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Hi, I’m SarahNeurodivergent-affirming counselor in Gilbert, AZ
Counselor in training. Relationship-first human.they/she
I work with children, teens, and families when things feel like a lot, offering therapy that’s warm, attuned, and completely free of blame.
View Sarah’s training experience
Neurodivergent therapist in Arizona
Me, growing as a counselorI’m not a late bloomer. I chose to bloom differently.
I came to this work not from a textbook but from lived experience. I am a neurodivergent clinician, a parent of neurodivergent children, and someone who spent years being dismissed, misdiagnosed, and handed a story about myself that was never true. I know what it feels like to sit across from someone with authority over your wellbeing and have your carefully documented experience of yourself dismissed. I know what it feels like to figure it out anyway, without the right support, building your own framework piece by piece because nobody was coming to do it for you.
That history is not separate from my clinical identity. It is the foundation of it. This is who I am becoming. And I am becoming her on my own terms.
I currently practice under the supervision of Dezerrae Houk as a BHPP (Behavioral Health Professional in Practice) with ClearWaves Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona.
ClearWaves CounselingThe frameworks I counsel from
Nervous System-Informed
Regulation before behavior.
Attachment Theory
Connection + repair.
Social Justice Lens
Identity, power, culture, humility.
Play-Based
Creative, expressive work.
Neuro-Affirming
Autonomy over compliance.
Anti-Blame
Parents are part of the team.
Relational, regulated, and attuned. I don’t come in with a script. I follow the nervous system: yours, your kid’s, your family’s. I bring play, creativity, and space for the messy parts alongside the meaningful ones.
Why I’m a therapist
Honestly? Because I’ve lived it. I know what it feels like to be deeply misunderstood as a neurodivergent person, and I know what it means to finally feel heard.
I believe behavior is communication, not something to control or fix. Every person I work with is already full of information about what they need. My job is to help them slow down enough to actually hear it.
When we make that shift, things open up in ways I find genuinely extraordinary to witness.
Behavior is communicationWho I work with
Neurodivergentindividuals
LGBTQIA+youth
All thecaregivers
The wholefamily
Some of my favorite things…
Fav creature comforts
Fav movies & TV shows to watch (a lot)
Fav songs
Fav ways to play
Fav conversations
Check out the office
I’m currently working at ClearWaves Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona, under the supervision of the amazing Dezerrae Houk, LPC. Neurodivergent folks often like to see where they’ll be, so here are a few photos to orient you to the space.
Where I am in the journey
I’m a counselor in training under the supervision of the incredible Dezerrae Houk at ClearWaves Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona, and a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Grand Canyon University.
This field asks you to keep learning, not just from books, but from real relationships, real families, and real moments that don’t fit into neat categories.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with autistic and ADHD kids and teens?
Yes. I work with autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and sensory-sensitive kids and teens, and with the families who love them. My approach is neurodiversity-affirming: we focus on regulation, connection, and autonomy, not on compliance or teaching kids to mask who they are.
What is play therapy, and what ages is it for?
Play is how children communicate. In play therapy, toys, art, sand, and movement become the language kids use to work through big feelings and experiences they don’t have words for yet. It’s most often used with children around ages 3 to 12, and I bring creative, expressive approaches into my work with teens too.
Where is your office?
I see clients at ClearWaves Counseling, 4100 S Lindsay Rd #124, Gilbert, Arizona. The office is an easy drive from Mesa, Chandler, and Queen Creek.
What does “neurodiversity-affirming” mean in therapy?
It means your child’s brain isn’t treated as something broken. We don’t aim to make kids look “indistinguishable” from their peers or stop safe stims. Instead, we work on what actually helps: feeling safe, understood, and regulated, and building skills in ways that fit how their brain works.
How much do sessions cost?
Sessions are $65 per hour. If you have questions about cost or payment, reach out and we’ll talk it through together.
What insurance do you take?
I accept Cigna and Evernorth. If you have a different plan, you’re welcome to see me at the private-pay rate of $65 per hour. Call or email and we can check your benefits together before your first session.
How do I schedule with you at ClearWaves?
Call 480-359-7950, email sarah@clearwavescounseling.com, or fill out the contact form below and I’ll get back to you.
Contact
Professionally insured through the American Counseling Association.
Memberships & certifications
- Graduate member, American Psychological Association
- Graduate member, American Counseling Association
- Member, Arizona Association for Play Therapy
Bloom Differently · sarahapotter.com
Let’s connect
Please keep it general. This form isn’t a secure place for private health details. If you’re in crisis, call or text 988 or call 911.