Neurodivergence and Therapy by Yuka Oshimi (Associate Counsellor)
Photo Credit: Yeshi-Kangrang
As someone who is neurodivergent and specializing in this area, I know firsthand the unique challenges and strengths that come with being neurodivergent. I will use the term ‘neurodivergent’ to describe both individuals with ADHD and/or Autism.
Some common neurodivergent experiences include:
Experiencing deep emotions
Experiencing deep intense emotions that are difficult to express or regulate is a common experience. While neurodivergent individuals experience the same emotions as neurotypical (non-neurodivergent) individuals, we may experience them more intensely and with less clarity. Individuals with Autism in particular, often find it difficult with identifying their emotions – We are aware of having a strong emotion, we can feel it, but it’s challenging to label or comprehend it.
Communication
Communication can be challenging for neurodivergent individuals. We may face difficulty in expressing ourselves, understanding social cues, or processing information. These challenges can often leave us feeling isolated and misunderstood, causing us to struggle in our personal and professional lives.
Masking
Masking is a coping mechanism that neurodivergent individuals use to navigate the challenges of daily life. It involves hiding one’s true self to fit in with the expectations of the neurotypical world around them. Masking can take many forms, such as but not limited to mimicking social cues; suppressing stimming behaviours; concealing special interests; learning scripts, and conforming to social norms. Neurodivergent individuals mask for a variety of reasons. Some do it to avoid stigma and discrimination, while others may mask to fit in with social expectations. In many instances, masking is a way to survive in a world that is not designed to accommodate neurodivergent needs. Unfortunately, the act of masking can be incredibly exhausting and can have a significant impact on our mental health and well-being.
Sensory overload
Neurodivergent individuals can easily be overwhelmed by their environment with things like noise, sounds, smells, and people speaking to them. The brain can register this as ‘too much information’ to be taken in all at once and can leave someone feeling depleted quite quickly. Our heightened sensitivity may trigger an avalanche of sensory information and a greater chance of overstimulation. From my personal experience in the past, this looked like feeling too exhausted after school because of factors such as multiple people talking at once during class and in the cafeteria during lunch; bright lights in the classrooms, and the feeling of my uniform and tags against my skin. This also led me to feel like I didn’t have enough time to recover and recharge before the next day.
Based on my personal experience, as well as my professional experience working as a counsellor, many neurodivergent clients have had different types of therapy that did not seem to help. This could be because a “one size fits all” approach to counselling may not be effective for everyone as it ignores individuals’ unique differences.
Below are 2 reasons why standard talking therapy may not work for neurodivergent individuals:
1. Most Therapeutic Approaches Rely on Individuals Being Able to Identify and Describe Their Mood.
Most therapeutic approaches rely on the individual’s ability to identify and communicate their mood, as well as monitor changes in their mood based on their thoughts and behaviour. However, studies have shown that around 50% of adults with autism have alexithymia, which means that a significant portion of autistic individuals struggles to name, communicate, and identify their emotions.
2. The Therapy Relies on Cognitive Challenging.
Therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) utilize techniques that challenge our thoughts and beliefs, assuming that individuals have a high degree of flexibility in their thinking and that they can be taught alternative strategies to interpret information/situations. However, for many neurodivergent individuals (specifically Autism), changing their methods of selecting, processing, and interpreting information can be a significant challenge. While some individuals may be able to engage in cognitively challenging exercises, research suggests that this is difficult for many.
Despite the 2 problems with un-adapted therapy, many neurodivergent individuals have benefited from therapies designed for neurotypical individuals. One crucial component of therapy is the therapeutic relationship, feeling heard and understood.
As a counsellor, my goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for all my clients to ensure that therapy is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. For neurodivergent clients (Not all clients who are neurodivergent need adaptations) I understand that traditional therapy approaches may not be effective.
Below are 5 of the many ways I adapt therapy as needed to ensure that each session is tailored to meet the unique needs of my clients:
Simplifying instructions and explanations
Using a structured approach
Providing sensory accommodations
Using visual aids
Providing movement breaks
Maybe you or someone you know suspect they might be neurodivergent and is navigating through getting a formal diagnosis, or perhaps you’re already diagnosed but looking for more effective ways to cope. Seeking counselling can be a big step for anyone but, for someone who is neurodivergent, it can seem like a daunting prospect. You may be wondering what to expect, whether the counsellor will understand and accept you, and how you will feel during the session. These are just some of the questions you might have.
I am here to meet you where you are at and offer a free 20-minute consultation to help ease some of this uncertainty and to determine if I am the right therapist for you.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6331035/
