Embracing Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy Groups
At the heart of our practice here at The Social Confidence Collective as neurodiversity-affirming mental health occupational therapists is respect for diversity. Diversity in all the ways - cultural background, gender or sexual identity, neurotype, and more. We believe in building therapeutic spaces that celebrate the unique strengths, support needs, and perspectives of every individual who comes along. Truthfully, we haven’t always facilitated groups in a neurodiversity-affirming way, but by acknowledging this, listening to community, and unlearning and re-learning our ways, we now feel more able to be able to provide groups where we continually strive to be more affirming.
In this blog post, we'll explore the principles and benefits of neurodiversity-affirming therapy groups, and how we, as occupational therapists, can empower individuals to thrive.
Here we are laughing at all the things we do wrong (but we keep trying!)
Understanding Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy Groups
Our groups are designed to provide a supportive environment where neurodivergent individuals can explore their identities, develop self-understanding, and work towards their individual goals. Unlike traditional therapy approaches that may focus on fixing deficits or teaching one way of being and interacting (often the dominant or neurotypical way) , neurodiversity-affirming therapy embraces the diversity of neurological differences and understands that there is more than one way to interact with others.
How Do We Ensure Our Groups Are Neurodiversity-Affirming?
Here at The Social Confidence Collective all identify as neurotypical, and we’re certainly no longer young people, so we never assumed we knew how a neurodiversity-affirming group for young people exactly would work (even if we had ideas about it). We have consulted with many neurodivergent young people throughout our journey, and we ask the group members for feedback regularly to ensure we are providing the neurodiversity-affirming group therapy that we strive for. We are also regularly reflecting on our practice, and engaging in regular professional development, especially from those with lived experience.
The principles that our groups are based on:
1. Respect: We respect each person’s unique differences, recognizing that diversity in neurotypes is a natural part of human variation.
2. Empowerment: Our therapy groups empower participants to embrace their strengths, explore their identities, and advocate for their needs within a supportive space.
3. Skill Practice and Development: We focus on supporting group members to practice or develop skills concerning their individual goals. Sometimes they might already be working on something with their individual therapists - we then provide a space to practice these skills in a ‘real-life’ but facilitated and supportive environment. But if you’re wanting to sign up to our group to be instructed what to do, then you’re not going to like this…we DON’T directly teach any specific skills! There isn’t ONE way to engage in social situations, and assuming there is, is not particularly neurodiversity-affirming - so we don’t do it.
4. Peer Support: Group therapy provides a valuable opportunity for participants to connect with peers who share similar experiences, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual understanding. However, we know sometimes people want some help to do that, so our groups are facilitated by experienced group clinicians. If you want to know more about the benefits of group therapy, check out our blog post here.
Join Us!
Whether you're a young person aged 14-25 seeking a supportive space to grow and thrive, a parent looking for resources to support your neurodivergent teenager or young adult, or a professional interested in collaborating with us, we invite you to explore our groups. If you’re still unsure, but want to know more, contact us here for a free 30-minute consultation.