Dr. Zonya Mitchell Neuropsychologist

Dr. Zonya Mitchell Neuropsychologist She is also provides weekly strategies for thriving with Autism over on Substack.
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Dr. Mitchell is a clinical lifespan neuropsychologist and specializing in Autism & neuropsychological evaluations for high masking children & adults in New York! Dr. Mitchell is a clinical lifespan neuropsychologist specializing in neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation psychology. She evaluates individuals to determine functioning and treatment needs after the brain has been compromised and for children suspected of developmental disabilities. She is currently employed at an affiliate clinic of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Hospital System, in NY. She is also a consultant neuropsychologist at Doctors Hospital and director of the Mind Institute in Nassau, Bahamas. She previously worked as a neuropsychologist at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and received clinical training at Columbia-New York Presbyterian Hospital, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center & Miami Children’s Hospital among others. Before becoming a neuropsychologist Dr. Mitchell was a board certified associate behavior analyst and owned centers providing treatment to children with autism spectrum disorders.

You don’t hate yourself.You just slightly prefer the version of you that doesn’t act autistic.And that’s the shame no on...
02/25/2026

You don’t hate yourself.
You just slightly prefer the version of you that doesn’t act autistic.

And that’s the shame no one warned you about.

If this resonated just a little bit, it’s time to update or repair your identity! read the full piece on Substack and how to change it! Link in bio (about section)

Week 2 of the Regulated Nervous System Blueprint just dropped! The feedback from week one has been overwhelmingly good! ...
02/23/2026

Week 2 of the Regulated Nervous System Blueprint just dropped! The feedback from week one has been overwhelmingly good!

If you’re Autistic and your nervous system could use some regulating, this system is what you need. Start with the deep dive article “Becoming an Autistic Person With a Regulated Nervous System and then go on to the Blueprint week 1.

The Substack link is in my about section! It’s free to subscribe and the “Becoming” article is free to read!

02/21/2026

Omg “ I know a guy” nearly took me out 😂! I just want to say I believe you Janet & you’re the funniest comedian I’ve seen in a while! Janet McNamara

What do you guys think 🤔? Did the neuropsych get it right?

And for those who have been inboxing me about ways to support, I’m accepting gifts of coffee on Buy me a Coffee!

But don’t feel any pressure to support, your likes, comments, and shares also keep me going!

I post funny videos on Instagram on Saturdays so thought I would try it on Facebook for some light hearted moments!

Excuse the grainy pic but I was so excited today when I received a coffee from a follower! I will not say her name becau...
02/20/2026

Excuse the grainy pic but I was so excited today when I received a coffee from a follower! I will not say her name because I don’t have permission but this gesture was so appreciated because I was just contemplating if I should place my energies elsewhere! I’ll take this as a sign that my posts have been landing just a little bit!

Identity work is the missing piece in Autistic Nervous System Regulation! Read about why in “Becoming an Autistic Person...
02/19/2026

Identity work is the missing piece in Autistic Nervous System Regulation! Read about why in “Becoming an Autistic Person (adult or teen) with a Regulated Nervous System.

And find out how in the Blueprint!

SubStack link in my about section here on Facebook

autisticburnout

02/19/2026

Autistic burnout doesn’t always look obvious.�Sometimes it looks like irritability, or Shutdown, picking fights, doom scrolling late nights, or going completely quiet!

6 signs your Autistic partner is not okay (even if they say they are).

1. They’ve lost their special interest.�The thing that used to light them up? Gone quiet.�
2. Sensory stuff suddenly feels unbearable.�Lights too bright. Sounds too sharp. Clothes itchy. When baseline regulation drops, tolerance shrinks.

3. More shutdowns.�They’re going quiet, blank, or unreachable mid-conflict. That’s a sign of a nervous system hitting capacity.

4. Hyperfixating on “safe” media.�Rewatching the same show. Same game. Same playlist. Predictability = regulation when everything else feels too much.

5. Executive function has collapsed.�Unopened mail. Missed appointments. Dishes stacking up. These are signs of cognitive overload.

6. They’re more irritable or flat.�Snappy. Distant. Or emotionally muted.�Burnout can look like personality change.

If your Autistic partner seems different lately,�assume nervous system strain before assuming intent.

And remember

Support > criticism.�Curiosity > confrontation.

Save this. Send it.

Want to learn more about how to support them or gift them something they can use to support themselves! We’re tackling Autistic burnout and nervous system dysregulation plus a quiz to see where you fall on the autism executive access matrix! Substack link in bio!

You don’t have a “dramatic” nervous system.�You have an overextended one.So many autistic adults build their identity ar...
02/18/2026

You don’t have a “dramatic” nervous system.�
You have an overextended one.

So many autistic adults build their identity around endurance.

—You’re the highest achiever because you can hyperfocus past exhaustion.
�-You’re are a dependable friend because you override your sensory limits.
�-You’re the family problem solver because you are more capable of getting things done or can tolerate chaos longer than anyone else.

But living at threshold isn’t regulation. It’s just survival dressed up as competence.

Becoming an autistic person with a regulated nervous system might mean:

• Leaving earlier.�• Saying no sooner.�• Designing your environment instead of pushing through it.�• Letting other people carry their own cognitive or emotional weight.
- Not being the perfect parent.

And yes, that can feel like losing parts of your identity.

But what if stability expands your capacity more than adrenaline ever did?

I wrote a full breakdown of what regulation actually means for autistic adults, including the identity shift no one talks about, and created a 30-Day Regulation Blueprint to walk you through it step by step.

If you’re tired of cycling between high performance and collapse, this is for you.

Find the Substack link in my bio (About section here on Facebook) It’s free to subscribe and the article is free to read.

02/17/2026

Most autistic adults or teens aren’t “bad at coping.”�
They’ve just never been taught how to regulate as autistic people.

Here are 6 ways to build a regulated autistic nervous system:

1. Stop overriding sensory input. Regulation begins with honesty. If the lights hurt, they hurt. If the room is loud, it’s loud.�Accommodations are stabilizing not indulgent.

2. Build recovery into your schedule. Autistic nervous systems fatigue faster. Regulated people don’t just work well.�They recover well.

3. Track your baseline (not just meltdowns). Notice your nervous system 3x a day: Am I calm? Wired? Numb? Irritable?�You can’t regulate what you don’t notice early.

4. Reduce masking where possible. Every time you suppress stimming, force eye contact, or perform socially, your nervous system pays for it later. Regulation requires authenticity.

5. Create predictable structure. Uncertainty keeps the nervous system on alert. Rituals, routines, and clear expectations signal safety.

6. Shift your identity. Are you the problem solver, over achiever, perfect parent? Do you need to make a shift in this identity?
�You are not “too much.”�You are not “dramatic.”�You are a person with a sensitive, high-processing nervous system.

Regulation starts when shame stops.

A regulated autistic person isn’t calm all the time. You just recover faster, honor your limits sooner, and design your life accordingly. Living in a deregulated state is not inevitable because nervous systems are trainable!

I do a deep dive into this, along with a blueprint, and 30 day system on becoming an Autistic person with a regulated nervous system! Identity work included! This works for adults, teens, & parents. Substack link in my about section here on Facebook!

Have you been enjoying my posts and want to support my work, buy me a coffee ☕️! The link is in my about section as well! your support is appreciated and helps me spend the time to disseminate information to those who need it most!

Address

1430 Broadway Ste 608
New York, NY
10018

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12128408410

Website

http://theautismdoctor.substack.com/, http://buymeacoffee.com/theautismdoctor

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Dr. Mitchell is a clinical lifespan neuropsychologist specializing in neuropsychology and neurorehabilitation psychology. She evaluates individuals to determine functioning and treatment needs after the brain has been compromised and for children suspected of developmental disabilities. She is currently employed at an affiliate clinic of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Hospital System, in NY. She is also a consultant neuropsychologist at Doctors Hospital and director of the Mind Institute in Nassau, Bahamas. She previously worked as a neuropsychologist at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University and received clinical training at Columbia-New York Presbyterian Hospital, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center & Miami Children’s Hospital among others. Before becoming a neuropsychologist Dr. Mitchell was a board certified associate behavior analyst and owned centers providing treatment to children with autism spectrum disorders.