Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy

The mental health field was built on the concept of a professional expert with training treating an individual with a diagnosis. Clients who push back against this model are labeled noncompliant or resistant. This model has harmed countless clients, particularly those with multiple marginalized identities. Over the years, there has been a shift in the field of psychology and mental health. Providers are learning to listen to the needs of their clientsinformed by clients lived experiencerather than clinging to the idea that only an expert can know what an individual needs. Likewise, many in the field are learning to recognize the ways in which neurodivergence can be part of ones identity, and that while many have support needs, they are not broken or needing to be fixed or cured of their neurodivergence. This is known as the neurodiversity-affirming model of careand is what this book presents.