Sarah Neate, M.Ed./Ed.S. (She/Her)
Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (RMFTI)
About MeI’m a deeply curious, growth-minded person and therapist on a journey of radical self-acceptance and love. My identity as an autistic and queer human informs everything I do. I know firsthand the pain of being misunderstood, of trying to fit into systems that weren’t built for you, of carrying shame for simply being the way you are. I also know the power of unmasking, of connecting to joy and pleasure, of recognizing the deep wisdom and goodness of all your parts. My work is deeply relational and rooted in honoring neurodivergence, difference, and complexity.
I believe every person has gifts and attributes that are uniquely and authentically their own. Oppressive systems like ableism, white supremacy, colonialism, heterosexism, classism, and misogyny make the journey toward wholeness more difficult, and I’m committed to walking with you as we navigate those layers together. Whether you're seeking therapy as an individual, a couple, or another relational configuration, my approach is collaborative, gentle, and grounded in authenticity. It would be my joy to support you on your path away from fear, pain, and shame and toward self-acceptance, growth, and delight.
My Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach
At the heart of my work is a neurodivergent-affirming lens. No matter what framework I'm drawing from—whether it's Internal Family Systems (IFS), Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT), attachment theory, or somatic approaches—my guiding commitment is to center and adapt therapy for the lived experience of neurodivergent (ND) bodyminds.
This means we don’t treat neurodivergence as something to fix or overcome. Instead, we treat it as a fundamental truth of your nervous system, your sensory world, your rhythms, and your relational needs. I honor stimming, nonlinear thinking, deep pattern-tracking, and the need for rest, spaciousness, or clarity in communication. Therapy with me doesn’t require masking, making eye contact, sitting still, or speaking in a particular way. We collaborate to make the process work for you.
Even when we're exploring frameworks like IFS or attachment theory, we do so with the understanding that ND experiences often challenge normative assumptions about how emotions, relationships, regulation, and change “should” work. I help clients map their inner systems, relational patterns, or somatic cues in ways that respect divergence as a form of brilliance—not pathology.
Working with Individual Clients
I specialize in working with neurodivergent adults (diagnosed or self-identified), highly sensitive people, queer and genderqueer folks, and those navigating identity, shame, and unmasking. You might be exploring how to feel more at home in your body, how to relate more gently to your inner world, or how to live more aligned with your values.
I often support clients in:
Working with Couples
I love working with couples and intimate partners—including queer, neurodivergent, polyamorous, intercultural, and mixed-neurotype pairings.
I find this neurodivergent-affirming approach especially vital in couples work, where mismatched communication styles, sensory needs, or attachment rhythms can easily be misread as character flaws or incompatibility. Together, we learn to understand and translate each other’s nervous systems with compassion, creativity, and care. My goal is not to fit you into a standard model of connection, but to support your relationships in becoming more intentional, more authentic, and more aligned with who you actually are.
In our work together, we’ll explore:
My Role
I show up to the therapy space with warmth, openness, and deep respect for your lived experience. I don't see myself as an expert on you; I am a fellow traveler, a curious guide, and a skilled companion. I believe healing happens in relationship—between you and me, within your own internal system, and with the people in your life.
My role is to co-create a therapeutic container that supports your nervous system and your sense of agency. We move at the speed of trust. We follow interest, attune to sensory and emotional safety, and make space for all parts of you to be welcome, including those who are tired of being misunderstood. I believe that healing doesn’t come from becoming more “normal” or from learning to mask more effectively under broken systems—it comes from becoming more you.
A Holistic Approach
I believe healing happens across the whole system—body, mind, heart, and spirit—and in relationship with the world around us. My approach is deeply holistic and relational. That means I’m not just interested in symptom relief or surface-level change. I’m attuning to the deeper patterns beneath the pain: the nervous system's wisdom, the internal protectors carrying burdens, the emotional and ancestral histories you hold, and the systems of oppression we all navigate (like ableism, capitalism, white supremacy, and heteropatriarchy).
I don’t separate the spiritual from the psychological. To me, spiritual inquiry can look like deep presence, awe, interconnectedness, ritual, silence, grief, play, or a felt sense of belonging in your own body or to something greater. Whether or not you identify with a particular spiritual tradition, I welcome all the ways you make meaning. We might attend to your sense of purpose, explore mystical or altered states, work with internal archetypes, or find grounding in nature, dreams, creativity, or the unseen.
Especially for neurodivergent and trauma-impacted folks, honoring the whole system is essential. Your sensory life, energetic boundaries, relational patterns, and intuitive knowing are not separate from your healing—they are the terrain. We’ll work together to integrate all of these layers with curiosity and care.
You can contact me directly at 317-207-0269. I look forward to hearing from you!
I believe every person has gifts and attributes that are uniquely and authentically their own. Oppressive systems like ableism, white supremacy, colonialism, heterosexism, classism, and misogyny make the journey toward wholeness more difficult, and I’m committed to walking with you as we navigate those layers together. Whether you're seeking therapy as an individual, a couple, or another relational configuration, my approach is collaborative, gentle, and grounded in authenticity. It would be my joy to support you on your path away from fear, pain, and shame and toward self-acceptance, growth, and delight.
My Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach
At the heart of my work is a neurodivergent-affirming lens. No matter what framework I'm drawing from—whether it's Internal Family Systems (IFS), Relational Cultural Therapy (RCT), attachment theory, or somatic approaches—my guiding commitment is to center and adapt therapy for the lived experience of neurodivergent (ND) bodyminds.
This means we don’t treat neurodivergence as something to fix or overcome. Instead, we treat it as a fundamental truth of your nervous system, your sensory world, your rhythms, and your relational needs. I honor stimming, nonlinear thinking, deep pattern-tracking, and the need for rest, spaciousness, or clarity in communication. Therapy with me doesn’t require masking, making eye contact, sitting still, or speaking in a particular way. We collaborate to make the process work for you.
Even when we're exploring frameworks like IFS or attachment theory, we do so with the understanding that ND experiences often challenge normative assumptions about how emotions, relationships, regulation, and change “should” work. I help clients map their inner systems, relational patterns, or somatic cues in ways that respect divergence as a form of brilliance—not pathology.
Working with Individual Clients
I specialize in working with neurodivergent adults (diagnosed or self-identified), highly sensitive people, queer and genderqueer folks, and those navigating identity, shame, and unmasking. You might be exploring how to feel more at home in your body, how to relate more gently to your inner world, or how to live more aligned with your values.
I often support clients in:
- Exploring and unmasking autistic identity
- Healing relational and developmental trauma
- Working with parts (especially shame, anxiety, hypervigilance, or perfectionism)
- Building self-trust, authenticity, and joy
- Finding and cultivating a felt sense of safety in your body
- Finding and pursuing pleasure, including erotic pleasure, with gusto
- Grieving unmet needs and creating new possibilities
Working with Couples
I love working with couples and intimate partners—including queer, neurodivergent, polyamorous, intercultural, and mixed-neurotype pairings.
I find this neurodivergent-affirming approach especially vital in couples work, where mismatched communication styles, sensory needs, or attachment rhythms can easily be misread as character flaws or incompatibility. Together, we learn to understand and translate each other’s nervous systems with compassion, creativity, and care. My goal is not to fit you into a standard model of connection, but to support your relationships in becoming more intentional, more authentic, and more aligned with who you actually are.
In our work together, we’ll explore:
- Communication patterns and attachment styles
- Parts dynamics and inner conflicts that shape relational behavior
- Clear, structural tools to use in heated situations
- Co-regulation, conflict repair, and emotional safety
- How neurodivergence impacts intimacy, boundaries, and pacing
- Rebuilding trust and shared vision after rupture
My Role
I show up to the therapy space with warmth, openness, and deep respect for your lived experience. I don't see myself as an expert on you; I am a fellow traveler, a curious guide, and a skilled companion. I believe healing happens in relationship—between you and me, within your own internal system, and with the people in your life.
My role is to co-create a therapeutic container that supports your nervous system and your sense of agency. We move at the speed of trust. We follow interest, attune to sensory and emotional safety, and make space for all parts of you to be welcome, including those who are tired of being misunderstood. I believe that healing doesn’t come from becoming more “normal” or from learning to mask more effectively under broken systems—it comes from becoming more you.
A Holistic Approach
I believe healing happens across the whole system—body, mind, heart, and spirit—and in relationship with the world around us. My approach is deeply holistic and relational. That means I’m not just interested in symptom relief or surface-level change. I’m attuning to the deeper patterns beneath the pain: the nervous system's wisdom, the internal protectors carrying burdens, the emotional and ancestral histories you hold, and the systems of oppression we all navigate (like ableism, capitalism, white supremacy, and heteropatriarchy).
I don’t separate the spiritual from the psychological. To me, spiritual inquiry can look like deep presence, awe, interconnectedness, ritual, silence, grief, play, or a felt sense of belonging in your own body or to something greater. Whether or not you identify with a particular spiritual tradition, I welcome all the ways you make meaning. We might attend to your sense of purpose, explore mystical or altered states, work with internal archetypes, or find grounding in nature, dreams, creativity, or the unseen.
Especially for neurodivergent and trauma-impacted folks, honoring the whole system is essential. Your sensory life, energetic boundaries, relational patterns, and intuitive knowing are not separate from your healing—they are the terrain. We’ll work together to integrate all of these layers with curiosity and care.
You can contact me directly at 317-207-0269. I look forward to hearing from you!
