Hi! I'm Oralie Loong and this is my story.
- I am professionally diagnosed Autistic and ADHD
- I fully support self-diagnosis
- I am queer and cisgender (she/her)
- I am a parent of neurodivergent children who are homeschooled/unschooled
- I wrote my Masters capstone paper on supporting PDA kids in schools
- My SpIns are human behaviour, neurodivergence, and mental health
- I have a Master of Education in School Counselling from City University of Seattle
- I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #17076)
- I am certified in Brainspotting
- I am trained in EMDR
- I am Internal Family Systems Informed
- I am Polyvagal Informed
- I have additional training in neuro-affirming adult Autism screening and assessment
In my mid-30s, it seemed like I was winning at life. I had a steady job as a high school Home Economics teacher, a supportive partner, two miracle kids (after many years of struggling with infertility and pregnancy loss), and a few close friends – I was a poster child for a “Successful Adult.” But what was below the surface was an entirely different story! I had struggled for nearly my entire life with feelings of not belonging, of social situations being confusing and overwhelming, and with periods of depression/burnout. If my life was so great, why was I so sad, unfulfilled, and confused about who the real me was?
To answer this question, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery that started with not even knowing the word “neurodivergent” existed and eventually led to figuring out I was multiply neurodivergent: AuDHD (Autistic + ADHD) with PDA traits. My road to neurodivergence-identification was one that many late-identified adults share:
- struggling with mental health and when seeking help, no one suggests unidentified neurodivergence could be why (because most of the professionals out there don’t know much about late-identified neurodivergence in adults)
- being mis-diagnosed (for me, Major Depressive Disorder was mis-diagnosed Autistic burnout)
- still struggling even when you do all the things that are recommended to help you get better (which makes sense since those recommendations are based on neurotypical minds)
- coming across information on how Autism or ADHD can look in adults (often after a family member is diagnosed or because of seeing something on social media)
- having an “aha!” moment where all of a sudden, your life makes sense through this new lens of neurodivergence
Since my own “aha!” moment, I have taken a very Autistic deep-dive into learning about Autism, ADHD, and PDA. I’ve worked on healing the trauma and internalized ableism created by not knowing I was neurodivergent. I’ve explored my identity through unmasking, and learned strategies that work for my unique brain to help me avoid the boom-and-bust cycle of Autistic burnout.
At the beginning of my self-discovery journey, I was sad, unfulfilled, and confused about who I was. Now in my mid 40s, my journey is still ongoing (as I believe is the case for all humans who are committed to learning and growth), but I am proud to say at this point, I am content and fulfilled by the work I do to help other neurodivergent people heal. Do I know who the “real me” is? It turns out that the “real me” was there all along, hidden under the layers of masking and trying to be who I wasn’t in the hopes that I would fit into a society that wasn’t designed for my brain. As I’ve reconnected with my Self, I have learned to trust my gut instincts and lean into what feels right for me. So while this journey has not been easy, it has been worth it.
We don't have to do it all alone. We were never meant to.
Brené Brown
Interested in working with me?
For Adult Autism Screening, I work with adults (age 18+) from all lived experiences, but I am limited due to licensing to adults who reside in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut. There is no waitlist to start a screening.
For ongoing individual clinical counselling, my ideal clients share similar life experiences to my own so I prioritize working with adults (age 25+) who:
- have been socialized female (while I’m a cis woman, I warmly welcome working with trans women and non-binary people)
- are neurodivergent parents to neurodivergent kids
- are late-identified as Autistic or AuDHD
- live in British Columbia (due to licensing limitations)
I often am waitlisted for ongoing counselling – please see the Contact Us page for details on my current availability.
Please note that I do not offer ongoing counselling for psychosis or active substance use disorders. If you are looking for help with these experiences, please use the Find a Neurodivergent Counsellor directory to find a counsellor who fits your needs.
