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.
Neuroaffirmative Assessment Books

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!)
Resources to Discuss Neurodivergence
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Cards comprising strengths and challenges to help children and teens gain a positive understanding of their autism diagnosis
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100 therapeutic cards exploring neurodivergent identity, accompanied by a short user guide.
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The go-to-guide for shifting your clinical practice to an affirming approachthat honours neurodivergence.
Books on Masking, Anxiety & Burnout
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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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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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Neuroscience to help children understand why their energy ebbs and flows, and why this may cause dysregulation.
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A supportive illustrated guide helping autistic teens manage and prevent burnout.

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.
Books for Supporting Neurodivergent Couples
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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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Neurodiverse couples share personal accounts of the ups and downs of being in an AS relationship.
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Candid advice, guidance and activities for couples and counsellors

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.
Books on Supporting Neurodivergent Women
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A comprehensive guide to autism in women covering clinical diagnosis, self-diagnosis, common characteristics and lived-experiences from Autistic females.
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A comprehensive guide to Autism in women covering clinical diagnosis, self-diagnosis, common characteristics and lived-experiences from Autistic females.
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Insights and best practice for professionals on ADHD in girls and women.