Neurodivergence affirming counselling

My experience is that clients can seek counselling to understand the role that neurodivergence has played in their experiencing and in their life.

Others have found in counselling that their neurodivergence has not been understood in previous therapy experiences as if neurodivergence is seen as a discrete topic that is a side issue for them.

However, this is not recognising how neurodivergence can influence all areas of our experiencing including the way we think, our sensory experiencing and how we experience our relationships. Sadly neurodivergence is often misunderstood by the world around us and on top of the frustrations of daily life in a world assuming neurotypical ways of being and thinking it can feel devastating to be misunderstood within the therapeutic relationship. Clients have reported micro-aggressions from apparently neurotypical therapists and feeling significantly misunderstood which does not help to build a secure and trusting space within therapy.

As a result neurodivergence affirming therapy can be an important component of counselling for clients identifying as neurodivergent since it allows them to be their authentic selves and be more fully seen and received which is a key element of therapy.

This is why I practice neurodivergence affirming therapy so that clients can feel fully understood by a therapist with a specialism in this area. It is by being properly received and seen that we can develop compassion for ourselves and the awareness and courage to make new choices.