What Is Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy?
If you’ve ever felt like therapy wasn’t quite built for the way your brain works, you’re not imagining it. Traditional approaches often expect people to conform to neurotypical standards—and if you’re neurodivergent, that can feel not only frustrating, but deeply invalidating.
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy is different. It starts from the belief that there’s nothing wrong with you. Your brain just works differently—and that difference deserves understanding, respect, and support, not fixing.
So what does “neurodivergent” mean?
Neurodivergent is a term that includes things like ADHD, Autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and other cognitive and processing differences. It’s not a medical label or a diagnosis—it’s a way of describing brain-based diversity. And just like biodiversity, it’s something that adds value to the world.
What does “affirming” actually look like in therapy?
Neurodivergent-affirming therapy isn’t a new technique—it’s a whole different lens.
Instead of pathologising your experience (i.e., focusing on what’s “wrong” or “impaired”), we work together to understand your story, your strengths, and how you’ve been adapting in environments that weren’t designed for you.
This means:
You set the pace – we co-create the space together, based on what works for you.
We explore without judgement – whether it’s masking, burnout, shame, or grief.
Your lived experience is central – no trying to fit you into a box.
It’s strengths-focused – your creativity, sensitivity, hyperfocus, or sense of justice aren’t side-notes; they’re part of the work.
We look at the system, not just the self – recognising that a lot of “struggles” are shaped by ableist norms and lack of support, not personal failure.
It’s also deeply relational.
Being met with curiosity, respect, and presence—rather than correction or diagnosis—can be a healing experience in itself. Many of us grew up feeling too much, too messy, or not enough. Therapy shouldn’t reinforce that.
In a neurodivergent-affirming space, you don’t have to mask or explain away who you are. There’s room to pause, to feel, to get curious—and to start making sense of things in a way that feels right for you.
A note on diagnosis
For some people, a diagnosis is incredibly validating. For others, it’s confusing or comes with mixed emotions. Wherever you are with it—just exploring, newly diagnosed, or processing it years on—you’re welcome here. We’ll go at your pace.
Final thoughts
This approach isn’t about pretending it’s all easy. It’s about being real—about the challenges and the beauty of being wired differently. It’s about working with your brain, not against it. And above all, it’s about finding ways to live more fully and authentically, on your terms.
If any of this resonates, I’d love to walk alongside you.