Meet Marina Doering: Holistic Therapist for Neurodivergent Individuals
Marina encouraging one of her patients to express themselves through abstract art.
Therapy isn’t always easy, especially for neurodivergent children who struggle to put emotions into words. Parents often come to therapy feeling exhausted, like they’ve tried everything to connect with their child. What they don’t need is another one-size-fits-all solution. They need a space where their child can feel safe, understood, and supported in a way that actually makes sense for them
Below you can find a summary of the interview with Canvas Rebel, where Marina shared her journey building Creative Continuum, her philosophy on holistic care for neurodivergent individuals, and how she integrates creative and expressive therapies to meet her clients where they are.
Why "Creative Continuum"? A Name That Reflects Holistic Care
Your child sits across from the therapist, quiet, nervous and fidgeting. When asked how they feel, they shrug. The words just don’t come.
It’s not that they don’t have emotions, it’s just for a kid they might not have the words to explain them yet. Maybe they don’t know what "anxious" or "frustrated" really means. Maybe they’re overwhelmed by the question itself.
But then, something changes. Instead of talking, they’re handed a paintbrush. They hesitate at first, then press color to paper. Shapes begin to form. A story unfolds—not in words, but in lines, textures, and colors. Their emotions, once locked inside, start to take shape in a way they never have before.
That’s why Creativity is at the heart of everything I do. Not everyone expresses themselves through words alone. Some communicate through art, movement, storytelling, or even music. Creativity allows therapy to become holistic and adapt—to meet each person where they are and give them the tools to express themselves in a way that feels natural, safe, and deeply personal.
Continuum represents growth. Healing doesn’t happen overnight, and it rarely follows a straight path. It’s an ongoing process—one that shifts, evolves, and unfolds over time. What works for someone today may not be what they need tomorrow, and that’s okay. Therapy should be flexible enough to honor that journey, offering support every step of the way.
Growth happens in moments—big and small, expected and unexpected. It’s not about perfection, but about progress. That’s what Creative Continuum represents.
Our Three Pillars: Education, Integration, and Regulation
We believe that growth isn’t about fixing what’s “wrong” but about understanding, adapting, and finding new ways to thrive. As writer Sahil Bloom says, “progress isn’t about where you are today, but the small, meaningful moments that add up over time.” That’s why our approach is built around three interconnected pillars—Education, Integration, and Regulation—guiding families toward lasting transformation.
Each step builds upon the last, helping you and your child move from uncertainty to confidence, from frustration to connection, and from struggle to resilience.
Education: Understanding Yourself is the First Step
When we don’t understand why something is happening or what we‘re feeling, it’s easy to feel lost. Many children (and parents) dealing with ADHD, anxiety, or trauma know something feels off, but don’t have the words to explain it. Without understanding, challenges can feel overwhelming, and families can struggle to find common ground.
That’s why we begin with education—because clarity brings relief. Education is more than just learning facts—it’s about seeing yourself and your child with new eyes. It’s the moment a parent realizes, “Oh, my child isn’t being defiant—they’re overwhelmed.” Or when a child learns, “I’m not broken—my brain just work differently.”
And once we have that understanding… That’s when real change begins.
Integration: Turning Insight Into Action
We don’t want to just arm you with knowledge, we want to provide tools for you to use what you’ve learned in your everday life. That’s what we call integration.
For so many families, therapy feels helpful in the moment, but once they step back into their daily routines, the same challenges happen all over again. The same meltdowns, the same conflicts, the same exhaustion. It’s not because parents aren’t trying or because kids aren’t learning—it’s because real change happens in the small moments, not just in a therapy session.
Integration is about helping families bring those moments of clarity into everyday life. It’s the difference between a parent feeling powerless during an emotional outburst and knowing exactly how to step in with support. It’s when a child, who once felt misunderstood, starts to trust that the adults in their life truly “get it.”
It doesn’t happen overnight. But slowly, the moments of tension begin to soften. Instead of feeling like every day is a battle, families start to find their rhythm, where connection replaces conflict, and understanding leads the way.
Regulation: Building Emotional Strength That Lasts
Lastly, things will go wrong, you’ll still experience emotional storms. Regulation is about giving both children and parents the confidence to handle those moments differently. It’s not about making challenges disappear, it’s about knowing how to move through them with more ease.
For a child, this means learning to trust themselves and their parents in moments of frustration, sadness, or overwhelm. It’s knowing they don’t have to lash out or shut down—that they have tools, and those tools actually work.
For parents, it means breaking free from feeling helpless. Instead of second-guessing yourself or feeling like you’re constantly bracing for impact, you begin to trust yourself. You start responding instead of reacting. With the right tools, even in the hardest moments, you’re able to stay present, grounded, and connected.
And when that happens, something shifts—not just for the child, but for the entire family.
Therapy Is a Journey—And It’s Filled With Possibility
Therapy isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning, adjusting, and moving forward—one step, one day, one breakthrough at a time. It’s about knowing that even when things feel hard, they don’t have to stay that way.
At Creative Continuum, we believe that every child has the ability to grow, and every parent has the strength to guide them through it. The work isn’t about erasing struggles—it’s about finding new ways to navigate them, together.
And when families start to see what’s possible, everything changes.
Want to read more?
To dive deeper into Marina’s journey, her approach to expressive therapies, and her vision for the future of neurodivergent care, check out the full interview.
