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Paths Uncharted.
A collaborative blog by Divergent Path Wellness
exploring mental health in context, centering neurodivergent and queer experiences, and undermining prescriptive paths
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Write With Us: Contribute to the Paths Uncharted Blog.
In Paths Uncharted , we’re exploring mental health in context—through lenses that are lived, layered, and sometimes unexpected. We write...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jul 25, 20253 min read


Getting Unstuck: 4 ADHD-Friendly Tools for Getting Going
We’ve all been there. You’re staring at The Thing. You want to do it. But your brain says “nope.” That’s not a moral failure. It's executive dysfunction. At Divergent Path Wellness, we keep it as really as humanly possible. Here are four low-tech, high-impact tools that help me and my clients get unstuck. The 5-minute timer tricker. Task paralysis? Set a timer for 5 minutes. That’s it. You can stop after. Usually, the hardest part is starting. The timer gives your brain permi
Hannah Dickey MSW, LCSW
Jun 262 min read


BYO (bring-your-own) fidgets: Some considerations as you get ready for virtual therapy
These suggestions can help ensure that you feel safe and supported in virtual therapy...
Sarah Lawson MSW
Jun 196 min read


Waiting for Your Parent to Finally Be the Adult? Attachment Wounds and Parentification in Adulthood
If you're an adult who's long felt you had to be responsible for your parents feelings... If your parent tends to not apologize when they've acted cruelly, called you "too sensitive" and ignored your feelings... all the while seeming to expect you to treat them as though they were stable and safe. You should know: Healthy attachment is not automatic, and it is not guaranteed by biology. Children with emotionally intelligent parents have a privilege that is often not talked a
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jun 134 min read


On the Outside Looking In – On Trauma, Diversity, Neurodivergence and Belonging
Some of the hardest moments in life aren’t about what’s happening around us, but what’s happening inside of us when we believe we don’t belong. Exclusion—whether explicit or subtle, social or internalized—can leave deep marks on mental health and relationships. To explore this, let’s look at three people who might never meet, but who each know what it feels like to be on the outside looking in. Three Experiences of Difference A Bisexual Mom at the Playground She pushes her ch
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jun 66 min read


Is it Trauma, Neurodivergence, or Both?
Is it trauma, neurodivergence, or both? Learn how hypervigilance, sensitivity, and social discomfort overlap—and why a neurodivergent-affirming approach to trauma recovery leads to more effective healing.
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
May 283 min read


Growing Together: Navigating Gender Transition in Relationships
Gender transitions in relationships can bring joy, grief, and growth. Learn how to support both partners’ needs—emotional, relational, and practical—with reflection prompts to help you navigate change together.
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
May 135 min read


How to Find an Affirming Therapist: What Questions to Ask in a Consultation
Finding the right therapist can feel overwhelming. If you’re LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent, living with chronic illness, deconstructing from a...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
May 12 min read


Embracing Rejection: The Power of Letting Go
Rejection stings. It can feel like a door slammed in your face, or worse, like proof that something about you is unworthy. For LGBTQIA+...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Apr 142 min read


Jokes On You: The Discomfort of Disruptive Humor for Literal Thinkers
April 1 rolls around, and suddenly the world feels a little less safe. Alarms are set for fake wake-up calls, coffee mugs mysteriously...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Apr 24 min read


You Weren’t Too Sensitive. You Were a Kid With Undiagnosed ADHD.
For parents raised as girls who recognize themselves in their child’s diagnosis If you are a human who was born with a uterus, perhaps you noticed somewhere around middle school that the other kids seemed to know social rules that you didn’t. Maybe reading text for class was boring and stupid and you had to reread the same paragraph five times and still didn’t understand what it was saying. Perhaps other people told you, not infrequently, that you were “sensitive,” and that y
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Mar 246 min read


Better Living Through Chemicals? Informed Decision-Making and Your Body
Substances are part of human history. People use them to connect, to cope, to celebrate, to spark creativity, to escape, or simply to...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Mar 144 min read


What is PDA? Drive for Autonomy or Demand Avoidance
When most people hear “PDA,” they think public displays of affection. In neurodivergent spaces, though, PDA usually means something very...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Mar 45 min read


When Your Child Is Exploring Their Gender: A Guide for Parents
If your elementary- or high school-age child has said something like: “I don’t feel like a girl.” “I think I’m a boy.” “Can you use they/them for me?” “I want a different name.” It can stop you in your tracks. You may feel protective. Confused. Afraid of doing the wrong thing. You may wonder whether this is a phase, whether you’re supposed to correct it, or whether affirming it somehow makes it permanent. Maybe you've already responded and are now wondering: Am I doing the ri
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Feb 155 min read


Neurodivergent Burnout Recovery: Top 3 Therapist Recommendations
Burnout hits differently when you’re neurodivergent. It’s not just about being tired from work or needing a vacation—it’s often a deep,...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Feb 43 min read


This Is Me: How To Respond To Being Misgendered
Being misgendered can be painful and exhausting. This guide offers 10 practical scripts for responding when someone uses the wrong pronouns—at work, with family, or in daily life. Learn how to set clear boundaries, when to correct or redirect, and why your choice to speak up (or not) is always valid. Expecting respect isn’t asking too much.
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jan 282 min read


How to Support a Trans Loved One in 2026: A Back-to-Basics Guide
Let’s be honest: things are hard . They’ve been hard for a while, and in 2026 they remain hard in very specific, targeted ways for trans people — especially trans kids and teens. If you’ve been paying attention to the news, social media, or political discourse, you’ve likely seen it: trans people treated like a debate, a threat, or a problem to solve. So let’s say this clearly and without caveats: Trans people are not the problem. Your identity is real. You deserve safety, di
Hannah Dickey MSW, LCSW
Jan 244 min read


Longing & Loss: Exploring Grief & Healing through Heated Rivalry
Explore different types of grief through a closer look at everyone's favorite queer hockey show, Heated Rivalry
Sarah Lawson MSW
Jan 217 min read


Misleading Packages – Dating, Presentation, and Neurodivergence
Ever bought a box of whole-grain cereal and found candy inside? At first glance, it looks like you’re getting something wholesome, responsible, maybe even a little virtuous. Open it up, though, and there’s crunchy rainbow marshmallows where the oats should be. That mismatch—between the package and what’s actually inside—isn’t just a silly grocery-store story. It’s also a metaphor for what many of us do in dating. If you're feeling a bit called out, this isn't just you. It's c
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jan 64 min read


The Pressure To Be Jolly: Coping With Holiday Stress
The holidays are often painted as a season of joy — twinkling lights, cozy traditions, picture-perfect family gatherings. But for many...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Dec 23, 20252 min read
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