Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT 148333
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You shouldn’t have to start by explaining neurodivergence to your therapist
Therapy that begins with an understanding of neurodivergence
At Samar Neurodivergent Therapy Center, neurodevelopmental differences are part of the formulation from the beginning. We consider how mental health interacts with autism, ADHD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, communication, sensory processing, executive functioning, trauma, identity, relationships, caregiving demands, culture, medical factors, and the systems involved in a person’s life.
That does not mean reducing you to a diagnosis or assuming we already understand your experience. It means beginning with relevant clinical knowledge, asking better questions, and remaining curious about how your experiences, needs, and circumstances come together. We adapt the work accordingly.
Being understood matters. So does having a therapist who brings knowledge, skill, and direction to the work.
Many neurodivergent people come to therapy after years of being misunderstood, misread, or offered strategies that did not account for how they process information, communicate, regulate, initiate, recover, or manage daily demands.
We work to distinguish what may benefit from psychotherapy, what may reflect an unmet sensory or communication need, what requires practical support or accommodation, and what may need to change in a relationship, expectation, environment, or system.
WAYS WE CAN WORK WITH EACH OTHER
Individual Therapy
For adolescents and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, masking, identity, executive-functioning strain, emotional regulation, relationships, life transitions, and the cumulative effect of repeated misunderstanding.
Caregiver and Sibling Support
For parents, caregivers, and siblings who need space to process the emotional and practical realities of supporting a neurodivergent family member, strengthen boundaries, navigate complex systems, and sustain relationships without losing themselves in the process.
A Pasadena Office Designed with Sensory Needs in Mind
Therapy is harder when the room itself adds to the sensory load. Our Pasadena office is designed to offer more choice around lighting, seating, movement, sound, and sensory input—so clients can spend less energy managing the environment and more energy engaging in the work.
A sensory menu, not a one-size-fits-all room
Clients can review available options at the beginning of a session or at any point during it. Supports may include adjustable lighting, different seating options, weighted and tactile items, movement and grounding tools, and lower-stimulation choices. Preferences can change from one session to the next, and no one has to justify using what helps.
Why the environment matters
Reducing sensory strain can make it easier to communicate, regulate, think, remain present, and participate more fully in therapy. The goal is not to create one supposedly “sensory-friendly” space—it is to make the environment more responsive to the person using it
How can
Samar Neurodivergent Therapy Center Adapt Therapy?
There is no single way that therapy has to look. We can adjust how sessions are structured, how we communicate, and how you participate so that therapy is more accessible and useful for you. That may include:
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Adjusting the physical environment through flexible seating, movement and fidget options, adjustable lighting, and access to a discreet sensory menu with items for grounding, focus, comfort, and regulation.
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Asking clear, specific questions when broad prompts such as “How does that make you feel?” create more work than clarity.
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Giving you time to process, pause, revisit a question, write something down, move around, or return to an answer later.
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Using an agenda, visual structure, written recap, or clear next steps when they help reduce uncertainty or make sessions easier to follow.
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Paying attention to sensory overload, interoception, shutdown, meltdown, fatigue, pain, sleep, and burnout—not only what is visible during the session.
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Working practically on executive functioning, routines, follow-through, transitions, recovery after disruption, and how to begin again when a plan falls apart.
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Checking our understanding rather than making assumptions based on eye contact, tone, posture, response time, facial expression, or emotional display.
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Explaining why a question, exercise, or intervention is being suggested so you can decide whether it makes sense for you.
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Treating disagreement, discomfort, or “this is not working” as important information—not resistance or failure.
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Including a partner, family member, caregiver, or other support when it would be helpful and you want them involved.
You do not need to use every adaptation, and your needs may change from one session to another. We can discuss what helps, what does not, and adjust the work together.
Meet our clinician
Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT 148333
Wajdi Akef Fakhoury, LMFT (CA LMFT 148333) is a psychotherapist whose work centers on neurodevelopmental mental health. He supports individuals and families navigating neurodevelopmental differences alongside anxiety, depression, relational strain, and questions of identity and self-understanding.
His approach is depth-oriented and adapted to how each person processes, communicates, and experiences the world. Therapy is shaped with attention to pacing, structure, and emotional safety—creating space for both symptom relief and deeper reflection over time.
