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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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Allowing Space for Grief
Whether it’s the personal loss of a beloved person or other animal, or the larger-scale loss felt as we experience the polycrisis of climate change, pandemics, and genocide, learning to accept the grief that we experience and carry with us as individuals and communities can be transformational.

Sarah Lawson MSW
Jul 18, 20253 min read


“Am I Bad at Being an Adult?”
If you’ve ever looked around and thought, “Everyone else seems to have this whole adulthood thing figured out—what’s wrong with me?” — you’re not alone.

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jul 11, 20259 min read


When you're caught in the whirlpool: Creative expression & self-reflection for emotional regulation
It’s summertime in Virginia which means it’s swimming season. However, this summer also continues to heat up politically, and the image that comes to mind may be more raging whirlpool than cooling oasis. Discover how creative expression can help support self-reflection and emotional regulation.

Sarah Lawson MSW
Jul 4, 20254 min read


Mental Health Support for Queer and Neurodivergent People: Self-Compassion, Community, and Care in Uncertain Times
In a world that often feels like it’s teetering on the edge—politically, economically, environmentally—it’s hard to know how to keep...

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jun 27, 20255 min read


How to Find Your Way: Centering Values During Times of Unrest
Amidst times of unrest, clarifying your values can help you live the life you want to live.

Sarah Lawson MSW
Jun 20, 20254 min read


Unlearning Religious Shame as a Queer Person: You Were Never the Problem
For LGBTQIA+ folks raised in rigid or rejecting faith traditions, healing can start with the radical idea that there was nothing wrong...

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jun 13, 20257 min read


“Am I Allowed to Want This?”: Sex, Religious Trauma, and the Lingering Weight of Shame
Religious trauma doesn’t end when you leave the church. It lingers in the body—in the bedroom—in the questions you’re afraid to ask. But...

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jun 13, 20255 min read


Will I Ever Stop Feeling Anxious?
When you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, slowing down and changing your relationship to thoughts and feelings can help.

Sarah Lawson MSW
Jun 6, 20255 min read


Why Inclusive Therapy Matters: A Queer, Neurodivergent Reflection for Mental Health Awareness Month
By Helen Dempsey-Henofer, LCSW ADHD-CCSP Growing Up Queer and Neurodivergent in Rural Virginia I was a confused, socially awkward kid who...

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
May 30, 20255 min read


When You’re Trying Not to Feel
When things get overwhelming and you're looking for ways to feel nothing, practicing experiential acceptance can help.

Sarah Lawson MSW
May 23, 20254 min read


Should I Go No Contact?
How to Decide Whether to End Contact with a Friend or Family Member Deciding to go no contact with a friend or family member is a deeply...

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
May 19, 20255 min read


Like a Song Stuck in Your Head: Make Peace with Intrusive Thoughts
We’ve all experienced it—going about our day when suddenly, a song hijacks our brain. It might be an upbeat jingle or a barely noticed...

Mathew Christensen MSW
May 16, 20255 min read


WALL-E and Lessons on Mindfulness
Every single one of us exists with an autopilot—an subconscious, evolutionary form of thinking or decision making that exists to preserve...

Ames Gersten MSW
May 13, 20254 min read


Floating in the Void: Queer, Neurodivergent & Facing Existential Dread
If you’re queer, neurodivergent, and alive right now, chances are you’ve felt it — the hollow ache in your chest when the world feels...

Hannah Dickey MSW, LMSW
May 2, 20253 min read


Navigating Holiday Grief After Leaving High-Demand Religion
Holidays, whether those that get a lot of mainstream fanfare or those that are more a part of lesser-know cultural tradition, can be a...

Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Apr 25, 20256 min read


The Fishbowl Game for Executive Function
This is one of my favorite ideas from The Willpower Instinct , which is a treasure trove of executive function strategies. I’ve played it...

Thomas Harper LMSW
Apr 21, 20254 min read


Feeling Lonely? How ACT Can Help You Build a More Connected Life
Let’s Talk About Loneliness When someone asks if I'm an introvert or an extrovert, I say I'm an extrovert with social anxiety. I want...

Mathew Christensen MSW
Apr 11, 20255 min read


When Your Relationship Isn’t Safe: Intimate Partner Violence in the Queer Community
Resources to help identify when a relationship is unsafe and how to seek support

Sarah Lawson MSW
Apr 7, 20255 min read


Uncomfortable With Money? Let's Talk About It.
As Instagram influencers and financial experts flood our feeds, calling for us to freeze our credit scores, download our student loan...

Ames Gersten MSW
Mar 27, 20256 min read


Healing from Trauma: A Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach to Recovery
A common misconception about healing from trauma is that you are broken and that healing is how you get fixed. Healing from trauma is not...

Hannah Dickey MSW, LMSW
Mar 21, 20254 min read
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