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
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.
We offer a Sensory Menu
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?
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
What Adapted Therapy Can Look Like
You do not have to fit yourself into a standard therapy format. We can adjust the environment, pacing, communication, structure, and who is involved so the work is easier to access and more useful.
Adjust the environment
Flexible seating, adjustable lighting, movement, fidgets, and a discreet sensory menu are available when helpful—and never required.
Communicate without performing
You do not have to answer quickly, make eye contact, sit still, or immediately find the “right” words. We can use direct questions, writing, visuals, pauses, or return to something later.
Know what to expect
Agendas, written recaps, clear next steps, and more predictability can be used when they reduce uncertainty—without making therapy rigid.
Work on what affects daily life
Therapy can address sensory overload, interoception, shutdown, burnout, transitions, routines, follow-through, recovery, and how to begin again after disruption.
Be understood without being overinterpreted
We check our understanding rather than assigning motives based on eye contact, tone, posture, response time, facial expression, or emotional display.
Have a say in the work
We explain why something is being suggested and treat disagreement, discomfort, or “this is not helping” as useful information. Partners, family members, caregivers, or other supports can be included when helpful and with your consent.
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.
