What Does It Mean For a Therapist to Be Neurodiversity-Affirming?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Neurodivergence?What Is Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy?Risks of Therapy That Is Not Neurodiversity-AffirmingNeurodiversity-Affirming Therapists

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is Neurodivergence?

What Is Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy?

Risks of Therapy That Is Not Neurodiversity-Affirming

Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapists

Close

Neurodiversityrefers to the naturally-occurring differences and variety in brain functioning and resulting behaviors. It is part of typical variation among humans, just like variances in height, eye color, and family traits.

Even though neurodiversity, like other forms of human diversity, is natural and beneficial to society, certain neurotypes are framed as “different” and “othered” due to not following “neurotypical” standards for behavior, communication, and cognition. The field of psychology has traditionally prioritizedneurotypicalbrains as the standard for mental health, which has caused harm to neurodivergent populations through over-pathologizing non-harmful behaviors and trying to enforce neurotypical standards of behavior.

In this article, you’ll learn more about what neurodiversity-affirming care looks like, why it’s important, and how to find a neurodiversity-affirming therapist.

While each brain is unique and there is no one definition of “normal,” the termneurodivergencewas developed to reflect the experience of those whose neurodiversity falls outside of social expectations for “typical.”

Some neurodivergent people are disabled as a result of their neurodivergence, but some neurodivergent people do not consider their neurodivergence to be a disability.Both perspectives are true and valid.

If the way you perceive and interact with the world around you diverts from typical expectations and standards, you may be neurodivergent.

Awareness and Allyship: It’s a New Day for Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity-affirming therapy is not a specific set of interventions or things the therapist says or does in their sessions. Rather, it is an approach to treatment and overarching philosophy that impacts how the therapist views their client and the client’s experience, much liketrauma-informed therapyrecognizes the unique impact of trauma on an individual’s experience.

In sum, a neurodiversity-affirming therapist is aware that each client is the expert on their own experience and holds space for the good and the bad that come with it. They let neurodivergent communities lead the way in determining the most appropriate language, treatment intervention, and resources rather than telling them what they need based on neurotypical expectations.

Introducing: Neurodivergence at Work

Traditionally, therapy has not been neurodiversity-affirming. Themedical modelof mental health, which approaches mental illnesses as physical disorders that need to be treated, assumes that neurodivergence is a problem to be fixed. While this may be true of some symptoms, many neurodivergent communities have pushed back on this as a default approach to treatment.

If a therapist is not neurodiversity-affirming, they may push for their client to correct or fix behaviors simply because those behaviors are atypical, even if the behavior is not harmful.

For example, the autistic community has challenged the assumption thatapplied behavioral analysis(ABA) is an appropriate “treatment” forautism. Through ABA, many autistic people have been taught to hide stimming behavior (repetitive, self-soothing behavior such as rocking back and forth or repeating certain words or sounds) because it is “annoying” or “distracting,” even though they may be using the behavior to self-regulate or cope with an uncomfortable sensory experience.

Essentially, the goal of the treatment is often to make them stop appearing autistic and to “mask” (hide) their autistic traits.Sincemaskingis highly stressful for autistic people and leads to burnout in the long term,a treatment that requires masking is harmful.

Therapists who are not neurodiversity-affirming may additionally have less knowledge about neurodivergent communities. While no therapist can be an expert on every topic, and even therapists with expertise are not the experts on individual client experiences, a therapist who lacks this background may have to rely on the client to teach them about neurodivergence. This puts added demand on the client in their treatment.

Essentially, neurodiversity-affirming care is a form ofcultural sensitivity. Therapists who are neurodiversity-affirming have taken steps to be aware of possible biases and to gather appropriate knowledge about neurodivergent clients before working with them to avoid doing harm.

Stimming in ADHD

How Can I Find a Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapist?

If a neurodivergent individual isseeking therapy servicesand wants a provider who is affirming of neurodiversity, it is important to research prospective therapists. Unfortunately, a 2022 study showed that 46% of providers who serve neurodivergent people (including psychotherapists, speech therapists, teachers, and others) are uninformed about neurodiversity-affirming practices, and 58% overestimated their knowledge and competency in this area.

Prior to scheduling an appointment, you can ask a potential therapist if they consider themselves to be neurodiversity-affirming and what they believe this means or looks like in their practice.

Many therapists who understand the importance of neurodiversity-affirming practice will make a statement about this on their website. In addition, some therapist directories allow providers to indicate this as specialized experience:

Even if a therapist is neurodiversity-affirming, it is okay to change providers if their approach, personality, or training are not agood fitfor your unique needs. As with all types of therapy, you might have to try out multiple providers before finding the right fit for you.

The Reality of Getting Diagnosed With ADHD in Adulthood

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Neurodivergence.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-VSilberman S.Neurodiversity rewires conventional thinking about brains. In: Davis LJ, Dolmage J, Erevelles N, et al., eds.Beginning with Disability. 1st ed. Routledge; 2017:51-52.Anderson LK.Autistic experiences of applied behavior analysis.Autism. Published online August 23, 2022:136236132211182.Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al. “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference.Perspectives About Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices.

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cleveland Clinic.Neurodivergence.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-VSilberman S.Neurodiversity rewires conventional thinking about brains. In: Davis LJ, Dolmage J, Erevelles N, et al., eds.Beginning with Disability. 1st ed. Routledge; 2017:51-52.Anderson LK.Autistic experiences of applied behavior analysis.Autism. Published online August 23, 2022:136236132211182.Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al. “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference.Perspectives About Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cleveland Clinic.Neurodivergence.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-VSilberman S.Neurodiversity rewires conventional thinking about brains. In: Davis LJ, Dolmage J, Erevelles N, et al., eds.Beginning with Disability. 1st ed. Routledge; 2017:51-52.Anderson LK.Autistic experiences of applied behavior analysis.Autism. Published online August 23, 2022:136236132211182.Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al. “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference.Perspectives About Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices.

Cleveland Clinic.Neurodivergence.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5.5th ed., American Psychiatric Association, 2013.DSM-V

Silberman S.Neurodiversity rewires conventional thinking about brains. In: Davis LJ, Dolmage J, Erevelles N, et al., eds.Beginning with Disability. 1st ed. Routledge; 2017:51-52.

Anderson LK.Autistic experiences of applied behavior analysis.Autism. Published online August 23, 2022:136236132211182.

Raymaker DM, Teo AR, Steckler NA, et al. “Having all of your internal resources exhausted beyond measure and being left with no clean-up crew”: defining autistic burnout.Autism in Adulthood. 2020;2(2):132-143.

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference.Perspectives About Neurodiversity-Affirming Practices.

Hannah Owens, LMSW

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?