Chris Sherman (they/them)

LPC, LCPC, E-RYT 200, CPT, GFI

Hi! I am a queer, late diagnosed autistic/ADHDer navigating life in a neurotypical world.  I provide individual and group therapy via TeleHealth to clients in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Oregon. I also offer Walk-and-Talk Sessions at the Fields at RFK/Kingman Island in Washington DC.

My Approach to Therapy

I am a strongly science-driven practitioner with a special emphasis on understanding and working with the connection between body and mind.  I teach people how to work with their bodies’ natural rhythms in order to help people to live more comfortably inside of their own skin.  

Neurodiversity

As a late diagnosed autistic/ADHDer, I am fortunate to have a unique lens on autism, ADHD, specific learning differences, giftedness, high sensitivity and other factors of neurodiversity.  

The way you are wired is a gift.  You do not have to hide or become less of who you are. 

Through therapy we will unlock, explore and harness the unique superpowers that you already possess. Of course, all superheroes also have a “kryptonite”, so we will also find effective and practical ways to handle realities like overstimulation, sensory issues, hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty with change and communication problems.  None of these struggles makes you any less of a person. 

You are more than enough and you have a lot to offer.

Anxiety

“Calm down, it’s not that big of a deal” 

“You’re overreacting”

Actually, science shows us that for some of our brains and bodies… it really is that big of a deal! The alarm system in your brain (amygdala) may create a larger response so that what seems small to someone else is literally an emergency for you.

The “fire hose” (vagus nerve) that should help us put out the anxious response may not work as well as the person next to you. The muscles that help you breathe may subconsciously operate in a way where every breath tells your brain that you are stressed. So it’s not your fault!

Some brains and bodies are wired in ways that leave us more susceptible to certain thought patterns and behaviors. But the good news is that our brains and body systems are not stuck- they can change!  

If you are looking for practical understanding and help for panic attacks, PTSD episodes, meltdowns, shutdowns or day-to-day anxiety management, we will talk about the science of how your body copes now. We will also work on tangible, practical coping skills that calm your body. When practiced regularly, these skills can begin to rewire your brain and body in a way that changes how you respond to stress on a daily basis.

Movement Therapy and Trauma

It is often said that trauma is “beyond words”. From a scientific standpoint, that is very true. If a traumatic event happened when you were pre-verbal or before you had an adult vocabulary, you may not have the language to talk about what happened. Similarly, pain and trauma often limits our ability to process verbally. That may make talk therapy frustrating or hard to access.

There is wisdom stored in our bodies. Our bodies react and store the tension and energy of the trauma. And often, our bodies also hold the key to moving through it. Through movement, images, and intuition, this practice helps our bodies release, rebuild, and move forward.

Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating

Eating disorders can feel like chasing a rabbit down a hole in the pursuit of something you lost.  And then one day, you realize that what you lost was yourself.  Food, exercise, and body image problems are treacherous to navigate in a society that values appearance highly and that values some body types over others.

Therapy counters the lies, quiets the noise and helps you find the freedom to become the amazing person that you always have been.  People who have used a body-based approach to eating disorders report more awareness of their hunger/fullness cues as well as their emotions.

Eating Disorders, Sensory Processing and Autism

Food and autism are complexly intertwined. Many autistic people are co-diagnosed (or misdiagnosed) with eating disorders, because these brains are more prone to rules, anxiety, and food sensitivities.  Unfortunately, many mental health interventions for eating disorders fail to take neurodiversity into account.

Traditional treatments may not take into account autistic needs. For instance, clients who struggle to verbally articulate their thoughts in therapy sessions may be labeled as “resistant to treatment”. Alexithymia, a condition that makes it difficult to identify emotions, can make it difficult to answer the dreaded question of “How do you feel?”  

Rituals related to food or exercise may be quickly labeled as eating disordered without taking into account an autistic’s need to cope with other realities like hyperactivity or sensory needs. Difficulties with interoception, the sense that helps you feel and understand what is going on in your body, may make feeling hunger and fullness seem impossible. Social anxiety and overstimulation may make it particularly challenging to eat in a restaurant long after you can comfortably eat the same meal at home.

Figuring out “normal” eating and exercise, when you’re not “normal” is challenging. Yet the autistic community is often known for thoughtfulness and problem solving.  Let’s figure out what food freedom looks like for you.

ADHD and Eating Disorders

Challenges with executive functioning and traditional eating disorder treatment can be a tough combination. Sticking to a meal plan, meal planning, food procurement, and determining hunger/fullness can all be more challenging with ADHD. Individuals might be ridiculed as resistant or not committed to therapy because it requires executive functioning skills (which also feel elusive in other areas of life). Rather than consistently berating you for your weaknesses, we will work with your strengths so that you can feel competent in nourishing yourself.

Gender Dysphoria and Eating Disorders

Gender dysphoria and eating disorders are deeply intertwined, and often misunderstood in eating disorder recovery. Changing your body size or shape through food and exercise may be a way of shaping your body so that it feels more congruent to your internal mirror. But sometimes this process increases anxiety because you find yourself living in constant fear of small body changes. Or you might find that crafting your body gets in the way of living the life you want. 

If you are navigating the reality of living in a body that does not feel like home, please know your struggle is valid and you are not alone. If you feel stuck in behaviors that are no longer serving you, let’s explore other ways of meeting your needs and expressing your true self so that you are able to be more alive and present in the life you want to live.

Exercise Addiction, Exercise Aversion and Embodied Movement

Movement balances our brain and body systems by regulating our energy level and emotions.  Sometimes, though, a person can depend too heavily on exercise to do the balancing.  Exercise can start to get in the way of daily life.  If you have exercised when injured or ill, taken valuable time away from family and friends, or stopped having fun exercising, I can help you to reclaim your right to move your body in a way that works for you. My approach is to first understand the valuable role that movement has played in your life. As we better understand how it balances your mind, body, and social systems, we will be able to find replacement behaviors and integrate movement in a way that works for you.

In addition to providing therapy, I am a health-at-every-size aligned ACE certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and corrective exercise specialist.  I understand how the body works, and I understand that the important thing is that your body works for you, not for a society that is over-focused on aesthetics.  My certification as a yoga teacher (E-RYT 200) and understanding of the nervous system helps people to bring calm, peace and awareness to their bodies. My experience in Zumba helps folks rediscover joy and fun in movement. 

Many traditional exercise programs place a focus on moving our arms and limbs as fast or hard as possible while ignoring the body’s signals. This approach can promote injury, ineffective movements, and disconnection from the center of the body. Disordered eating and an aesthetic focus on body shaping can also disconnect us from the strength and power in the center of our bodies. Through movements like pilates and boxing, I help people mindfully reconnect and reawaken small muscles that protect the back and joints. Instead of body sculpting, I focus on reconnecting mind and body and finding peace and power inside the body you have today.  If you are interested, we can also explore your sensory needs and integrate them into your movement practice so that you are better regulated.

I meet people where they are and do not push any type of movement on someone who does not feel truly ready for it.

Consultation

I provide consult for clinicians on topics related to the intersection of neurodivergence, gender dysphoria, eating disorders, anxiety, and trauma. If you would like to talk about a particular case or learn more in general, please reach out!

I also love to help young queer and/or neurodivergent clinicians navigate the challenges of managing time, energy, and social challenges as you find your niche in the therapy world. If you would like to meet for one session or a regularly, please feel free to reach out on the contact page.

Training

I offer training to providers, clinical teams, and supervision groups on topics such as gender identity and body image, gender dysphoria and eating disorders, anxiety, breathwork, and neurodivergence. Please reach out to schedule a training.