You may have heard the terms “neurodiverse,” “neurodivergent," and “neurodiversity” recently. The discourse around neurodiversity is picking up steam in popular culture, including on social media platforms. Neurodivergence is a newer term, and a helpful one at that, that covers an array of experiences, symptoms and diagnoses. While classic therapeutic treatments help neurodivergent folks navigate life’s challenges, neurodivergent-affirming care is the next step in elevating mental healthcare for those who have lived experience across the neurodivergent spectrum. This is part one of a two part series on two distinct but related topics: neurodivergent care, and neurodivergent-affirming care.
Neurodivergence: What Does it Mean?
The term neurodiversity is an umbrella term to capture the array of neurocognitive experiences that exist, acknowledging the natural variance in how all human brains/nervous systems work. Rather than conceiving of our brains as either “normal” or “abnormal,” the neurodiversity paradigm rejects stigmatizing language and ideas that some brains are either good/healthy or bad/unhealthy. Within the spectrum of neurodiversity, there are those who are neurodivergent and those who are neurotypical. The term neurotypical refers to mindbodies that function in alignment with neuronormativity. Neuronormativity refers to the set of social and medical norms, standards, and ideals about how individuals "should" process cognitive and sensory information, communicate, and engage in the world. Therefore, the term neurodivergent refers to mindbodies that diverge from neuronormativity. Importantly, both neurotypical and neurodivergent folks experience challenges with mental and emotional health. For folks who are neurodivergent, they may face added difficulties as their strengths and challenges may be affected by how their brains work and the cultural expectation to operate in neurotypical ways.
To reiterate, neurodivergence is not a diagnostic disorder of its own, but rather an array of experiences related to different neurological wirings. Some of the diagnoses that fall under the umbrella of neurodivergence include (but are not limited to) ADHD, Autism Spectrum, Downs Syndrome, Dyslexia, and a variety of learning disabilities. Furthermore, some forms of neurodivergence may be hard-wired into a person (such as Autism) whereas other forms of neurodivergence are acquired (such as those relating to an acquired brain injury). All of this to say, the neurodiversity umbrella encompasses a vast array of lived experiences and focuses on de-pathologizing the difference in how brains work, so neurodiversity is a wonderfully inclusive term! The growing prevalence and discussion of neurodiversity in our society represents a positive shift in how we talk about mental health - we are building a language that represents these experiences, and fostering growth of resources for neurodivergent folks and the people who support them.
This infographic by Sonny Jane breaks down the difference between the pathologizing framework and neurodiversity framework.
Neurodivergent Care: Therapeutic Treatment
There is no “cure” for neurodivergence… and there doesn’t need to be. Therapy for neurodiverse people focuses on developing the skills and insight to navigate a world that was built assuming most people are neurotypical. Classic modalities that your therapist may use with you include (but aren’t limited to):
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - understanding (and possibly changing) how your beliefs about yourself and the world are formed, and how these thoughts are related to emotions and behaviour
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) - developing skills around mindfulness, managing emotions, relating to and communicating with others, and handling distress more effectively
Creative therapies - using writing, music, art, movement, and other forms to express your experiences and emotions in ways that make sense to you as a neurodivergent person, especially if expressing yourself through talking doesn't feel like the best fit
Narrative Therapy and Strengths-Based Therapy - creating space for you to share experiences without fear of judgement, identify and reinforce the strengths you have, and identify hopes/plan goals for a better future
This is by no means an exhaustive list, nor is it exclusive. When you find the right therapist, they will work with you to devise a plan unique to your needs that may pull from multiple backgrounds. Your therapist will also work with you to track progress and see which interventions are yielding the best outcomes for your goals.
A final note on neurodivergent therapy: you do not need a diagnosis of a neurodivergent-type disorder to access care. For example, if you feel like you are having challenges with focus, if you feel like it’s hard to connect with others, or if you just feel like it’s you against your brain some days - you deserve support. If any of what is shared here resonates with you, members of the Sedâ Psychotherapy team are here for you, and you are welcome to book a free consultation here. We will see you next time for part two of this series!
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