New Guide for Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy
A new book, *Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy: What Every Mental Health Provider Needs to Know*, is now available. The publication serves as a practical guide for clinicians and coaches. It provides frameworks for implementing affirming, collaborative, and individualized interventions for neurodivergent clients.
- The book is authored by Dr. Amy Marschall, a licensed psychologist who is also AuDHD (autistic with ADHD). Her professional specializations include trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming care, and telemental health, and she brings both professional and personal experience to the topic. - The guide moves beyond a focus solely on autism, encompassing a wider spectrum of neurodivergence, including ADHD, dyslexia, and some forms of trauma and anxiety. This aligns with the understanding that executive functioning challenges are not limited to one diagnosis. - A core principle of the neurodiversity-affirming model presented is shifting away from "fixing" neurodivergent individuals to conform to neurotypical standards. Instead, it emphasizes creating supportive environments and using strategies that honor the individual's unique cognitive style. - For parents, a neurodiversity-affirming approach involves understanding their child's specific needs and triggers, celebrating their strengths, and building strategies for communication and emotional regulation, rather than focusing on correcting behaviors. - The book advocates for a collaborative process where the clinician and client are partners. It recognizes the neurodivergent individual as the expert on their own lived experience. - For twice-exceptional (2e) students, who are both gifted and have a learning difference like ADHD, a neurodiversity-affirming approach is crucial. This involves focusing on their strengths and interests to foster engagement while providing support for their challenges. - The guide's frameworks can be adapted for telehealth, a key area for modern coaching practices. Telehealth can improve access to care and allow for accommodations that support neurodivergent clients' sensory and communication needs.
