About Us

Our Mission

To provide continuing education and consultation that prepares clinicians with the knowledge, frameworks, and practical strategies necessary to deliver affirming, non-pathologizing, trauma-informed care for neurodivergent individuals.

In doing so, we contribute to a broader cultural shift within clinical practice.

Our Vision

We envision a future in which neuroaffirming competence is a professional baseline and advanced neurodivergent-informed expertise is widely accessible.

We envision a growing community of clinicians who are committed to raising the standard of care, learning from one another, and challenging outdated paradigms.

NeuroAffirm Institute exists to be at the forefront of that transformation.

Our Approach

NeuroAffirm Institute offers both core and advanced training for clinicians.

We offer two training pathways:

  • Foundations
    Core competency training for clinicians seeking to provide responsible, neuroaffirming care.
  • Advanced
    Specialist-level training for clinicians pursuing deeper mastery, complex case application, and refined clinical integration.

Welcome!

Clinician-Led. Community-Informed.

NeuroAffirm Institute is therapist-founded and therapist-directed. We believe clinical standards should be shaped by practicing clinicians who understand the realities of therapeutic work.

Our direction is guided by professional expertise, supported by an advisory board of practicing clinicians, and continually informed by the mental health community and clients we serve.

This structure ensures our work remains grounded, rigorous, and responsive.

Our Commitment to Ethical, Neuroaffirming Care

The NeuroAffirm Institute  was founded to advance a new ethical standard of care for neurodivergent individuals.

For too long, neurodivergent people have experienced erasure, misdiagnosis, discrimination, and unintended harm within medical and mental health systems. These patterns reflect ableism and systemic gaps in professional education and clinical training.

➔ NeuroAffirm Institute exists to close this gap.

NeuroAffirm Institute provides both foundational and specialized training for clinicians.

We believe neuroaffirming competence is foundational to ethical practice. All clinicians work with neurodivergent clients, whether they recognize it or not. Without appropriate training, clinicians may unintentionally pathologize, misunderstand, or overlook neurodivergent experiences.

Dr. Tasha Oswald head shot

About Tasha Oswald, PhD

Dr. Tasha Oswald (she/her) founded NeuroAffirm Institute. She is a licensed psychologist, educator, clinical consultant, author, and advocate. Identifying as neurodivergent, she believes that no single neurotype or diagnostic label fully defines her. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, she is a White, cisgender female and a proud member of a beautifully neurodiverse, multicultural family.

Tasha founded the Neurodiversity Wellness Center in California, a pioneering practice specializing in autistic adults. Recognizing the need for better mental health support for neurodivergent adults, she also established the NeuroAffirm Institute to provide clinicians with consultation and training on neuro-affirming practices. She is passionate about helping clinicians also explore and embrace their own neurodivergence.

Tasha specializes in working with neurodivergent women, high-masking autistics, late-life diagnosed autistics and ADHDers, neurodivergent working professionals, autistic emerging young adults, gifted neurodivergent individuals, and highly sensitive persons (HSPs). Using a neurodiversity-affirming approach, she embraces autism, ADHD, and other neurotypes as valuable forms of human diversity. She is a trauma-informed therapist trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 3 and polyvagal theory, utilizing these approaches for their non-pathologizing nature and respect for neurodivergence.

Her contributions to autism research are published in leading journals. Tasha was awarded the NIH-Funded Autism Research Training Program (ARTP) post-doctoral fellowship at the esteemed UC Davis MIND Institute. As a respected voice in the field, Tasha regularly shares her insights through a popular neurodiversity blog and contributions to international media, including PsychCentral, Reader’s Digest, and Well+Good. She is a sought-after speaker and advocate, delivering presentations at conferences, autism-focused events, universities, and corporate settings worldwide. Tasha’s aim is to enhance understanding and support for the mental health challenges faced by neurodivergent adults, advocating for acceptance, support, and empowerment at every turn.

Cindy Brown head shot

About Cindy Brown, LPCC

Cynthia (Cindy) Brown, LPCC (she/her), is a neurodiversity-affirming licensed psychotherapist, professional consultant, educator, and clinical supervisor. She identifies as neuroqueer, cisgender, and a Caucasian female. As a member of the queer community, she shares a vibrant life with her wife, two adopted children, and a thrill-a-minute neurodiverse family.

Through the NeuroAffirm Institute, Cindy consults with professionals seeking to provide exceptional care to autistic individuals with multiply marginalized identities, including LGBTQIA+ and gender diversity. Her expertise extends to working with twice-exceptional, high-masking folks and parents of neurodivergent transitional age youth (TAY). She also focuses on assisting neurodivergent individuals and families navigating school-related trauma.

As a clinician, Cindy is trauma-informed and trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS).  She utilizes experiential therapy to create sensory-safe spaces for clients to express their thoughts and emotions. Cindy has extensive experience exploring communication that transcends spoken words. Her relationships with horses and other animals directly inform her communication style and approach with neurodivergent folks.

Cindy is dedicated to advancing neuro-affirming training in school systems. She has presented at schools to help teachers and administrators better understand neurodivergent children and has supervised clinicians working in educational settings. Beyond schools, Cindy has led training on alternative communication methods using horses at retreats and corporate events. Additionally, Cindy is a national advocate for the rights of LGBTQ unhoused youth, HIV, and reproductive rights. Her goal is to drive systems-level changes that support neurodivergent individuals and other marginalized groups.

About Us

The NeuroAffirm Institute  was founded to advance a new ethical standard of care for neurodivergent individuals.

For too long, neurodivergent people have experienced erasure, misdiagnosis, discrimination, and unintended harm within medical and mental health systems. These patterns reflect ableism and systemic gaps in professional education and clinical training.

➔ NeuroAffirm Institute exists to close this gap.

NeuroAffirm Institute provides both foundational and specialized training for clinicians.

We believe neuroaffirming competence is foundational to ethical practice. All clinicians work with neurodivergent clients, whether they recognize it or not. Without appropriate training, clinicians may unintentionally pathologize, misunderstand, or overlook neurodivergent experiences.

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710 Lakeway Drive, Suite 200-0425
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

info@neuroaffirminstitute.com

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