Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy in Tucson & Oro Valley, Arizona

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Therapy for neurodivergence.

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Therapy for children ages 3 & up.

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Therapy for
couples.

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Therapy for families.

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Olive Branch Counseling offers individual and family therapy for children, teens, and adults at our Tucson location and online throughout Arizona.

About the founder and Olive Branch.

Hi I’m Rachel, the owner and Clinical Director of Olive Branch Counseling in Tucson, AZ.

I believe that having a little background about the person you’re trusting with your care helps create genuine connection, which ultimately benefits you and your growth.

My neurodivergent journey.

I went my entire childhood with undiagnosed AuDHD — high functioning, high masking and functioned well enough on the outside. Inside, the world felt overwhelming and confusing but therapy helped me find ways to accept, support, and understand myself.

These life experiences often shape therapists and their call to the field. Mine shaped a passion for creating a culture where folks of all ages, identities, and neurotypes can have a safe and affirming place to figure things out — finding clarity and validation to move forward in a more authentic and congruent way.

Our team at Olive Branch all share in neurodivergent stories too. We’re drawn to people who feel different, misunderstood, and love to support exploration of identity, neurodivergence, and underlying needs. We show up unmasked — with sarcasm, some cursey words, and sharing of our experiences, giving you permission to be unfiltered and find yourself.

How do I know if I’m neurodivergent?

Difficulty with Memory — Losing items, general disorganization, poor short-term memory.

Rigid Thinking -- Trouble having flexible thinking, seeing things in absolutes with no middle ground.

Emotional dysregulation — Meltdowns, shutdowns, fight/flight/freeze response.

Time Management — Time blindness, difficulty prioritizing tasks, tons of unfinished projects.

Transitions — Needing a lot of priming before small and big transitions, distress with changes in routine.

Sensory Sensitivities — Difficulty wearing certain items/textures, “picky eater,” sound/light sensitivities.

Sensory-Based Behaviors —Sensory seeking and avoidant behaviors.

Create an environment supportive to your unique wiring.

Rather than learning yet another strategy to conform and mask, we work together to find strategies that actually support you.

  • Yellow alarm clock on a knitted mustard-colored blanket and white sheet.

    Creating a Solid Sensory Diet

    We explore the visual, auditory, tactile, and general sensory profile and connect you with resources, tools, and strategies to manage sensory needs.

  • Creating predictable routines, structure, and systems.

    We explore systems, routines, and habits for important aspects including organization, time management, deadlines/tasks, eating, sleep, health and general executive functioning challenges.

    We love supporting folks with ADHD/Autism who need creative strategies and have already tried the stereotypical strategies.

  • Hands solving a Megaminx puzzle with colorful geometric shapes.

    Neuro-affirming Approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

    Traditional CBT can feel a little like gas lighting for Autistic folks so we modify this treatment to better align with the Autistic mind.

    Neuroaffirming care recognizes that the client’s thoughts and feelings often make perfect sense in the context of their lived experience. It focuses more on understanding those thoughts, validating them, and working with the person’s neurotype rather than against it.

  • Developmentally Focused Care for Children and Teens

    We assess and operate from a developmentally-appropriate lens where we take the emotional age to create goals and objectives that are attainable, realistic, and achievable.

    We value and encourage parental involvement in the therapy process and view parents as a powerful source of knowledge in their children’s behaviors and concerns. Our goal is to equip parents with more skills and tools, strengthening their confidence in responding to and managing challenging emotional or behavioral issues.

  • Child-Centered Play Therapy

    Through Sand Tray, art therapy, sensory-based play, and other creative outlets, we rely on the experiences that get created while engaging in child-led activities. During play, we can capture spontaneous and genuine emotions, thoughts, and reactions, giving us opportunities to navigate these areas and process them.

    Whether in person or telehealth, we have plenty of strategies online and in our offices to effectively engage children in an enjoyable environment where they can learn ways to cope with and express difficult emotions appropriate to their age and development.

Meet Christy

Christy is a clinical therapy interns with a background in teaching children and a passion for supporting parents in the thick of it all. She has two teenagers and a Bernadoodle that keep her busy in her free time. She is playful, humorous, and empowering.

Christy has immediate availability and is offering a limited number of reduced-priced slots.

  • Availability on weekdays and Saturdays in office + online.

  • Ages 5+ and adults.

  • Evidenced based modalities: Child-Centered Play Therapy, Person-Centered/Humanistic Approaches, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

  • Receives ongoing trainings and clinical supervision to ensure the most effective, research based methods for treatment.

  • Interns are highly motivated to give you the best care possible, researching, and resource gathering. This tenacity is a huge strength to newer clinicians in the field and is a great option to still keep therapy more affordable with rates.

Schedule with Christy

How We Support

Our Team of Therapists

  • A woman smiling at the camera with desert landscape and saguaros in the background during sunset.

    Alex Walcott, OTR/L, LAC-T

    Telehealth only, returning to office fall 2026

    Accepts ESA + private pay

    OT + counseling through Person-Centered/Developmentally Focused Lens.

    Ages 3+ and adults

    Meet Alex
  • Woman in green patterned dress standing outdoors with desert landscape and cacti in the background.

    Bria, LAC-T

    Telehealth + office

    Accepts ESA funding + private pay

    Exploring ADHD + Autism, neurodivergent couples, tools for neurodivergent kids

    Ages 5+ and adults

    Meet Bria

  • Brittney, LMSW

    Telehealth + office (alternate location at 5312 S Civano Blvd in SE Tucson)

    Accepts ESA + private pay

    Relationship Support for Military Families, Empowering Women, Child-Centered Play Therapy.

    Ages 12+ and adults.

    Meet Brittney
  • A woman with long red hair, green eyes, and a green sweater smiling outdoors in a desert landscape with mountains and cacti in the background.

    Brynn, Clinical Intern

    Telehealth + office

    Accepts private pay only - reduced rate

    Parenting strategies + tools, Play Therapy, young adults navigating adulthood

    Ages 3+, Women, Parent-Child Therapy

    Meet Brynn
  • A woman with red hair, wearing large round glasses, smiling with mountains, cacti, and a sunset in the background.

    Christy, Clinical Intern

    Telehealth + office

    Accepts private pay only - reduced rates

    Play Therapy (including video games), Parenting Support, Mothers + Women’s Health

    Ages 5+ and adults

    Meet Christy
  • Portrait of a young woman with long red hair smiling, wearing a light pink top, with a desert landscape featuring cacti and mountains at sunset in the background.

    Clarissa, Clinical Intern

    Telehealth + office

    Accepts private pay only - reduced rates

    Play Therapy (including video games), Adult Neurodivergent Identity + Exploration, ADHD/Autism support for children.

    Ages 5+ and adults

    Meet Clarissa
  • Woman smiling in a desert landscape with cacti in the background.

    Krista, LMSW

    Telehealth Only: Evenings + weekends

    Accepts ESA + private pay

    EMDR for Trauma, Highly Sensitive + Intuitive People, Teens and Adults in Life Transitions

    Ages 12+ and adults

    Meet Krista
  • A woman with long red hair wearing a burgundy top, smiling, with a desert landscape featuring cacti and mountains at sunset in the background.

    Madison, Clinical Intern

    Telehealth + office

    Accepts private pay only - reduced rates

    Child-Centered Play Therapy, Video Game Therapy, Teens + Young Adult Support

    Ages 5+ and adults

    Meet Madison
  • Person smiling outdoors in a desert landscape with cacti and mountains in the background.

    Maya, LAC-T

    Telehealth + office

    Accepts ESA + private pay

    Relationship Counseling + Family Therapy, Play Therapy/Gaming, Teen and Adult Self-Esteem and Coping Skills

    Ages 5+ and adults

    Meet Maya
  • Woman in a green shirt standing in a desert landscape with cacti and mountains in the background.

    Rachel, LPC, Clinical Director

    Not accepting new clients.

    Accepts ESA + private pay

    Child-Centered Play Therapy/Gaming, Neurodivergent Exploration and Identity, Coping Strategies for Neurodivergent Children

    Ages 3+ and adults

    Meet Rachel

  • Chewie (Chewbacca)

    Available at our Tucson office!

    Chewie is a 3 month old Golden Retriever who is in the process of being trained as a therapy animal.

    Feel free to request Chewie be present at your appointment. He is sweet, curious, playful, and patient and does well with all ages (toddler approved).

    Meet Chewie

  • Danica, LPC, PMH-C

    Clinical Supervisor Consultant

    Danica provides support to our clinical team with insight into women’s health, trauma, and neurodivergence.

    Trained in EMDR, Advanced Perinatal Mental Health, and Clinical Trauma Professional.

    Not accepting clients.

    meet Danica

Therapy for the whole system.

Because nervous systems don’t exist in isolation.

When loved ones are included in the process, we can build shared understanding, reduce shame, and create environments that more supportive for everyone.

Reach out and schedule an initial evaluation to get started on your journey.

Book an Appointment Today.

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