What is Neurodiversity?
There is no single way for a person’s brain to work, how we learn, feel and experience our lives is unique to us.
Neurodivergence means differences in the way experience and interact with the world and how our brains process information.
15-20% of the UK population has a neurological difference.
Using the term neurodiversity, helps against labelling people with deficits or disorders, and instead shows a more balanced view of individual people’s unique strengths and challenges. A lot of the challenges faced are more to do with the environment and systems neurodivergent people are placed in.
The Neurodivergent umbrella is large, here are some of the differences:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Dyspraxia
- Developmental language differences
- Tourette’s syndrome
It is also common for neurodivergent people to experience other conditions alongside their neurodivergence – often called ‘co-occurring conditions’, such as mental health conditions like:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- OCD
Sadly, research also shows that neurodivergent people have an increased risk of suicidal thoughts. This could be due to stigma, discrimination, lack of understanding, lack of services, isolation and misdiagnosis.
This is not okay – there needs to be more understanding, educating and personalised services for those who need it.
As a neurodivergent affirming therapist, I believe people deserve the services to fit them, inclusion should not mean needing to be less of yourself.
Let me know how best to support you or what your accessibility needs are.
If you want to connect to talk about 1:1 confidential counselling sessions you are welcome to reach out to my email for a no obligation conversation to see if we can work together – Laura@LauraWilliamsCounselling.co.uk