Dr. Kierstin Carreira

Hi, I'm Kierstin, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in ADHD, autism and neurodivergence, trauma, behavior, and parenting. My approach is collaborative, practical, and trauma-informed. I believe behavior is communication and that understanding the "why" behind a behavior is often the first step toward meaningful change.

I work alongside clients and families to better understand what's happening, build on their existing strengths, and develop strategies that are realistic for everyday life. Whether you're navigating your own neurodivergence, supporting a child with challenging behaviors, or working through the effects of trauma, my goal is to create a space where you feel understood rather than judged—and supported rather than told what you "should" be doing.

I believe therapy works best when it feels like a partnership rather than a prescription. My role isn't to tell you who you should be or what you should do. My role is to listen, help you make sense of what you're experiencing, and offer tools and perspectives that can help you move toward the life and relationships you want.

I approach therapy from a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, and strengths-based perspective. I'm particularly interested in understanding the why behind behaviors rather than simply trying to stop the behavior itself. Whether we're working through trauma, navigating ADHD or autism, addressing challenging behaviors, or finding more effective parenting strategies, I focus on practical changes that can translate into everyday life.

You don't have to have everything figured out before you come to therapy. We can figure it out together.

Our first session is about getting to know you—not just what's bringing you to therapy.

I like to take time at the beginning of our work together to understand the bigger picture of your life. We'll talk about what's happening now, but also about your history, relationships, family, experiences, strengths, environment, and the things that have shaped how you navigate the world.

I do this because I don't want to look at one behavior, symptom, or challenge in isolation. I want to understand the whole person. From there, we'll identify what you'd like to change, what is already working, and what we can work on together.

The first session isn't a test, and you don't need to have the "right" answers. Think of it as the beginning of a conversation that helps us understand where you've been, where you are now, and where you'd like to go.