My research focus is the experiences of neurodivergent people in therapy. I began researching due to my experiences of therapy and therapy training where there seemed little focus on how neurodivergence impacts how we understand ourselves and others. In addition, I found clients would often share negative experiences of therapy due to feeling unheard, unseen, misunderstood and feeling othered or judged by their therapist who was not able to understand their experiences (Turville, 2024).
Sadly, nearly all of those that completed my qualitative research earlier this year felt misunderstood by their therapist, othered rather than affirmed, and that their therapist did not realise the negative impact of their lack of understanding and awareness. The only client that felt affirmed and understood in therapy had a neurodivergent therapist (Turville, 2024).
As a result, I am continuing my research to find out what neurodivergent adults think therapists should be doing more of, to create materials for therapists, professionals and anyone working with or supporting neurodivergent adults so that the lived experience of neurodivergence is better understood, and, hopefully, better affirmed in counselling practice.
If you are a neurodivergent adult you may be able to take part provided you are not within in patient mental healthcare or being supported by a mental health crisis team, or under the care of a psychiatrist other than for regular medication reviews. You can find out more and take part below.
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Turville, S (2024), The experiences of neurodivergent participants in therapy, Masters Dissertation, Leeds Beckett University
