"Neuroaffirming" is a newer word to many people. You may see it trending on Instagram.
(You are invited to follow us on IG. There's inclusive mental health content there and a well-curated meme gallery).
As a self-described neurodiversity-affirming therapist (neuroaffirming for short) in my own words:
Neuroaffirming is a strengths-based, person-centered, trauma-informed approach which centers the unique needs of neurodivergent brains, affirms and celebrates neurodivergence, and makes accommodations to support each person's individual journey to authenticity and wellness. Neurodivergent brains include those of all people with neurotypes outside of what is considered "neurotypical" and often experience emotional regulation, sensory experiencing and information processing differences.
Workplaces can be neuroaffirming. Public spaces can be neuroaffirming. What about neuroaffirming therapy?
For me, it means all sessions are a dynamic process where a client's unique needs are supported, affirmed, and celebrated. We get creative with tools, identify strengths and capitalizing on those. You're a visual learner, great. Let's use a Jamboard or other whiteboard-esque tool to illustrate the concept that we're talking about. We're doing telehealth therapy and the ADHD restlessness is kicking in? Let's make sure you've got some fidget toys, a beverage, and a self-care plan post-session to help you stay present and engaged as we connect online for a hour-long session.
My go-tos may be different than some of my colleagues providing in-person services. I work exclusively by telehealth and use a variety of digital neuroaffirming tools in sessions with clients. Most of the people I work with have ADHD or are late-identified Austistic adults. In collaborating with them in session, these tools are some of my favorites:
Digital whiteboards. An awesome and helpful feature of telehealth is the opportunity to use various tech tools to support clients in their journeys. I often use Jamboard to illustrate concepts and help clients visualize ideas. This is an example concept called a Choice Point, an ACT exercise which engages multiple therapeutic processes including naming values and identifying choices for action.
Feelings chart: I like the Mood Meter from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Not sure how to name your emotion? The features of high/low energy and high/low pleasantness can be particularly helpful and neuroaffirming - conceptualizing emotions and their related physical experiences provides more options for neurodivergent brains to identify how they're feeling.
The Neurodivergent Friendly Workbook of DBT Skills by Sonny Jane Wise. This is one of the most neuroaffirming and informative workbooks I've found. In it are sections on distress tolerance, emotional regulation, everyday wellbeing and practical self-care tools tailored specifically to neurodivergent brains. The PDF of the workbook is downloadable in their online store.
I use these tools with my clients in therapy, but you don't need to be in therapy to access them for yourself. Virtual whiteboards are great for exploring ideas visually. Feelings charts (the mood meter in particular) are useful for naming emotions and the workbook you can use on your own to develop your coping-skills and self-care supports.
If you're a neurodivergent person seeking therapy it can be a significant relief to connect with a neuroaffirming therapist (if you're in Virginia, check out our practice). Life isn't limited to what happens in therapy sessions and I hope you'll discover what works (maybe including these tools) for yours to be more neuroaffirming.
Hannah Dickey LMSW
Supervisee in social work
Divergent Path Wellness
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