About Christine Harris, LPCC
Telehealth Service Areas: MN, FL, and AZ
Hi!
I'm Christine, founder of Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy and Wellness Center and a late-diagnosed AuDHDer and licensed clinical mental health therapist.
For much of my life, I felt fundamentally out of step with the world. Like many of my clients, I worked so hard to mask, overachieve, and "pass" as what I thought I was supposed to be. I spent years wondering why everything felt harder for me than it seemed for other people, why I needed to retreat after social events, and why I held myself to impossible standards just to feel "good enough."
Then I discovered I was autistic and ADHD—and everything changed.
The profound shift wasn't realizing I was broken—it was realizing I'd been forcing myself to live against my natural neurology. This transformation from self-criticism to self-understanding is the exact journey I now guide my clients through. Being diagnosed as an adult means I understand the unique challenges you may be facing: the relief, the reframing, and the complicated grief that comes with late recognition.
My Philosophy: Why I Built This Practice
I became a therapist to create the space I always wished I'd had—one where you don't have to explain away who you are or waste energy pretending to be “normal.” I know what it's like to sit across from professionals who pathologize your differences rather than understand them, who treat your quirks as symptoms rather than recognizing them as part of your authentic self.
So I built my practice differently.
In therapy with me, you can bring your whole self—stimming, info-dumping, melting down, all of it—and know you'll be met with genuine understanding, care, and respect. You don't have to perform neurotypicality or defend your experiences.
Here, your differences aren't deficits—they're part of what makes you uniquely you.
My Core Approach: Lived Experience Meets Clinical Expertise
I bring both lived experience as a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult and clinical training to my work. I earned my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), which means I'm qualified to provide comprehensive mental health services including assessment, diagnosis, and therapy.
What makes my approach unique is combining clinical expertise with personal understanding. I don't just know the research about neurodivergence—I live it daily. This allows me to offer both clinical skills and authentic insight into what it actually feels like to navigate the world as a neurodivergent person.
My work is characterized by these principles:
Neurodiversity-Affirming: I see autism and ADHD as natural variations, not flaws to fix. My work focuses on building skills to navigate the world while affirming your authentic self.
Trauma-Informed: I recognize the impact of years of masking, misunderstanding, and trying to fit into spaces not built for you.
Evidence-Based: I integrate a blend of established therapeutic approaches (such as ACT, DBT, CBT, ERP, somatic, and schema therapy) adapted specifically for neurodivergent brains.
Collaborative: You are the expert on your own life. I bring clinical tools and personal neurodivergent experience. Together, we discover what's possible.
Who I Work With
I specialize in supporting neurodivergent adults at all stages of their journey:
Adults questioning if they might be neurodivergent and seeking clarity.
Recently diagnosed individuals processing their new identity.
Those experiencing chronic burnout, anxiety, or depression tied to years of masking.
People ready to unlearn self-blame and build authentic relationships with themselves.
Adults navigating the grief of late recognition while reframing their past with compassion.
Values That Guide Our Work
Therapy requires vulnerability. You deserve to know exactly who you're sitting across from.
Radical Honesty and Transparency: I'm open about who I am and how I work. You deserve complete clarity about whether we are a good fit.
Justice and Inclusion: I actively welcome clients of all genders, sexualities, races, abilities, and backgrounds. My practice stands firmly against racism, ableism, homophobia, and systems that harm marginalized communities.
Compassion Over Minimization: I take masking, burnout, shame, and neurodivergent trauma seriously—I will never dismiss or minimize your struggles.
Collaboration Over Hierarchy: I don't position myself as the "expert who fixes you." I am a skilled partner walking alongside you.
Beyond the Office
Outside of therapy, I'm an animal lover, an athlete, and a lifelong learner diving deep into my latest special interests. Your interests aren't distractions; they're often the keys to understanding how your mind works best. This philosophy shapes how I work with clients—integrating your passions, strengths, and natural ways of being into our therapeutic journey.
Is This the Right Fit for You?
The therapeutic relationship is deeply personal. I work best with adults who:
Want affirmation of their neurodivergent identity, not elimination of it.
Are ready to explore their authentic selves rather than just managing symptoms.
Understand that healing isn't about becoming "normal"—it's about becoming yourself.
If this sounds like what you’re looking for, I'd love to talk. If it doesn't quite fit, I trust you to know what you need and encourage you to keep searching for your right therapeutic match.
You've already shown wisdom by taking time to understand who you might be working with. That thoughtfulness matters— it’s the moment you choose understanding for yourself.