Patricia Ames

If you've spent your life feeling like you're running a different operating system than everyone around you - and that nobody gave you the manual - you're in the right place. I work with neurodivergent people, complex trauma survivors, helping professionals, parents, students, and LGBTQIA+ individuals who are trying to build a life that actually fits them.

I've been doing this work for 7 years as a therapist, 9 years as a professional and a lifetime as a neurodivergent person myself. What I care most about is understanding your specific world - not fitting you into a generic treatment plan. Whether you come in with a clear sense of what's wrong, a recent ADHD or autism diagnosis (for yourself, or someone you care for), or just a feeling that something needs to change, we can work with any of that.

I currently live and work in Western New York, in the heart of Chautauqua County. My career has given me the opportunity to learn and work in Jamestown, Dunkirk, Buffalo and the surrounding areas. I am a proud member of my community. I work via online telehealth, allowing me to also serve any NY resident outside of these areas.

If you'd like to talk before booking, I offer a free consultation - no pressure, no commitment required.

My work is rooted in motivational interviewing, solutions-focused brief therapy, and mindfulness - which in practice means I'm not here to tell you what to do. Instead, we figure out what you actually want and what's been getting in the way.

I pay close attention to strengths, because people who've spent years surviving in a world not built for them are usually carrying more resilience than they realize - even when it doesn't feel that way. I also take complex trauma seriously, especially the kind that accumulates quietly: from years of masking, from being chronically misunderstood, or from carrying the emotional weight of others while your own needs go unmet.

My goal is for therapy to feel like something that works with your brain, not against it.

The first session is really a conversation - no performance required on your part. We'll talk about what's bringing you in, what you've tried before (in therapy or otherwise), and what you actually hope this work can do for you. I'll share a bit about how I operate and answer any questions you have.

Part of what I'm looking for is a genuine fit: I want to make sure my approach and your needs actually line up before either of us commits to anything. I'd rather spend 50 minutes figuring that out together than push forward with a poor match.

My goal for session one is simple: you leave feeling heard, and maybe a little more hopeful than when you arrived. If you'd like to get a sense of that before we begin, click "Book a Consultation" to schedule a free intro call first.