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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


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
1 hour ago5 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,...
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


Why Is It So Hard to Find an Affirming Therapist Who Accepts My Insurance?
If you’ve ever searched for an in-network therapist who truly “gets it”—someone inclusive, LGBTQ-affirming, neurodivergent-friendly, and...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Dec 10, 20256 min read


Grief during the holidays: Creative strategies to support you
The holiday season can be full of grief triggers, especially if you’re Covid-conscious, queer, trans, neurodivergent, or living with chronic illness or chronic pain. Discover creative strategies and tools to support you in making space for grief during the holidays...
Sarah Lawson MSW
Dec 4, 20254 min read


10 Meaningful Gifts to Deepen Connection with Your Partner
Holiday or not, the best gifts remind your partner they’re accepted, valued, and loved. These ideas go beyond consumerism, tying into...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Nov 26, 20253 min read


When Friends and Family Don’t Welcome Your Authenticity
Navigating Rejection, Setting Boundaries, and Reclaiming Your Right to Be Fully You For many queer, neurodivergent, or otherwise...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Nov 13, 20254 min read


How To Unmask Safely: What To Do When Hiding Who You Are Becomes Habit
An honest reflection on safety, identity, and cultivating authenticity On Halloween, we put on masks and costumes for fun — to try on...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Oct 29, 20255 min read


Queering the Holidays: Create Traditions You Actually Want to Celebrate
A guide for LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent folks to plan ahead, set boundaries, and reclaim the season with intention—not obligation The...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Oct 17, 20254 min read


This Is Not My Beautiful Life: Relationship Guidance for When You’re Asking Yourself, “How Did I Get Here?”
For late-identified queer, neurodivergent, deconstructing humans If you’ve ever looked around your life—your home, your relationship,...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Oct 3, 20256 min read


Caught Between Conscience and Compulsion - Understanding Scrupulosity, OCD, and Religious Trauma
by Mx. Lauren Johnson What if your moral compass— once a source of comfort and guidance— has become a relentless source of fear, shame,...
Lauren Johnson LPC
Sep 24, 20257 min read


Self-Advocacy at Work: Confronting Queer Erasure in Professional Spaces
You deserve to be all of who you are—even at work. In many workplaces, professionalism is quietly coded: not too loud, not too soft, not...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Sep 19, 20255 min read


The Art Of The Pivot: Why What Works For Politicians Can Derail Your Relationship
In politics, the “pivot” is a skill. A candidate is asked a tough question, and instead of answering it directly, they pivot to what...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Sep 9, 20253 min read


Affirming Your Queer Partner in a Hetero-Presenting Relationship
Love doesn’t always look how people expect—and that’s okay. If you're in a relationship that the world reads as heterosexual, but your...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Sep 5, 20255 min read


The Poor Kid Game: On Vulnerability and Unidentified Autism
A childhood board game revealed hidden struggles with autism. Lara shares her story of growing up undiagnosed and finding meaning in late discovery.
Lara Schaeffer
Aug 29, 20258 min read
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