What is Dopamine Studio?
I grew up being called “bossy” for orchestrating people and plans. I had meltdowns that weren’t labeled as such, missed social cues, and lived with anxiety, stomach pain, and chronic overwhelm. Doctors looked for allergies, requested blood work, and scratched their heads. Eventually, I was told it was “generalized anxiety disorder,” then depression. I spent eight years on high doses of antidepressants.
Born from my own late‑diagnosis journey—now a research‑driven, neuro‑affirming space where we help women move from surviving to thriving.
Early Years and Mis-Diagnosis
In my twenties, I masked hard and achieved high. I built a career out of “oughts” and “shoulds.” At the height of my start‑up journey, everything looked successful on the outside—but inside, the emergency bells were ringing. The coping strategies (masking, mirroring, and perfectionism) failed. My start‑up closed, and burnout hit. It felt like juggling glass balls—everything critical, everything about to drop. That’s when I finally pursued a diagnosis and learned I have AuDHD.
I cried—not from grief, but from relief. Adult ADHD and autism in women look very different from the stereotype. Suddenly, someone was reading my secrets out loud: working best in the middle of the night after being frozen all day; struggling with personal hygiene because of task initiation and sensory shifts; forgetting to eat and drink all day, and then bingeing at night. My “anxiety” and “depression” were the outputs of an undiagnosed neurodivergent brain trying to survive in a neurotypical world. Recognizing the link between mental health and neurodivergence set me free.
Tipping Point & Diagnosis
Getting that diagnosis was the start of a deeper journey. I realized I’d spent a lifetime surviving. My therapist and an executive coach helped me make sense of it, but there were minimal supports specifically designed for late-diagnosed women who wanted to redesign their life, career, and family around their brains. That’s why I created DOPAMINE STUDIO.
From Surviving to Designing
Master of Science candidate, Executive Coaching & Organizational Consulting, NYU
(Class of 2026) – focusing on neurodivergence, behavior change & AI accommodations.International Coaching Federation member – committed to the highest ethical and professional standards.
Certified Crisis Counselor – adding trauma‑informed care and psychological safety to my coaching.
Former VC‑backed founder & CEO with more than a decade in tech marketing, sales & business development (including leadership roles at Gap Inc.’s Hill City, Twitter & Nike).
Advisor to early‑stage startups and nonprofits; board chair for organizations serving survivors of abuse.
Education + Credentials
DOPAMINE STUDIO is both my coaching practice and the community we co-create with late‑diagnosed ADHD and AuDHD women, early‑stage founders, and leaders building new ways of working. My philosophy is rooted in positive psychology, compassion, and trauma-informed care. We honor self-diagnosis—many can’t access formal diagnosis due to cost, safety, or systemic barriers. Your experience is valid here.
I invite clients to bring their whole selves, including waves of hyperfocus and “potato mode.” We rewrite the narrative together, moving from “lazy” and “inconsistent” to “riding the wave when it’s high and resting when it’s low.” We challenge internalized judgments and design supportive systems—executive‑function scaffolds, values‑aligned planning, AI-enabled accommodations—so you can thrive instead of merely survive.
Philosophy + Practice
Clarity about your executive‑function patterns, masking habits, and internalized “shoulds.”
Identity renegotiation & narrative reframing to replace shame with self‑acceptance.
Personalized systems and rituals that honor your energy cycles.
Intersectional, trauma‑informed support tailored to your context.
Research‑driven AI accommodations and executive‑function tools (if you want them).
What this means for you.
I’d love to hear your story. Book a complimentary discovery call—
It’s free, no pressure, and a chance to explore how ND‑affirming coaching can help.
– Kayla