Ten ways to be a neuroaffirmative therapist.
Being a neuroaffirmative therapist
After working alongside the neurodivergent community for over fourteen years, I have experience of creating a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment for neurodiverse people, which benefits everyone. Here are some of my reflections on how to be a neuroaffirmative therapist.
What is neuroaffirmative practice?
Before we start, what do we mean by being neuroaffirmative? Neuroaffirmative practise is where people’s individual differences are celebrated and changes to the person themselves are not suggested. Instead, neuroaffirmative practise recognises that everyone can thrive in the right environment and so understanding what adaptations can be made to the environment is one important factor in ensuring that people reach their full potential.
Ten practical ways to be a neuroaffirmative therapist.
Everyone is different. To be an ally to the neurodivergent community, listen and take on feedback and suggestions from the people you are working with.
It’s always useful to start by asking the person, what it is that they need from you to help them to feel comfortable.
Ask someone what their preferred pronouns are and the preferred language they’d like you to use. Often people prefer identity first language (e.g. “I’m autistic”) rather than person first language (“I have autism”), but it is always worthwhile checking this out with them.
Before an appointment let someone know the topics you might talk about, and how long the appointment will take.
Encourage someone to consider any questions they might have in advance.
Explicitly tell someone that they can read from their notes during your appointment, to help them to remember what they need to say.
Have a schedule for breaks and allow someone to take as many breaks as they need. A break might be just to get up and move around or to fidget.
Ask about someone’s sensory preferences and adapt to these. Encourage them to use fidgets if they need to, or even better, provide some yourself that they can use!
Don’t presume that doodling or looking away means someone is not listening.
Provide someone with a brief written summary after your appointments.
Describe differences not deficits.
On going support from me
If you’re a professional working with neurodivergent adults and you would like support in your neuroaffirming practice, contact me for a one-off consultation or ongoing supervision. I’d love to hear from you!
