Rachel Sirek

My work is informed by both clinical training & lived experience. My background in crisis/outpatient care across hospitals, jails, homes, & community settings, along with two terms of service in AmeriCorps, shaped my understanding of systemic inequities & how that impacts our mental health.

Growing up neurodivergent & navigating systems that fell short of supporting me is why I’m passionate about helping others understand their own brains while working through trauma. I always struggled to find a therapist who understood me, & that inspired me to learn more about my own neurodivergence, as well as learn therapy approaches & adapt them to fit what works best for me.

Common topics like sensory gating, working memory, RSD, pattern recognition, sensory filtering, & time-driven productivity are things many of us haven’t been taught about. We’ll look at emotional regulation-what does that look like with ADHD? We’ll also go over how PTSD can impact us when it’s paired with ADHD. Because these topics haven’t been taught, a lot of us often feel isolated, misunderstood, or have developed inaccurate core beliefs about ourselves.

This includes ADHD, autism, AuDHD, dyslexia, sensory processing differences, learning disabilities, & other ways of thinking & experiencing the world. It isn’t something that needs to be fixed because it’s part of human diversity. Therapy can help you better understand your brain, reduce self-criticism, & find approaches that fit how you operate. I especially enjoy supporting clients with AuDHD to better understand executive functioning, emotions, & their sense of identity.

I love working with bipolar disorder, BPD, anxiety, depression, trauma, C-PTSD, psychosis, & schizophrenia.

About me: I have a big, Maine Coon cat named Moose who occasionally makes an appearance on camera. I love camping in the mountains, running, watching true crime, & snacks.

I love science, and we use that in session to help us better understand what’s happening with your brain, emotions, behaviors, and patterns.

We use what works, explore what comes up, and build tools that actually make sense for your life.

I also show up as me in the room. I have processing differences and write things down while you’re talking so I can fully take in what you’re saying. My ADHD shows up too - I might move around a lot on screen or laugh and say I had an ADHD moment. Therapy is a space where we both get to be human.

Our first session is usually a little more structured because we’ll complete the intake process and gather the information needed for insurance, as well as learn more about your background, goals, and what brings you to therapy.

After that, we get to be our weird selves and start exploring what’s showing up for you -whether that’s something from your week, patterns you’ve noticed, emotions, relationships, or just trying to better understand yourself. We’ll talk about how your brain works, how neurodivergence may impact your experiences, and what approaches feel supportive for you.

Therapy doesn’t have to look one specific way here. Feel free to move around, stim, take breaks, and show up as yourself. All animals are welcome in session too.