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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 253 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 119 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 275 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 137 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 135 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 305 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 195 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 256 min read
Am I Autistic? Resources for Self-Exploration
If you've found yourself at this particular blog post, Am I Autistic? may be a question you've been wrestling with. This article is...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Mar 144 min read
Understanding Religious Trauma
Introduction to Religious Trauma Religious trauma can include widely varied experiences. To illustrate these we're going to use two...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jan 285 min read
Entrepreneurial creativity and ADHD: A wild ride
Are you an endlessly creative human or entrepreneur who often feels discouraged by being "bad at adulting"? Same. I was diagnosed with...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Aug 18, 20246 min read
Why being imperfectly affirming matters
If you're a trusted insider (friend, family member, or professional in the "helping" professions) to a neurodivergent or LGBTIA+ person...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Jun 4, 20245 min read
Another shooting... thoughts from an angry therapist
My heart breaks for Maine. Deep deep sadness is present and while I am looking forward to doing my work, being as present as I can be...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Oct 26, 20232 min read
One Therapy Key-Ingredient To Alleviate Loneliness!
If you're part of the loneliness epidemic - there's one thing that is essential when you're looking for a therapist. I'm going to be...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Oct 16, 20234 min read
The Silver Lining of Social Anxiety: Contemplating the "Comfort Zone"
Social anxiety can often feel like a never-ending loop of self-conscious thoughts and physical discomfort. You feel like the physical...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Sep 16, 20232 min read
When life does not go as planned: 3 self-care tips for life's disruptions
Sometimes things happen that we were not prepared for. When your world gets rocked, when the structure that you trusted as "how things...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Sep 6, 20233 min read
Celebrating Authenticity when you struggle to fit in
In a world that often feels intent on fitting square pegs into round holes, embracing what sets you apart can feel not only daunting but...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Sep 2, 20232 min read
Boundaries: Does that word mean what you think it means?
Therapy speak has gotten WAY more mainstream. Maybe the pandemic, or TikTok, or (this is a fun thought) the degradation of...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Aug 31, 20235 min read
From Isolation to Connection: A Compassionate Guide to Self-Care
Sometimes life throws us into situations that cause us to feel like a foreign object. You just don't fit in. In that environment, humans...
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Aug 19, 20233 min read
Two Flavors of Guilt: A Guide for Honoring Your Values and Boundaries
Guilt is often uncomfortable. We tend to think it means we've done something wrong. Could it help us connect with values & boundaries?
Helen Dempsey-Henofer LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Aug 14, 20233 min read
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