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Who We Are &
What We Do
Flow is a neurodiversity-affirming practice serving California, Colorado, Florida, and Nevada. We offer neurodiversity-affirming assessments and DBT tailored to the needs of Autistic and ADHD adults.
Dr. Brook is a leader in neurodiversity-affirming care and offers training and consultations for other therapists looking to learn more about how to serve the ND community.
What is Flow?
The state of "flow" is described as intense focus and absorption to the point of losing track of time and perception of the outside world. It is a state of focus in reference to the “automatic, effortless, yet highly focused state”. This state comes naturally to Autistic and ADHD people. It can lead to pursuing challenging hobbies, higher creativity, and the ability to become consumed in an activity.
Reference:
Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2007). Creativity: Flow and the Psychology of Discovery and Invention. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Flow is an optimal psychological state that is celebrated and sought after by neurotypical people. Yet, unfortunately, it has been criticized when it occurs in Autistic and ADHD people to whom it comes naturally. "Hyperfocus" in ADHDers, which is very similar to flow, has been viewed negatively. Autistic people have been criticized for being "stuck" or "locked in." Our practice seeks to reclaim and reframe Flow and other Autistic and ADHD strengths such as creativity, energy, sensitivity, and savoring. We help Autistic and ADHD clients thrive by embracing and cultivating their strengths, while also learning other skills that can help them achieve their goals
Meet Amara Brook, PhD, ABPP
Collaborating to Understand Your Strengths
I am a neurodivergent licensed clinical psychologist with a private practice serving people in California, Colorado, Florida, and Nevada. My passion is helping people understand themselves through Psychological Assessment and reach their life goals using Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) tailored to be optimally effective for their neurotype and other dimensions of diversity.
I look forward to collaborating with you to understand your strengths and challenges and practice new ways to regulate your emotions, thoughts, and behavior that enable you to accomplish your goals. I specialize in Autism and ADHD Assessments, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) tailored to the needs of Autistic people and ADHDers. My approach is strengths-based, appreciating and working with your unique gifts to help you overcome challenges.
Training and Consultation
I frequently provide training and consultation to other clinicians around the world, helping them understand neurodivergent people and learn how to provide neurodiversity-affirming assessment and therapy. Recently, I was a guest on Charlie Swenson’s “To Hell and Back” DBT podcast discussing autism, neurodiversity, and ways of tailoring DBT to help autistic clients reach their life worth living goals (charlieswenson.com/podcasts; episodes #111, 112, 113, & 115).
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Bachelor's degree from Harvard,
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PhD from the University of Michigan,
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Advanced clinical training from CSPP
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Advanced training in Psychological Assessment, DBT, and CBT
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Board Certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP)
In the past, I have served as Director of Postdoctoral Training, Supervisor, DBT Team Coordinator, and Embedded Psychologist in Emergency Medicine at Kaiser. I have also provided clinical services at VA medical centers and schools. I was also a psychology professor at Santa Clara University and taught a graduate-level DBT course there.