What They Don't Tell You About Neurodivergence
Why I'm Writing This
Neurodivergence was discussed during training, but often as a topic rather than as a different way of experiencing the world.
What I found more challenging was understanding what this meant in the therapy room.
The Common Assumption
Neurodivergent clients communicate differently.
What I Started Noticing
The challenge was not always the client.
Sometimes the challenge was the assumptions built into therapy itself.
Eye contact.
Silence.
Small talk.
Metaphor.
Homework.
Emotional language.
The expectation that insight automatically creates change.
Why I Think It Matters
The more I learned about neurodivergence, the more I found myself questioning assumptions I had never realised I was making.
What does engagement actually look like?
What does connection actually look like?
What does progress actually look like?
Questions For Reflection
How much of what we consider "good therapy" is based on neurotypical assumptions?
What happens when we adapt our expectations rather than expecting clients to adapt to ours?
How might curiosity be more useful than certainty?
Final Reflection
Understanding neurodivergence did not simply change how I viewed some clients.
It changed how I viewed therapy itself.