What does Neurodiversity Affirming therapy mean?

If you've been living in 2025 then you have likely heard the words "neurodiversity", "neurodiverse", "neurodivergence", or "neurodivergent" thrown around, but what does it all mean?

To understand what neurodiversity affirming therapy is, we first need to look at what neurodiversity really is (hint: it's not Autism and ADHD).

As Dr Nick Walker puts it,

"neurodiversity is a biological fact"

It refers to all the diverse neurotypes* that humans possess, together, in one big group representing the differences and variability in human existence.

Based on this biological fact, we then have the development of the Neurodiversity Paradigm. This is a specific lens through which neurodiversity is viewed, a perspective on neurodiversity. It is a foundational philosophy and framework that is based on shared core principles:

• Neurodiversity is normal, natural and adaptive variation

• There is no one right/healthy/normal/superior neurotype

• The social dynamics that emerge around neurodiversity are similar to those seen in other forms of human diversity (e.g., ethnicity, gender, or culture). These include dynamics of social power imbalances, as well as the ways in which diversity can be a source of creativity and innovation, if it is embraced.

Next comes the Neurodiversity Movement. This is a social justice movement that passionately advocates for rights of neurodivergent people. This includes human and disability rights, with a focus on respect, inclusion and equality. You might have come across individuals and groups within this movement through their advocacy for more inclusive classrooms or better support for neurodivergent people at work. These changes matter a lot, but they’re just one part of what the Neurodiversity Movement is all about. Advocates in this movement are constantly challenging unfair and ableist* beliefs about how people are “supposed” to think, behave, or learn. They work to end harmful practices (like therapies that try to make people seem more “normal”) and push for change in laws, policies, and attitudes. The movement has been going for 30+ years, and it is still growing. There’s still a lot of work to do, but the Neurodiversity Movement continues to be a powerful voice for change.

And finally, we arrive at Neurodiversity Affirming support. This is where the neurodiversity paradigm and outcomes of the neurodiversity movement are translated into actual on the ground support for neurodivergent people. These are practitioners, teachers, parents, families, services, and more, that centre the needs and experiences of neurodivergent people and groups.

It is support that:

• Creates space and safety for neurodivergent people to exist just as they are

• Embraces the normal, natural and adaptive variations in neurotype and helps people to explore and understand their life and needs through their neurotype

• Rejects the pathologisation of natural differences (e.g., does not see Autism as a disorder to be cured)

• Rejects the deficit-based model - the idea that differences in how people think, feel or act, compared to what society sees as "normal", are automatically seen as problems or shortcomings

• Never aims to change who neurodivergent people fundamentally are - supports are aimed at environmental changes, meeting support needs and helping with challenges not changing a person's neurotype

• Promotes autonomy and self-determination - that means supporting people to make their own choices, have control over their lives, and decide what works best for them

• Deeply values diversity and uses the Social Model of Disability to recognise that disability is not caused by a person’s body or mind, but by barriers in society like inaccessible environments, rigid systems, and ableist attitudes

• Understands that neurodivergent people live with many intersecting identities, each with their own unique experiences, joys and challenges (e.g., LGBTQIA+, disability, culture).

Importantly, people who are truly neurodiversity affirming continually reflect on their own assumptions, biases and beliefs. They actively grow and learn from the lived experience, research and teaching within the neurodivergent community. This also includes neurodivergent people learning from other neurodivergent people - every single experience is unique.

Neurodiversity Affirming Therapy

The neurodiversity symbol, a rainbow infinity sign, describes the diversity of human brains. Designed by MissLunaRose an Autistic artist.

At Authentic Allies, it is our greatest privilege to support our neurodivergent community. We recognise that the neurodiversity paradigm and movement weren’t created by, or for, the health sector - they come from within the neurodivergent community and belong to it. Neurodivergence is so much more than psychologists or doctors, but we're here to do our part when we're needed.

If you are neurodivergent (or curious about whether you might be) and are looking for affirming support for any reason, you are welcome at Authentic Allies.

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Definitions

• Neurodiversity: "A biological fact" reflecting the endless variations in our natural ways of thinking and being in the world - all neurotypes contribute to our collective neurodiversity.

  
  

• Neurotype: A person's overall neurocognitive functioning, that is, the combination of how their brain, mind and body work together. Neuro in this context refers to the entire nervous system. Examples of neurotypes that have recognisable labels include (but are certainly not limited to) ADHD, dyslexia, Autism, PTSD, C-PTSD, OCD, FASD, epilepsy, synesthesia, dyspraxia, neurotypical etc.

  
  

• Neurodiverse: This word is used to refer to groups that are made up of people with multiple different neurotypes. For example, a class of children is likely to be neurodiverse because there is often a mix of neurotypes represented in this group. Together we are neurodiverse but on our own we aren't because we can only represent our own neurotype.

  
  

• Neurodivergent: An individual that has a brain, mind and body that function in ways that diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of "normal". Note: Neurodivergent does not mean ADHD or Autistic, it includes many many more different neurotypes. An Autistic person is neurodivergent, but a neurodivergent person may not be Autistic (they may have another neurotype such as dyslexia).

  
  

• Neurodivergence: The state of being neurodivergent.

  
  

• Pathologise: To treat or view a person's experience as if it’s a medical problem or disorder. It is the framing of a person's behaviour, condition, or way of thinking as abnormal or pathological.

  
  

• Ableist: Acting from a place of Ableism which is the belief (sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle) that there’s a “right” or “normal” way to think, move, communicate, or experience the world. It shows up in attitudes, environments, systems, and expectations that treat disabled people as less capable, less valuable, or in need of fixing. See the Social Model of Disability.

References