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
You should not have to begin by explaining why sensory overload matters, what autistic burnout can look like, how executive-functioning differences affect follow-through, or why communication and processing may not look the way others expect.
At Samar, neurodevelopmental knowledge is part of the foundation of the work. That means your therapist can recognize relevant patterns, understand common areas of mismatch, and ask more informed questions from the beginning.
It does not mean assuming that a diagnosis explains you or that professional knowledge replaces learning from you. Neurodivergence shows up differently in every person, relationship, family, and environment.
The work begins with both: a strong clinical understanding of neurodevelopment and genuine curiosity about your particular experience.
Being understood matters. So does having a therapist who brings something meaningful to the work.
Many neurodivergent people arrive in 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.
At Samar, neurodevelopmental differences are part of the formulation from the beginning. We consider the interaction among mental health, autism, ADHD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, communication, sensory processing, executive functioning, trauma, identity, relationships, caregiving demands, culture, medical factors, and the systems involved in the person's life.
Neurodevelopmental context matters, but it is not used to explain everything. 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 Psychotherapy
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.
EXPLORE INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
Caregiver,
Sibling Support
EXPLORE SUPPORT
Family
Therapy
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EXPLORE FAMILY THERAPY
Clinical and Systemic Consultation
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EXPLORE CONSULTATION
Couples Therapy
For neurodivergent and mixed-neurotype couples navigating recurring conflict, communication and processing differences, sensory needs, task imbalance, intimacy, accountability, and repair - without reducing the relationship to one partner's diagnosis.
EXPLORE COUPLES THERAPY
Training,
Workforce Development
EXPLORE TRAINING
How psychotherapy can be adapted at Samar
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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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.
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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.
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.
