You’ve read the books. You’ve talked to the pediatrician. You’ve absorbed every parenting account on social media that promised an answer. And you’re still watching your tween or teen struggle.
For parents raising an autistic or ADHD child, it isn’t about trying harder, a new chore chart, or the “right” consequence system. It’s about working with your child’s wiring instead of constantly fighting it.
She’s basically been training for this her whole life.
Before she was a therapist, Crystalena spent 15 years teaching middle school as a special-education-certified teacher. She also has a Ph.D. in human development, so she understands how growing brains work both from the research and from a decade and a half in the room with them.
And she’s not learning about autistic and ADHD kids secondhand. Crystalena is AuDHD herself. She was the kid who was “so smart” and had “so much potential” but couldn’t do school the way everyone expected. Your child’s inner world right now is probably a lot like hers back then.
The goal is never to make your child less autistic, less ADHD, or more “normal.” It’s to help them build the tools to thrive in a world that wasn’t built for their brain, and to build a bridge so you understand what’s actually going on, instead of guessing.
Not here to make them "normal". Here to help them thrive as they are.
Support from a therapist who was "that kid" too!
From elementary school to adulthood, guidance that grows right along with them — including the anxiety, shutdowns, or meltdowns that so often show up alongside autism and ADHD.”
Your family is in this together. That includes parent coaching, not just sessions for your child, because everyone's needs matter.
You don’t need a diagnosis in hand, a binder of research, or a five-step plan. Just start with the concerns you have today.
Consultations are free, and currently available within a week of booking.
Sessions are $60 – $125 on a sliding scale. No insurance required.
Schedule at (936) 358-9348 or Crystalena@humandifferently.com or the link below:
I didn’t talk much at all until I was 4, and I mostly echoed phrases back until I was about 6. I went through years of occupational, speech, and ABA therapies throughout childhood. I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was an undergraduate in college — right around the age a lot of my clients are now. Wanting to learn more about myself led me to earn a PhD in human development from the University of Tennessee.
Professionally, a few recent highlights:
Anxiety and depression show up so often alongside autism and ADHD that treating them is just part of treating the whole picture — you don’t need a separate referral for that. I’ve also worked with individuals with ODD, OCD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, as well as those wanting other supports. I’m happy to see those who haven’t obtained a formal diagnosis or who suspect neurodivergence but haven’t looked into it.
I see clients in person in Nacogdoches, TX. I also see clients across Texas using telehealth.
Currently, I have availability for new clients within about a week of scheduling. Clicking the button below will show my current availability. You may also call (936) 358-9348 or email Crystalena@humandifferently.com
No, I use a cash pay model. Billing insurance means a diagnosis must be filed and often comes with rules about how often and what types of treatment can be used. I utilize a cash pay model to keep sessions private and choose the therapeutic style we think is best. Cash pay also opens my services to those who suspect a diagnosis, but may not have it in hand.
I offer a sliding scale from $125 (full price) to $60 for an hour-long session. For college students, I have a certain percentage of my caseload at an even lower rate.
I primarily utilize dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), along with elements of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solution-focused brief therapy. For younger clients, I typically talk while using guided activities such as drawing or building.
I want you to find a therapist who is right for you. In a 20-minute conversation with no pressure, I think we both get a sense of how the relationship feels and whether it makes sense to move forward.
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