Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley

Main Services Area

Educational Programs
Educational Programs provide students with the skills they need to live successful lives. Our robust programs include early childhood development, classroom consultations in partnership with school districts, adult continuing education programs and parent workshops.
Support Services

Support Services offer various programs to address social determinants of health, including housing and employment coaching and placement, among other critically needed services.

Nurturing Growth And Resilience With Neurodiversity-affirming Care

Neurodiversity is a framework that embraces unique differences in the brain. Brain differences are normal, not deficits. The neurodivergent community offers distinctive and valuable contributions to society that are often overlooked. Some types of neurodivergence include autism, ADHD, OCD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Tourette’s syndrome, dyslexia, dyspraxia, traumatic brain injury and trauma.

Our approach is rooted in the foundations of interpersonal neurobiology. We seek to bring relational safety to the forefront of all interactions. When receiving services with us, we will offer tools to support caregivers to assist in their child’s growth and development and share resources for caregivers and children to advocate for more supportive environments.

Individual, Group, and Family Therapy

We offer counseling services to the neurodivergent and disabled community of all ages, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and diverse abilities. We currently have both English and Spanish-speaking therapists available.

Caregiver Training and Support

We believe that caregiver collaboration and input is critical to the success of a child’s therapy. We also value caregiver participation based on the needs of our adult clients. Caregiver involvement is welcomed during sessions, as well as separate caregiver training sessions to discuss your concerns and to collaborate on approaches to best help your child.

School Consultation

We serve as a bridge between clients and their community by collaborating with schools, day programs, and extracurricular activities. We offer:

  • Classroom support to assist with student's social-emotional needs in school
  • Psychoeducation and consultation for individual student accommodation needs
  • Classroom presentations for students to increase social awareness about neurodiversity
  • On-site assessment of student’s social-emotional needs

Professional Consultation and Training

We offer professional consultation to the professional community in the following areas:

  • Play Therapy Supervision for the Registered Play Therapist Credential
  • EMDR Consultation for EMDRIA Certification
  • Joint Attention Symbolic Play Engagement Regulation (JASPER) Community Trainer
  • Trauma-informed Individualized Education Programs
  • Positive Behavior Intervention Plans
  • Neurodiversity-Affirming Classroom Management, Practices, and Play Therapy
  • Neurodiversity Affirming Approaches for Law Enforcement and First Responders
  • Neurodevelopmentally Informed Regulation Strategies

Therapeutic Modalities

The Center for Divergent Connections incorporates the following therapeutic modalities into services offered:
Playing male children

Play Therapy

Play therapy is an evidence-based practice designed for children ages 2-12. A play therapist will invite your child into a playroom that uses specially selected toys to allow children to discuss and process their feelings in a developmentally appropriate manner. Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, develop problem-solving skills, gain mastery over challenges and learn a variety of ways of relating to others.

Women movement eye

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

A research-based model of treatment for people who have experienced trauma or distressing life experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR is designed to resolve unprocessed traumatic memories in the brain and allow the brain to resume its natural healing process without talking in detail about the distressing issue. During EMDR sessions, your therapist will collaborate with you on memories to address and will help you to reprocess them using bilateral stimulation. EMDR can be beneficial for people of all ages.

Children playing vehicles

Sandtray Therapy

Sandtray is an expressive therapy that allows children and adults to process complex emotions through the use of symbolism. During sandtray therapy sessions, you will be invited to create a world in the sand. This sensory experience allows you to integrate all parts of the brain into processing deep emotional needs. Through sandtray people can reflect, resolve conflicts and gain a sense of self.

Children listening music

Safe & Sound Protocol

Safe and Sound Protocol evidence-based practice that is effective for trauma, sensory sensitivities, and anxiety. It is designed to reduce sound sensitivities and improve auditory processing, behavioral state regulation and social engagement behaviors. SSP helps to shift the nervous system out of a chronic state of defense and into a state of social engagement. SSP retunes the autonomic nervous system to help people become more connected, resilient and better able to respond to life's challenges. During a session, you will be invited to listen to specially filtered music to help regulate your nervous system, while engaging in calming activities with your therapist.

Adult with electrodes in the head

Low Energy Neurofeedback System (LENS)

LENS is an FDA-approved, direct neurofeedback system that helps regulate the brain and restores it to optimal performance. LENS can be effective for ADHD, trauma related symptoms, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and depression. During a LENS session, your therapist will systematically work with you to help regulate your brain to improve your daily functioning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is the concept that every person has a unique brain with different skills and abilities. Brain differences are normal, not deficits. The neurodivergent community has unique and valuable contributions to society that are often overlooked. Some types of neurodivergence include autism, ADHD, OCD, intellectual and developmental disabilities, Tourette’s syndrome, dyslexia, dyspraxia, traumatic brain injury and trauma.

Your therapist will provide a comprehensive evaluation to best assess your needs and how to help you. You will be included in every step of the way to ensure collaboration on developing a treatment plan that best meets your needs. Your input is of utmost importance to us in determining how to best support you.

We provide a comprehensive, holistic approach to supporting neurodivergent clients. In addition to traditional counseling, we offer many therapeutic modalities that do not require talking. These modalities are often highly effective for people who need to regulate their brains before they are able to do more traditional types of psychotherapy.

Language is a powerful means for how people view disabilities. Using identity first language helps to affirm the identities of the communities we serve and help others become more accepting of disabled people.

Contact Us

Have Any Questions?
We’re Here to Help.

We make a positive difference in the communities we serve.

Upland