Neurodiversity is a relatively new term, describing a wide spectrum of people whose brains function differently to what is considered “typical”. This includes people with autism spectrum conditions, including high functioning autism or ADHD, but also conditions such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. There is increased recognition within the counselling and therapeutic communities that neurodivergent individuals may experience higher levels of common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression and, further, may experience additional challenges that might bring them to therapy, for example relationship distress.
Workshop Content and Aims
- Understanding of neurodiversity: different conditions (autism, ADHD etc.), appropriate language (e.g. “has autism” vs. “is autistic”), and diagnostic processes (e.g. specialist referral vs self- identification and peer confirmation).
- Understanding of how neurodiversity presents in individual, couple and family therapy – what to look for in the room. Strategies to make the therapeutic encounter more tolerable for neurodivergent individuals.
- Understanding how unconscious phantasies might be playing out in partner choice and couple functioning where one or other partner is neurodivergent.
- Understanding of the impact of a child being diagnosed with a neurological condition upon the couple and wider family.
- Ability to think critically about the ethics of therapist self- disclosure (of lived experience of neurodiversity).
A CPD Certificate of attendance will be awarded following the completion of this workshop
Date TBC