Online therapy, Autism & ADHD testing for adults in NY, IA, PA, GA & All PsyPact states

Banish Burnout, Embrace Joy

Feeling fed up with the demands of the status quo? Are you tired of putting yourself last, struggling to hold it all together, and wondering if this is as good as it gets?

As a sensitive and/or neurodivergent person…you are doing your best while trying to enjoy a well-rounded, healthy life but stuff gets in the way. It’s tough to remember your power, trust your inner wisdom, and create the life you deserve.

Perhaps you…

  • Identify as a highly-sensitive person (HSP) or neurodivergent (autism or ADHD) and want to further explore what that means for you

  • Feel burned out, exhausted, and overwhelmed too much of the time 

  • Find it hard to continue pushing aside your needs and masking your true reactions/responses 

  • Fight the loud and bossy inner critic while tapping into your inner wisdom/intuition

  • Struggle to communicate your unique needs as a ND/HSP to your partner(s) and the misunderstandings increase the feelings of disconnection from the one(s) you love

All you want is to feel like you are enough. You’ve read the self-help books, listened to podcasts, and attended yoga classes, but still you feel a disconnect between the life you have and the life you want. Your inner needs and the external world are in conflict far too often and it no longer feels worth it to push yourself through discomfort for the fleeting approval of the status quo.

You are not alone and you deserve better!

Hi, I’m Desiree,

I’m here to offer a safe space of advocacy, honest feedback, warmth, and humor(when appropriate) to support and guide you on this journey of creating a better life.

Treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all so we will collaboratively figure out what you need and when using a variety of techniques including EMDR, gentle goal-setting, somatic embodiment, self-compassion, mindfulness, IFS-informed and more.

If you are ready to say yes to yourself—to your healing, joy, and transforming from surviving to thriving… I’m here to help!

Meet Dr. Desiree

Services

  • Individual Therapy

    You don’t need to try harder, you need to feel safer! You deserve to have & enjoy the life you want that works for your unique needs as a highly-sensitive or neurodivergent person. Together we will collaboratively discuss what your personalized plan of healing and thriving will entail.

    More about Individual Therapy

  • EMDR Intensives

    If talk therapy alone hasn’t been enough to get unstuck from past pain, using body-based approaches might unlock that inner peace. Intensives focused on burnout recovery and trauma healing offer more time to dive deep to feel better faster.

    More about EMDR Intensives

  • Autism/ADHD Testing

    The fast-paced, busy, modern world that rewards the hustle/grind culture can be constantly overwhelming. An ADHD evaluation can help determine how much of your experience is internal or external so you can best know how to move forward with feeling better quickly.

    More about Autism & ADHD Testing

Approaches to Therapy

  • Somatic Embodiment

    Somatic embodiment therapy helps us reconnect with our bodies, release stored trauma, and embrace our full selves through mindful awareness and movement.

    More about Somatic Embodiment

  • Burnout Recovery

    Are you feeling burned out? It’s not your fault! Society rewards women for being selfless people-pleasers who light themselves on fire to keep others warm. Eff that nonsense! YOU matter. Perfectionism and unrealistic standards are unsustainable, especially for HSPs. Too many years of masking & maintaining the status quo will leave you exhausted and miserable.

    More about Burnout Recovery

  • IFS Informed Therapy

    Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helps individuals heal their inner parts, promoting emotional balance and self-awareness. By fostering a compassionate relationship with all aspects of oneself, IFS can lead to profound trauma healing, improved mental health, and lasting personal growth.

    More about IFS

  • Individual Therapy

    You don’t need to try harder, you need to feel safer! You deserve to have & enjoy the life you want that works for your unique needs as a highly-sensitive person or neurodivergent person.

    More about Individual Therapy

  • Therapy Intensives

    If talk therapy alone hasn’t been enough to get unstuck from past pain, using body-based approaches might unlock that inner peace. Intensives focused on burnout recovery and trauma healing offer more time to dive deep to feel better faster.

    More about Therapy Intensives

  • Adult Autism Evaluations

    Strengths-based, affirming evaluations for adults wondering if they meet criteria for diagnoses of Autism.

    More about Autism Evaluations

  • Adult ADHD Testing

    Strengths-based, affirming evaluations for adults wondering if they meet criteria for diagnoses of ADHD.

    More about ADHD Testing

  • EMDR

    EMDR therapy is an evidence-based way to bridge the gap between the logical and emotional parts of your brain so you can integrate and use all the positive self-help information you already know but have difficulty implementing in your daily life. Let’s get the parts of your brain working together!

    More about EMDR

  • Highly-Sensitive Persons

    A highly sensitive person (HSP) is someone who experiences the world with heightened emotional sensitivity and responsiveness to sensory input such as noise, light, and other people's emotions.

    More about Highly-Sensitive Persons

Empowering Sensitive & Neurodivergent Adults

  • From anxious & overwhelmed...

    -Imposter syndrome

    -Disconnected, lonely, & unsatisfying relationships

    -Exhausted & stressed

    -No time or energy for rest, fun, or pleasure

    -Masking, hiding, dimming your light

  • To confident & connected

    -Empowered & self-trusting

    -Healthy relationships

    -Enthusiastic & peaceful

    -A life that feels good, not just looks good

    -Acceptance & safety in your authenticity

Therapy & Evaluations with me are…

  • Compassionate, non-judgmental, inclusive, and collaborative

  • Personalized to you and your specific needs/goals/history/strengths

  • Focused on long-term change and transformation

  • Convenient and accessible via telehealth in over 40 locations in the U.S.

Testimonials

  • Desiree is an incredibly skilled psychologist with the knowledge, experience, and care to support and help you make important and lasting change in your life. In her work with clients (and really everyone in her life in general), she is empowering, warm, and most of all, authentic. She is also a phenomenal champion of social justice through her advocacy and work with individuals with not only respecting, but celebrating cultural diversity while also challenging social constructs that create inequity among many in our society. I can, with complete confidence, recommend that you work with Desiree to create the change in your life that you need and move from just surviving to full thriving.

    Dr. Dempsey Young

  • "Dr. Desiree Howell is a down-to-earth, genuine, and professional therapist. She will give you the support and guidance that you need"

    Nikole Boston

  • "Dr. Desiree Howell is a wonderful therapist. She cares deeply about her clients, is committed to helping people meet their personal goals, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. I highly recommend her!"

    Dr. Kathleen Niegocki Eysler

  • "Desiree genuinely cares about every person that comes to her for help. If you are feeling overwhelmed, she is the one to come to."

    Damaris Rodriguez

  • "Dr. Howell is such a passionate and authentic therapist! She really helps her clients connect with what's important in their lives, and empowers them to live that out. I highly recommend her!"

    Dr. Erica Hurley

How it Works

  • Schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation. We’ll talk about your goals and whether an intensive is a good fit for you.

  • Meet for our first session to create a clear plan and begin the healing process.

  • During the 2 or 3-hour intensive, we’ll use EMDR, IFS-informed, and/or somatic embodiment to work through the pain points that are keeping you stuck.

“Decide what kind of life you actually want, then say no to everything that isn’t that.”