Dr. Emily WH

08/25/2026

Local friends: I’m excited to be presenting a workshop this Sunday on something that's near and dear to my heart: How we can change our framework to better understand what a child might need in order to feel regulated, engaged, and successful.

I’ll be at Cityview Church in Columbus talking about practical, neurodiversity-affirming ways to support neurodivergent kids at home and in community settings.

We’ll talk about regulation, the “why” behind behavior, sensory and communication differences, task resistance, supporting kids through challenging moments, and how we can learn to value and honor individual needs.

If you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, volunteer, or someone else who supports neurodivergent kids, I'd love to see you there! Feel free to share with anyone who might be interested.

📅 Sunday, August 30 | 11:15 AM–12:45 PM
📍 Cityview Church, Columbus
💻 In-person + virtual options
✨ Free to attend

Registration:

Join us for a workshop focused on practical, neurodiversity-affirming strategies to help kids feel seen, understood, and successful at home and in school/church/community settings.  There will also be time for Q & A as well as scenario-based application.Our clinician is Dr. Emily Wojniak-He...

06/11/2026

One of the things I love most about this work is that I don't have to do it alone.

Some of the most meaningful parts of being a psychologist and therapist happen behind the scenes through conversations with trusted colleagues - sharing perspectives, learning from one another, and helping connect clients and families with the resources that best fit their needs.

I'm especially grateful for colleagues like Erin, an exceptional trauma therapist and EMDR specialist, whose insight, compassion, and expertise have enriched both my work and my life.

No one clinician can be everything for everyone, and that's a good thing. The best care often comes from a community of professionals bringing different strengths, experiences, and perspectives to the table.

So grateful for the colleagues who make this work richer, more sustainable, and more impactful.

05/22/2026

Really enjoyed the NeuroAffirmX conference last week, and continuing to feel genuinely energized by the conversations around neurodiversity-affirming care, sensory experiences, regulation, communication, and supporting autistic individuals in ways that preserve dignity and authenticity.

I’d especially been looking forward to hearing from Sonny J Wise and Barry Prizant. Dr. Prizant’s book Uniquely Human was one of the earlier books that helped shape how I think about autism through a more compassionate, strengths-based, and relational lens.

One thing I keep coming back to is how important it is to move away from deficit-based interpretations of behavior and toward deeper curiosity, context, and understanding.

Grateful for opportunities to continue learning from neurodivergent voices and clinicians doing thoughtful, affirming work in this space.

04/27/2026

This moment from a recent evaluation has stayed with me.

A teen I was working with was given a few forms to complete at home. There were a couple of rating scales, along with some additional paperwork that was actually meant for a parent.

When he came back, he had completed all of it.

Carefully. Thoughtfully. In detail.

Apparently, it was not clearly explained to him which forms were for him and which were not, so he did exactly what he understood was being asked and followed through fully.

Moments like this are easy to misinterpret.

They can be seen as confusion, inattention, or “missing the point.”

But what I saw instead was strong follow-through, a genuine desire to do things right, and a more literal way of interpreting expectations.

This is something I see often in autistic adolescents, especially those who have spent years working hard to meet expectations in environments that are not always clear or predictable.

Not a lack of effort.
Not a lack of ability.

Just a difference in how information is processed and understood.

During Autism Acceptance Month, I keep coming back to this:

Sometimes what looks like a misunderstanding is actually someone trying very hard without having been given full clarity.

And when we understand that, it changes everything.
How we communicate.
How we interpret behavior.
How we offer support.

For many individuals, these patterns go unrecognized for a long time. And when they are finally understood, it often brings a real sense of relief for both that person and those close to them.

If you have noticed patterns like this in yourself or someone close to you, and have found yourself wondering what might be going on, you are not alone in that.

Columbus, OH
Neurodiversity-affirming therapy and psychological evaluations

Mental health services, consultation, & professional training in Columbus & Dublin, OH. Dr. Emily WH is a counselor & school psychologist who supports LGBTQ+ & neurodivergent individuals. Collaborative autism evaluations & ADHD testing available with a licensed psychologist, alongside therapy & cons...