Neurodiversity Ally
What is a neurodiversity ally?
Neurodivergent clients often report difficulty talking in therapeutic spaces and can feel overwhelmed by some of the practices counsellors sometimes use. As a neurodiversity ally I work hard to incorporate neurodiversity-affirming accommodations and practices with all my clients, ensuring that those people who are not diagnosed are not excluded.
How do I achieve a neurodiversity-affirming practice?
I listen to understand unique presentations of lived experiences and don't attempt to provide alternative ways of living. You are the expert on you, and I will not try to change you.
Where possible I have created a sensory-friendly office. There is no clutter, the lights are on a dimmer switch so I can turn them down if required, there's no music, and clients can park on my drive in private until their session time meaning there are no social requirements in a waiting room. Additionally, clients are welcome to move around the office, sit on the floor, shift in their seats or fidget as much as they need to. I also have soft fidget toys to use if needed and if a client wants to step outside I have a peaceful back garden that people can walk round if they wish to (my family will not intrude on clients using the back garden).
I'm aware that sometimes speaking can be difficult; silence is welcome, as is going off on tangents and then coming back to topics later, I work with where you are rather than have predetermined plan or process to follow, I will follow your thoughts where they go and we don't have to stay on one topic. Equally, I can offer paper and pens to write, or drawing materials to colour or doodle if these would be beneficial.
I don't assume that any neurodiverse specific presenting issues are a problem to resolve!
Too often neurodiverse people are told there is something wrong with them, and this can happen in various ways. Person-centred counselling provides an excellent basis for empowering neurodiverse people by not assuming that we, as counsellors, know you best!
Internal Family Systems as a method of practice, provides a deeper level of understanding to the parts of us that have been impacted by discrimination or judgements and enables integration of all the things we have lived through.