It’s estimated that between 15 and 20% of people are neurodivergent. This simply means that their brains develop or work differently, impacting how they experience and understand the details of daily life. Locally, the Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective (SYNC) is a growing group of neurodivergent providers, supportive allies and parents raising neurodivergent children.
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective combines lived experience with a care team who focuses on integrity, resilience, authenticity and prioritizing care over profit. Their child-centered, strengths-based services support healthy growth and lifelong success.
Focusing on Neurodiversity’s Unique Strengths, Not Neurotypical Expectations in our Kids
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective was the brainchild of Speech-Language Pathologist Mary Coburn. She hoped to create somewhere professionals could connect, support each other and host multiple services under one roof. Coburn was soon joined by Sam Trout, an Occupational Therapist. Today, they offer speech therapy, occupational therapy and mental health assistance for neurodivergent individuals, supported by their families and caregivers.
“As both a neurodivergent provider and a parent raising two neurodivergent teens, I saw firsthand how traditional and non-affirming systems failed to meet the needs of not only my children but those that I served,” says Coburn. “I spent many years navigating services that weren’t designed with neurodivergent families in mind, and saw the toll it took on my kids, my clients, parents, and professionals alike. Whole Child Therapy grew out of that experience and for the past 10 years I have been a staunch advocate for affirming care including child-led, trauma-informed and implementing therapeutic models that build on each person’s existing strengths and interests. I focused on providing individualized sessions based on longer sessions that allow for deeper connection, and where parents were seen and heard, and were active participants in their child’s therapeutic journey.”
Coburn’s vision to create a multi-disciplinary collective has been long-standing for the past 10 years. Ideally, a collective of providers with shared values who are committed to affirming care, community collaboration and the desire to continue to learn and grow. “We want to be better and do better,” she explains, “As we know progress cannot be made alone, and it wasn’t until a chance meeting with an OT that the vision came to fruition.”
Trout and Coburn explain that Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective addresses a crucial need in our community when it comes to people with autism, ADHD or other brain-based differences. “Most of our providers have lived experience with neurodivergence,” says Coburn, “and we understand that the neurodivergent community has had mixed experiences from healthcare providers, therapists and the education system. Our clients deserve healthcare options that are collaborative, respectful and neurodiversity-affirming as well as with awareness of their strengths, challenges and multiple aspects of identity like culture, gender, neurodiversity and/or trauma history.”
The Collective officially opened in May 2024 with their Thurston County Chamber ribbon cutting in March 2025.
Honoring the Hard Work of Neurodivergent Practitioners, Clinicians and Parents
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective also serves as a hub for like-minded practitioners. “We know there are professionals like therapists, psychologists, speech and occupational therapists who want to work in a more thoughtful and inclusive way,” explains Trout. “SYNC is a place where both clients and providers can feel supported, connected and part of a community.”
Especially practitioners like Coburn, herself neurodivergent. “When other providers adopt the label as a marketing tool without a deep understanding of its roots, or without engaging in ongoing learning, community accountability, or lived-experience-informed care, it devalues the lived experience and hard-earned expertise of those who have been quietly doing the work for years. Reducing neurodiversity-affirming care to a buzzword for branding or business growth undermines the integrity of the movement and erases the contributions of those who have been quietly leading with integrity, authenticity and purpose.”
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective: Not Just for Kids
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective sees children and their families but isn’t just a reinvented pediatrician’s office. They work with teens and young adults as well, and not limited to autism or ADHD diagnoses. Coburn says that their ideal client is looking for respectful support which is based on their personal strengths. They avoid the idea of fixing people, instead believe in helping individuals make their environment work better for them. Family and caregiver involvement is both welcomed and encouraged.
No medical referral is required to access care but some insurance carriers may require approval if that’s how you choose to pay for services. Many of Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective’s providers take personal insurance and their team is always happy to answer questions.
They even hosts classes and events for families or fellow therapy professionals. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for upcoming opportunities.
Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective: Affirming Therapy that Works
At the end of the day, Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective is like an umbrella. Protected from some of the formalized frustrations in traditional clinics, neurodivergent young people can access mental health care, speech therapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychological evaluations and parent coaching.
“We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Coburn. “Instead, we collaborate, listen and learn from each other and the people we work with. We care deeply about doing things in a way that feels right and respectful and we’re always working to improve.”
They also welcome new providers with open arms. Check out their Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective membership page to learn more about available plans and startup details.
If you or someone you love could benefit from Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective’s lived experience, call 360-467-6855, email info@soundyouthcollective.org or say hello online. If you’re looking for something better than the status quo, reach out to Sound Youth Neurodiversity Collective to start finding your unique path today.
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