Neurodiversity Therapy: Understanding and Acceptance

Gaining insight into your own neurodiverse traits, whether or not you have a formal diagnosis, can support a stronger, more positive sense of identity. Neurodivergence is not something that needs fixing, but rather understanding and acceptance. 

Neurodiversity is the recognition that people’s brains work in different ways, and that these differences are a natural part of human variation rather than deficits. Neurodivergence can include conditions such as ADHD, autism, and dyslexia, among others. Everyone experiences the world differently, and therapy should adapt to your way of thinking, feeling, and processing information, rather than expecting you to fit a standard model. 

Being neurodivergent is not a mental illness, but research shows that autistic people, and those with ADHD or dyslexia, are more likely than the general population to experience emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive traits.

These experiences often arise from the challenges of living in environments designed for neurotypical people, navigating social expectations, or coping with unmet needs. In some cases, emotional difficulties may be responses to stress, misunderstanding, or mislabelling of neurodivergent traits, rather than separate mental health conditions. Understanding this helps counselling and therapy focus on support, acceptance, and practical strategies, not “fixing” who you are.

Many neurodivergent people engage in masking, consciously or unconsciously adapting their behaviour to fit in with neurotypical norms. While masking can help navigate social situations, it is often exhausting, stressful, and isolating, and can contribute to anxiety, low mood, or a sense of disconnection from yourself. Therapy provides a space where you can drop the mask safely, explore your authentic self, and develop strategies for living in a way that feels sustainable and genuine. 

Receiving a neurodivergent diagnosis later in life can bring clarity, relief, and also new questions about identity and past experiences.

Therapy can help you process these feelings, make sense of your past, and explore what this new understanding means for your life now and in the future.

 I offer neurodiversity-affirming therapy, which means your unique way of experiencing the world is respected and valued. Together, we can:

• Explore your identity and self-understanding 
• Navigate emotional challenges
• Develop practical coping strategies that work for you
   

My approach is informed by both professional and lived experience, providing a safe, empathetic space where you are understood and supported without judgement.