How To Be a Neuroaffirmative Therapist Or Clinician

Being a neuroaffirmative therapist or clinician means focusing on an individual’s unique strengths and supporting them to build a positive view of their different brain. At the moment, the medical system is largely deficit-based, so it’s especially important to learn neuroaffirmative practices.

From revisiting the language we use, to thinking about the physical environment, to questioning the assumptions underlying our existing approaches, we can help autistic individuals get closer to their authentic self and achieve a positive self-image.

Find below some of our best resources on neurodiversity for therapists, clinicians and other professionals.

  • The Neurodiversity Affirmative Child Autism Assessment Handbook by Dr Maeve Kavanagh, Dr Anna Day, Davida Hartman, Tara O'Donnell-Killen, Jessica K Doyle

    The first handbook on neuro-affirmative child autism assessment, written by a group of qualified psychologists and Autistic experience advocates, who are ND themselves.

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  • The Adult Autism Assessment Handbook by Davida Hartman, Tara O'Donnell-Killen, Jessica K Doyle, Dr Maeve Kavanagh, Dr Anna Day, Dr Juliana Azevedo

    A neurodiversity-affirmative approach to adult autism assessment written by qualified psychologists.

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Discussing Neurodivergence in Therapy

Card sets and visual books are often an engaging way to open conversations with your client in order to help them explore their diagnosis and what it means to them.

For you as the professional, reading lived experience books written by neurodivergent people is a great insight into the lives and experiences of the community if you’re not neurodivergent yourself (but also if you are!)

  • The Amazing Autistic Brain Cards by Glòria Durà-Vilà, Rebecca Tatternorth

    Cards comprising strengths and challenges to help children and teens gain a positive understanding of their autism diagnosis



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  • All About Neurodiversity by Kathy Hoopmann, Tony Attwood, Michelle Garnett

    100 therapeutic cards exploring neurodivergent identity, accompanied by a short user guide.

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  • A Therapist’s Guide to Neurodiversity Affirming Practice with Children and Young People by Raelene Dundon

    The go-to-guide for shifting your clinical practice to an affirming approachthat honours neurodivergence.

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  • Autism and Masking by Felicity Sedgewick, Laura Hull, Helen Ellis

    An in-depth examination of how autistic people mask, why they do it and the impact it can have on their wellbeing.

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  • Energy Accounting by Maja Toudal, Dr Anthony Attwood

    The go-to-guide to exploring what Energy Accounting is, how it can benefit autistic individuals and others seeking stress management.

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  • My Body's Power Pack by Sandhya Menon

    Neuroscience to help children understand why their energy ebbs and flows, and why this may cause dysregulation.

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  • The Young Person’s Guide to Autistic Burnout by Viv Dawes

    A supportive illustrated guide helping autistic teens manage and prevent burnout.

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Providing Therapy to Neurodivergent Couples

Making meaningful adaptations to relationship therapy when working with clients where one or both partners are neurodivergent can make a
big difference to outcomes. The resources below can help with strategies where couples might be finding it difficult to understand each other’s perspective, exploring how you as the professional can support.

  • Relationship Counselling with Autistic Neurodiverse Couples by Tony Attwood, Maxine Aston

    A professional guide considering the effectiveness of couples counselling for couples where one or both parties are autistic and how to improve therapeutic practice.

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  • Armchair Conversations on Love and Autism by Eva A. Mendes

    Neurodiverse couples share personal accounts of the ups and downs of being in an AS relationship.

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  • The Autism Couple's Workbook, Second Edition by Maxine Aston

    Candid advice, guidance and activities for couples and counsellors

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Supporting Neurodivergent Women in Practice

Recently, clinicians have seen an increase in the number of women and girls seeking both autism and ADHD diagnoses. Traits in women and girls often present differently or are masked more often - they may be more prone to adaptation techniques to camouflage amongst neurotypical individuals.

Getting a clear understanding of these subtle differences is important for clinicians and therapists for diagnosis and continued support.    

  • The Female Profile of Autism by Isabelle Henault, Annyck Martin

    A comprehensive guide to autism in women covering clinical diagnosis, self-diagnosis, common characteristics and lived-experiences from Autistic females.

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  • Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum, Second Edition by Sarah Hendrickx, Judith Gould, Jess Hendrickx

    A comprehensive guide to Autism in women covering clinical diagnosis, self-diagnosis, common characteristics and lived-experiences from Autistic females.

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  • Understanding ADHD in Girls and Women by Joanne Steer, No Author Listed, Andrea Bilbow

    Insights and best practice for professionals on ADHD in girls and women.

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