Different On Purpose is a neuroqueer collective centered on neurodiversity and the full spectrum of LGBTQIA+ experiences.
Through workshops, coaching, and seasonal events, our work supports all ages of participants in expressing gender and identity authentically, developing communication styles that work for their unique nervous systems, and building environments that honor neurodivergence.
We create inclusive, creative spaces where people can explore and express their authentic selves through art, movement, music, and creative practice supporting opportunities to unmask together.
We center difference not as a flaw, but as a vital, intentional, and creative way of being alive.
What we offer
Our programs include single-session workshops and ongoing groups and family experiences.
They are inclusive spaces to explore identity, purpose, and neurodivergence through art, movement, music, and creative practice, fostering self-expression, emotional regulation, and meaningful connection.
Explore by age or family group, or check out our full range of offerings, including curated art kits and other merch here.
About Mandy
“I have a deep interest in systems—within individuals, families, and communities—and how those systems shape experience, connection, and capacity. This perspective informs how I design and facilitate spaces that support exploration, regulation, and meaning-making.
I identify as neuroqueer—which for me translates as queer, gender fluid, and neurodivergent—but not always in that order. This lived experience informs my work in a meaningful way, allowing me to hold space with both insight and resonance for the complexities of identity, communication, and belonging.
My approach is highly empathic and responsive, with a strong ability to read and work within group dynamics. I create environments where participants can feel safe enough to explore, express, and be witnessed without pressure to conform.
I am also an activist who believes in hope as a form of resistance. In my work, hope is not passive—it is a deliberate and grounded practice of creating and sustaining spaces where difference is centered, honored, and lived openly. This belief shapes my commitment to building environments where people can show up more fully as themselves and engage creatively with their lives.”
Mandy Parida, LMHC, ET
Mandy holds a Master’s degree in music and a Master’s in mental health counseling and expressive therapies, along with additional training in existential therapies, psychodrama, and sociometry. Her work is grounded in an understanding of how people think, relate, and organize their inner and shared worlds.