Therapy for ADHD & Autistic Adults in Crystal Palace (SE19), South East London
What Neurodivergent-affirming Therapy Means
Neuroaffirming therapy recognises that every mind works differently — and that difference is something to be understood and supported, not corrected.
Rather than trying to make someone “fit” into neurotypical expectations, this approach centres your lived experience as meaningful and valid in itself.
For many neurodivergent people, therapy has not always felt safe or supportive. Misunderstandings can occur when therapists mistake neurodivergent experiences for symptoms of something else. For example, a common occurrence is confusion between what is a neurodivergent distress symptom and what is a trauma symptom. If the therapist is not aware of that difference they can misattribute the neurodivergence to another diagnosis which can reinforce masking and shame. Neuroaffirming therapy aims to prevent these kinds of misattunements by understanding behaviour, emotion, and communication through a neurodivergent lens.
Why It Matters
Living in a world not designed for neurodivergent people often leads to chronic stress, exhaustion, masking, and shame. Over time, this can create deep disconnection from your needs, body, and sense of self.
A neuroaffirming therapeutic space offers the chance to pause and to make sense of these experiences. It recognises the impact of constantly adapting to the world, while also supporting you to reconnect with what’s authentic and sustaining for you.
In Practice
I work within a Gestalt framework — an integrative approach that values awareness, embodiment, and relationship. This allows us to explore your experience in the here and now, rather than focusing only on labels or strategies.
Each session is flexible and adapted to your needs. We might explore:
The impact of masking, and what it means to live more authentically.
The relationship between neurodivergence and trauma, and how they overlap.
Experiences of sensory regulation or dysregulation, and how to meet your body’s needs.
How shame and self-criticism show up, and ways of working gently with them.
The emotional toll of living in a neurotypical world — and how to find safety and belonging.
- Learn skills to help support your neurodivergence so life is not so distressing
Sessions often include awareness of breath and body, or creative processes that help express what’s hard to put into words. We move at your pace, following what feels safe and meaningful in the moment.
Who This Approach Supports
Neuroaffirming therapy can be helpful if you:
Are autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, dyspraxic, or otherwise neurodivergent
Are newly diagnosed or self-identifying and want to understand yourself better
Have experienced burnout, sensory overwhelm, or emotional exhaustion
Want to unpack trauma that may be connected to masking or misattunement
Are seeking a therapeutic space where difference is understood and valued
A Space for Understanding and Integration
Neuroaffirming therapy is not about changing who you are — it’s about supporting who you’ve always been. It’s a collaborative process of awareness, validation, and reconnection, so that you can live with greater freedom, authenticity, and self-trust.
If you’d like to learn more about how I work, you can read about my therapy practice by clicking the button below.
Or, if you’re ready to explore whether working together feels right for you, you’re welcome to reach out below for a free 30min zoom consultation.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Further Reading
If you’d like to learn more about neurodivergent-affirming therapy and approaches that support ADHD and autism, here are a few useful resources:
Neurodivergent-Affirming Care: Creating Therapeutic Spaces That Support ADHD & Autism — An insightful resource discussing practical strategies, sensory-friendly environments, and the shift from pathology to strengths-based models.
Therapist Neurodiversity Collective – “Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy: Positions, Therapy Goals, and Practices” — Explores how therapy can be neurodivergent-affirming, client-centred, and trauma-informed.
Counselling Directory – “What Are the Benefits of Therapy for Neurodivergent Adults?”— A UK-focused piece relevant to neurodivergent adults, exploring therapy for anxiety, depression, and self-esteem.