Online therapy for neurodivergent & anxious parents —or people preparing for or considering parenthood.
Anywhere in New York.
Does this sound familiar?
You're exhausted and overwhelmed by parenthood, doubting your abilities, maybe even second-guessing why you had kids in moments of despair.
No matter how hard you try, you can’t shake the constant feelings of failure or the belief that things are just harder for you than they should be. You should be happy! You should be thriving! You definitely should not be feeling this out of control.
You feel depleted, touched-out, frazzled, and worn down, give or take a million other synonyms. Your sensory needs feel impossible to honor and you have never felt more overstimulated. Your brain is a nonstop catalog of intrusive thoughts, negative self-talk, and you can’t even remember the last time you felt in control. You wonder if you’ll ever feel like yourself again and you’re all too aware of your perceived shortcomings as a parent. You catch yourself thinking you will let your children down and fail spectacularly.
Maybe you’re expecting a child and the anxiety about the transition into parenthood is swallowing you whole. Or maybe you’re trying to figure out if you even should have kids at all. Are you enough? Are you too much? Are you too sensitive, too anxious, too weird to be a parent?
What if you could experience a safe and empathetic space to share these feelings and experiences judgment-free? What if you trusted that your fears, anxieties and the differences of your brain don’t define you as a parent or limit your worth? What if you knew that you could get the support you need to begin enjoying parenthood more and connecting to your unique needs?
Know this: It feels hard because it is hard. You don’t have to do it alone. You don’t have to bottle it in.
You are a good parent. It can and will get better.
Hi! I’m Kate.
I’m a neurodivergent therapist and a mom of two.
Just like you, I’m on this wild ride of parenting. I know how weird and lonely it can feel. And I can help.
Kate Duffy, LCSW (she/her)
I believe that every parent deserves support (including you! Yes, you!)
I offer online therapy for neurodivergent and anxious parents (or those expecting or contemplating parenthood) who want to deepen their understanding of their needs and alleviate feelings of shame, inadequacy, and isolation.
I’m here to help you feel more grounded and supported as you navigate the herculean task of raising small humans and rise to the challenge of meeting the unique needs of your brain while doing so.
Holding my first daughter, Joni, during week one of parenting in December 2020. I was in love with this person I had created and yet had never felt more terrified or incompetent.
My Story
Let’s be honest: being a parent is absolutely wild. It is both the hardest and most wonderful thing I’ve ever done. Whether you’re a parent now or thinking about becoming one, you know that this journey can bring up a ton of vulnerability and fear.
As a neurodivergent person who has benefited tremendously from therapy, I know firsthand that finding the right support can feel overwhelming and often demoralizing. I bring my own unique experience and story to the therapy process just like you do. Here’s a little bit about me:
I have lived experience with chronic anxiety, specifically OCD, which I have grappled with since I was a child. Like so many people, I have suffered from perinatal depression and anxiety throughout pregnancy and postpartum life. I am fortunate enough to have two incredible daughters who have cracked open my world and forever reshaped it for the better.
Despite loving and delighting in my children, becoming a parent (in 2020, no less!) was HARD. I had always wanted children and was overjoyed to learn I was pregnant. But the beginning of the pandemic, flaring OCD symptoms, and general fears about the change I was embarking on got to me. Big time. My first daughter arrived and I plunged into terror and sheer panic. I felt like I was failing constantly and that my brain was a scary and bad place that was fundamentally unsuitable for parenting. Everything felt wrong. I felt at my core that I was deficient and that my sensory needs, compulsions, and intrusive thoughts were signs that I was not going to be a good mom. In fact, I was pretty sure I was going to ruin my child (spoiler alert: she’s fine).
Basically, I was spinning out and felt imprisoned by my own thoughts.
I wish I could say that four years later, I’ve got it all figured out. But the truth is, no one does. While I have grown tremendously as a mom and find so much more joy and contentment in parenting, I’m deeply aware that it is always a series of peaks and valleys. The highs are high and the lows can be really low. But what I also know is this: you do not have to do this alone. You are a good parent and you can feel more embodied in your needs, less anxious, and more confident. I can help you get there.
With my second daughter, Izzy, in June 2024. Tired but feeling more capable and embodied in my role as a mom.
My Approach
I bring warmth and openness to a therapeutic process that keeps you in the driver’s seat, always. My clinical style is warm, direct, and person-centered. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, I will take the time and space necessary to build a safe and trusting relationship with you so that we can do the difficult work that therapy requires. You are the expert on your own life and I will treat you as such!
I work from a trauma-informed lens and commit myself as a therapist to practicing from an anti-racist, LGBTQIA+ and disability/chronic illness-affirming, COVID-conscious, fat-positive, and anti-diet framework.
My clients seek to connect to and embrace their unique needs as individuals and parents while pushing back against a world that tells them they’re deficient for being different. I’m here to be a supportive partner for you as you build trust in yourself.
Parents are doing the daunting work of raising the next generation of people, and that takes a mountain of energy, intention, and grace. I believe that we are all innately worthy and want to do right by our kids. And if you’re expecting a child or maybe just contemplating whether parenthood is for you, you might also be feeling scared, confused, or inadequate. I’m here to help you along this experience so you can figure out what you want and need and how to better access it.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part, but I’m here to make it as soft a landing place as possible. Reach out to me for a free consultation so we can get to know each other. I look forward to hearing from you!
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in New York State, #089601
Master of Social Work, Simmons University
Bachelor Degree in English Literature with Concentration in Women and Gender Studies, Clark University
Credentials
FAQ
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I specialize in working with parents (including expectant parents or those contemplating parenthood) who identify as neurodivergent (yes, self diagnosis totally counts!). This includes all types of conditions, including autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. I also work extensively with OCD and intrusive thoughts, particularly as these structures overlap with neurodivergence and interfere with our desired lives.
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I believe that therapy is, above all else, an intimate relationship between people. As a neurodivergent person who has benefited greatly from therapy myself, I know how important it is to find a therapist who sees you as the expert on your own life, listens, affirms, and walks alongside you in your journey.
I use a variety of treatment approaches, drawing on relational, DBT, cognitive, and narrative modalities. I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy and always hold your unique needs and goals in mind when collaborating on a treatment plan.
My clients would describe me as warm, direct, curious, and funny. Most importantly, I will work to get to know you and create a safe space for you to show up authentically. I invite you to come to therapy comfortably, eat a snack, drink a beverage, have your pets with you, dress comfortably, and use any fidget/stimming tools that help you feel at ease.
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If you are interested in working with me, please reach out via email or phone. From there, we can schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation to discuss what is bringing you to therapy and see if we are a good fit for one another. I always encourage using this opportunity to ask me any questions you have and share what feels important for me to know about you.
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My fee for a 55-minute weekly individual therapy session is $225, payable by credit card. I am able to provide a monthly superbill to you if you wish to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement.
I believe that quality therapy should be available to everyone. My full fee allows me to keep a limited number of sliding scale spots for people in need of lower cost sessions. If finances are a concern for you, please let me know when you reach out.
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My fully-virtual practice is based out of my home in Westchester County and allows me to meet with clients located anywhere in New York. Therapy sessions are conducted via a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform called SimplePractice.
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At this time, I only provide individual therapy sessions for adults 18 and over.
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You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
For more information on your right to a Good Faith Estimate visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059
Let’s talk!
Therapy is an important relationship.
I would love to connect with you for a free 20 minute consultation to learn more about you and make sure we’re a good fit.
If you’re interested in working together, please reach out for a free 20 minute consultation!
Online therapy for New York residents
kate@kateduffytherapy.com
(914) 348-1712
282 Katonah Avenue, PMB 510
Katonah, NY 10536