The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

The Lotus Center for Neurodiversity is a counseling service that provides mental health support to individuals seeking to improve their mental health and quality of life. This support is offered through various counseling services, advocacy, and more. Our services are specialized and focused towards supporting youth who have been identified as having intellectual and/or developmental disorders, as well as their families and support systems. When you are a client at The Lotus Center you are viewed with unconditional positive regard, while being supported through a culturally responsive and identity affirming lens.

In simple terms, neurodiversity is the principle that there is no "right" way to think, act, or learn. How people experience and interact with the world around them is unique and diverse. These individual differences are not to be viewed as deficits but instead should be celebrated and understood with respect and kindness. In the context of neurological differences that are often "diagnosed," neurodiversity refers to Autism Spectrum Disorder and other neurological or developmental conditions, such as Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or learning disabilities.

You can book an appointment with The Lotus Center by calling our office, through emailing us, or by using the "contact us" form on our website. 

The Lotus Center for Neurodiversity offers a variety of counseling services. In addition to individual counseling and/or group counseling to support our youth, we support families through family therapy, relationship therapy, parenting groups, advocacy, and consultation. At The Lotus Center, we value the fact that the quality of relationships in a person's life is one of the best indicators of wellbeing and happiness. At The Lotus Center we do all that we can to ensure individuals have healthy support systems maintained through healthy relationships. This is what sets The Lotus Center for Neurodiversity apart from other providers. Not only do we understand and are responsive to the specialized services needed to support individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, but we believe that counseling should go beyond one-on-one counseling. Our counselors are Agents of Change, and work to improve the systems that impact our clients and their families, either directly or indirectly. 

Telehealth means that you are meeting with a provider (in this case, a counselor) not in-person, but rather through utilizing telecommunications technology, such as live video. Most telehealth appointments with The Lotus Center for Neurodiversity will be offered via a HIPPA compliant virtual appointment video service, which utilizes your client portal, which is offered through our Electronic Health Record provider, therapynotes. Telehealth appointments can feel different than in-person meetings, but have become common since 2020 and are, in some ways, convenient and preferred over in-person. While The Lotus Center is only offering telehealth appointments at this time, we hope to provide in-person appointments in the near future. In addition, some groups will be held via telehealth and some will be offered as in-person. Please check with your counselor with questions or to verify if your appointment is in-person or virtual. 

At this time, The Lotus Center for Neurodiversity is only able to bill Columbia Pacific CCO, the local managed care organization for the Oregon Health Plan. All clients who do not have OHP will be required to pay in-cash at the time of service. The Lotus Center feels strongly about providing services to those who need them, regardless of socio-economic status. Therefore, we offer a sliding scale fee for clients, based on household size and monthly income. If you feel you may qualify for a discounted rate, you will be asked to complete an application prior to scheduling your first session. 

The world of healthcare is full of acronyms (letters that abbreviate terms/phrases). All these letters can cause confusion! The MC, following Amber's name, stands for "Master of Counseling," which is her degree earned from Oregon State University. PCA stands for Professional Counselor Associate, which means that she is in pre-licensed phase of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor through the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. The CAS stands for Certified Autism Specialist, indicating that she has received certification through specialized continuing education on understanding and supporting individuals on the Autism Spectrum.

As a Professional Counselor Associate, Amber has completed the master's level education needed to work as a mental health counselor, but has not yet completed the amount of counseling hours, under a written and approved supervision plan, needed for the state of Oregon to consider her fully licensed. While working independently as a PCA, Amber will receive supervision by a clinical professional that will help oversee her work towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. 

The Lotus Center for Neurodiversity is only available during business hours. If you find yourself or a loved one experiencing a mental health crisis please immediately call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or utilize the resources listed on our website's home page. 

Once you've decided The Lotus Center for Neurodiverity might be a good fit for you, call, email, or utilize the "contact us" form on this website. Once your information is received, someone will contact you within 48 hours to either set up a free/brief consultation (usually lasting 10-15 minutes) or schedule you and/or your youth for an Assessment appointment. After this appointment is made, you will be emailed an invitation to create a secure client account through our Electronic Health Record provider, therapynotes, where you will be asked to fill out required paperwork prior to your appointment..