grateful to have a career that allows me to provide for myself despite my health. I share this about my health because so many of my clients come in with the same or similar conditions. I think it is important to share so that others like me know they are not alone. There is hope and life, even through pain.
From navigating life with both Autism and ADHD (AuDHD), I know what it’s like to wonder, “Why am I so different?” Over the years, I’ve learned to celebrate those differences. Looking back, I see the neurodiverse challenges that have always been part of me—learning differences, sensory overload, struggles with executive functioning, and endless thought spirals.
While I knew I had ADHD as a teen, but due to growing up below the poverty line, and being without healthcare, I only recently was able to start medication management. It also wasn’t until adulthood that I discovered I was also autistic.
Through my self discovery journey, (and intense deep dive into neurodiversity focused research) I’ve learned to unmask, reconnect with my inner child, and find coping strategies that truly work for me. This transformation has made me a more loving partner, friend, and family member, and has allowed me to show myself the kindness I deserve. My journey wasn’t easy, but it’s given me the insight to help others embrace their neurodiversity and thrive.
Modalities I Love
It's my goal to create a comfortable, safe environment where we'll work together to achieve your goals.Dialectical Behavior Therapy: DBT offers neurodiverse individuals valuable skills for emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. Its structured approach helps manage intense emotions and improve coping strategies, making it especially beneficial for those navigating the complexities of neurodivergent experiences. While I do not offer 24 hour support like many DBT therapists do, the skills from this modality are extremely beneficial interventions for a neurodiverse brain.
Somatic Therapy: This approach addresses the mind-body connection by focusing on physical sensations and bodily experiences. For neurodiverse individuals, this approach can help integrate emotional experiences and reduce stress, sensory dysregulation, enhancing overall well-being and self-awareness. There is a huge overlap of dissociation and disconnection in the neurodiverse community, so rebuilding that connection with the body is an invaluable skill.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: EMDR is effective in processing and resolving traumatic experiences by integrating them with adaptive information. For neurodiverse individuals, it can provide a targeted method to alleviate trauma-related symptoms and improve emotional resilience. While EMDR may not be suitable for everyone, I focus on customizing this approach to also effectively support individuals with cPTSD. This tailored approach aims to provide my clients with hope and help reduce their trauma responses
Coaching: Neurodiverse Coaching offers a proactive, goal-oriented approach for individuals who may not qualify for therapy, or prefer the methods of coaching over therapy. It focuses on personal development, skill-building, and education catered to your neurotype, providing tailored support to enhance motivation, set actionable goals, and navigate challenges effectively. Coaching can empower neurodiverse clients to make meaningful progress and achieve their full potential.