The Neurodivergent Collective

04/16/2026

TEAM HIGHLIGHT :: EMILY CURLEY, LMFT :: CLINICAL THERAPIST
UNIVERSITIES + DEGREES
Chapman University [MA, Marriage and Family Therapy], Framingham State University [BA, Psychology]
CLINICAL SPECIALIZATION
⚪ Eating disorders and food relationships
⚪ High-masking Autism and ADHD
Emily is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over a decade of experience working in treatment at all levels of care, specializing in substance use and eating disorders from a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming lens. Emily is passionate about the mind-body connection and about guiding patients on their recovery path with a holistic approach. She is a trained Brainspotting therapist and uses this tool, along with mindfulness practices, to help her patients connect and heal within their bodies. She sees treatment through a person-centered, collaborative lens to help her patients voice their needs and set goals that feel attainable for where they are in their unique journey. Additionally, she utilizes narrative techniques to bring awareness to the importance of language in the way we perceive our past experiences, as well as how we continue to author our ongoing stories.

04/14/2026

WHAT WE TREAT :: MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), often referred to simply as depression, is a common and severe mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities. It can also manifest as physical symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. MDD significantly impacts a person's ability to function in daily life, affecting their relationships, work, and overall well-being.
To learn more about the intersection between major depressive disorder and neurodivergent traits, visit https://bit.ly/47Tsx0r or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/13/2026

The Collective Treatment Programs is proud to announce its official designation as an Institutional Member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). This prestigious membership recognizes The Collective’s commitment to providing high-level, evidence-based care for individuals living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related conditions.

“OCD deserves the most rigorous treatment science has to offer, and our clients deserve to receive it in a practice that sees them as whole people. Joining the IOCDF as an Institutional Member reflects both of those commitments: advancing evidence-based modalities like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT) while staying grounded in what our clients actually tell us works for their lives.” - Kristen Zaleski, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer at The Collective Treatment Programs
To learn more about the Institutional IOCDF Member designation at The Neurodivergent Collective and The Mental Health Collective, visit https://bit.ly/4tJovTi or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

The Collective Treatment Programs is proud to announce designation as an Institutional Member of the International OCD Foundation...

04/09/2026

What is Neurodivergent-Informed Care? :: Join us tomorrow, April 10th, for a deep dive into the evolution of neuro-inclusive mental health.

We are thrilled to watch Dr. Tony Meiners, The Neurodivergent Collective's Clinical Director, co-headline a vital virtual presentation: "From Autistic Experience to Clinical Adaptation: Neurodivergent-Informed Care Across Therapy Models."

Alongside Dr. Ali Cunningham, Dr. Meiners will be deconstructing the history of traditional mental health systems. Together, they’ll provide a clear roadmap for understanding neurodivergent-informed care and what it actually looks like in practice.

🗓️ Event Details
When: Friday, April 10
Time: 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM PDT
A Live Virtual Presentation
Registration: Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/07/2026

We are incredibly proud of Dr. Tony Meiners, The Neurodivergent Collective's Clinical Director, as he co-headlines this Friday’s virtual presentation: "From Autistic Experience to Clinical Adaptation."

Dr. Meiners and Dr. Ali Cunningham will be breaking down the history of mental health systems and providing the roadmap to understand neurodivergent-informed care and model mismatch therapy.

Join the conversation:
🗓 Friday, April 10
⏰ 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM PDT

🔗 Register now via the Sprout link in our bio or visit https://bit.ly/41kP6K8

04/03/2026

"Rather than pressuring a client to conform to neurotypical social norms, an affirming therapist helps them embrace their natural communication style, such as scripting or info-dumping, and educates others about these valid forms of interaction." - Dr. Tony Meiners, Clinical Director
Read Dr. Meiner's post 'Neurodivergent-Affirming vs. Neurodivergent-Informed Care' at https://bit.ly/3Ek4E9a or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

04/01/2026

"Effective treatment and support for eating disorders in neurodivergent individuals often require specialized approaches that consider their unique needs and characteristics." - Dr. Marina Yacoub, PsyD
Read Dr. Yacoub's post 'Link Between Neurodivergence + Eating Disorders' at https://bit.ly/45KTqnn or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

03/31/2026

TEAM HIGHLIGHT :: COLLEEN CARTY, MSW, LCSW :: NEURODIVERGENT AFFIRMING COACH
UNIVERSITIES + DEGREES
James Madison University (JMU) [BS in Justice Studies] University of Southern California (USC) [Master of Social Work]
CLINICAL SPECIALIZATION
Colleen has experience working with adults and transitional aged youth who have a history of suicidal ideation, traumatic life events, mood and personality disorders, substance use, and other mental health challenges. She specializes in using a strengths based, relational approach to empower clients to achieve their goals. Colleen has been trained in Problem Solving Therapy (PST), Seeking Safety, and Motivational Interviewing (MI). She is passionate about collaboratively working with individuals on their unique personal development goals. This may include support with organizational skills, social skills, career development, time management, and self- advocacy.
Read one of Colleen's insightful posts here at https://bit.ly/4dM0kPk or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

03/27/2026

WHAT WE TREAT :: PERSONALITY DISORDERS
What the DSM terms a personality disorder is also a way of being neurodivergent. Diagnosis, such as Borderline Personality Disorder, is usually an acquired form of neurodivergence that is a result of trauma early in life and is an adaptation to keeping oneself safe during stressful early life experiences. These patterns typically manifest in various areas of a person's life, such as their thoughts, emotions, interpersonal relationships, and impulse control. Personality Disorders are chronic and pervasive, often leading to distress for the individual experiencing them and causing difficulties in their daily functioning and relationships.
To learn more about the intersection of neurodivergence and treating personality disorders, visit https://theneurodivergentcollective.com/personality-disorders/ or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

03/26/2026

AFFIRMING VS. INFORMED :: "While affirming care fosters self-acceptance, informed care ensures that individuals develop the skills they need to function in daily life. When one approach is emphasized over the other, challenges arise." - Dr. Tony Meiners, PsyD
To learn more, read Dr. Meiners full post 'Neurodivergent-Affirming vs. Neurodivergent-Informed Care' at https://bit.ly/3Ek4E9a or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

03/25/2026

Why OCD Therapies Don’t Argue With OCD :: Written by, Amy Herter, LMFT :: Clinical Therapist
"Some people with OCD may have had experiences with psychotherapy that did not help their OCD symptoms. It is important to choose a psychotherapist who has experience and knowledge of OCD. Talk therapy that focuses on reducing anxiety and fear without teaching OCD-specific skills can lead to compulsive reassurance. When this happens, the therapist can unintentionally participate in a cycle of compulsive reassurance that feeds the OCD. Initially anxiety is reduced, but like other compulsions, more and more reassurance is needed in order to reduce anxiety." - Herter
To read Amy's full post, visit https://bit.ly/3Q0Kvuc or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

'Why OCD Therapies Don’t Argue With OCD' is written by Amy Herter, LMFT of The Neurodivergent Collective in Newport Beach, CA...

03/19/2026

From Autistic Experience to Clinical Adaptation: Neurodivergent-Informed Care Across Therapy Models - An Online CEU Event!
Traditional therapy models are facing a long-overdue reckoning. Research increasingly shows that conventional clinical approaches often fail to align with neurodivergent neurobiology, creating a "model mismatch" that can hinder treatment effectiveness. To address this critical gap, Family First Adolescent Services and The Neurodivergent Collective are proud to present a specialized virtual clinical presentation: "From Autistic Experience to Clinical Adaptation: Neurodivergent-Informed Care and Model Mismatch in Therapy."
The presentation features two leading voices in the field of neurodiversity-affirming care: Dr. Ali Cunningham of The Nest by Family First and Dr. Tony Meiners of The Neurodivergent Collective. Together, they will guide clinicians through a historical and contemporary exploration of how mental health systems have interacted with autistic individuals.
Event Day: Friday, April 10, 2026
Event Time: 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM PDT / 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
To learn more and register, visit https://bit.ly/41kP6K8 or click Sprout 🔗 in bio

'From Autistic Experience to Clinical Adaptation: Neurodivergent-Informed Care and Model Mismatch in Therapy' featuring Dr. Tony Meiners...