Therapy for those who are Neurodiverse can be highly beneficial, with or without a diagnosis. However, the right therapist who has a good understanding of what it is like to be neurodiverse in a neurotypical world is important. In my practice, I have a Neurodiverse Affirming approach. I see many clients who have received a diagnosis late in life. For some this brings clarity and understanding of themselves, but for others the diagnosis a harder thing to accept than they expected. It can raise questions about identity, anger about a childhood that could have been different or even worries about how this is going to affect them going forward. I work at the client’s pace and if that means jumping around between subjects that is ok. A good therapist who understands Neurodiversity will allow you that freedom to be yourself. I work with you to help you understand yourself and accept your differences as part of who you are. Your thoughts, feelings and behaviours may be part of being neurodiverse, but it doesn’t make them wrong.
Sadly, it is common for ND people to have experience of being invalidated and made to feel unacceptably different from others. This will lead to masking and often a lack of being able to identify which parts are authentically you and which parts are the mask. Therapy should help you sift through these different self-beliefs and values to enable you to accept yourself and shake of thoughts and beliefs that don’t help you moving forward.
Many ND individuals experience other conditions like Anxiety, Depression and Trauma. Therapy can help you work through these alongside your condition. You can ask any potential therapist the questions that make you feel comfortable. Good questions to ask can include;
- What is your experience in working with individuals who are neurodiverse?
- Do you have any lived experience with neurodiversity?
- How do you adapt your approach to help with neurodivergent thinking and processing.
- What is your approach to addressing co-occurring mental health issues like anxiety or depression in neurodiverse clients?
But what can I expect when I am actually in therapy?
For many the thought of sitting still in a room for 50 minutes and being ‘expected’ to talk is a struggle. It is not unreasonable for you to look for a therapist who can provide sensory tools, allow you to move around the room if necessary or provide support in understanding your emotions and interpretations of the world around you. In my room, I provide soft blankets, fidget tools, soft lighting, the opportunity to remove shoes if you wish and to move around the room if that makes you more comfortable.
It is not always necessary for you to talk for the whole session. A therapist can provide different resources to help you put words to how you feel for example how you actually express happiness or sadness rather than in looking for the way you “should” express them, word banks, therapy cards, creative tools and visuals can all be used to help you explore the area’s you want to explore.
If you would like to understand more about how a counselling session works in general please see my previous blog “What to expect in a counselling session”. This will explain details such as timings, expectations and practical help.