Being Neuroaffirmative: How to Support Neurodivergent Minds with Respect and Compassion
- Schoen Clinic UK
- Jun 19
- 4 min read
“Being neuroaffirmative means replacing the question ‘How can we fix this person?’ with ‘How can we support them to thrive as they are?’”
What Does Neuroaffirmative Mean?
Being neuroaffirmative means recognising that neurodevelopmental differences, such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, are not problems to be fixed, but valid ways of experiencing the world. This isn’t about denying challenges, but about shifting the perspective from pathology to possibility, toward acceptance, empowerment, and support that genuinely fits.
In practice, it's not just about what we do, but how we do it.
Understanding Neurodiversity
Neuroaffirmative approaches begin with a core belief: there is no single “normal” brain. Instead, there is neurodiversity, the natural variation in how people think, feel, sense, and communicate.
Conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia fall within this spectrum of diversity. And yet, traditional clinical language often describes them using a deficit model, with terms like “impaired social functioning” or “disordered attention.”
But what if the real challenge isn’t the neurodivergent individual, but the environment or system they’re expected to function within?
From Deficit to Difference: Changing the Narrative
To support neurodivergent individuals meaningfully, we must change how we speak and think. Neuroaffirmative language reframes traits traditionally seen as impairments into differences or strengths:
Instead of saying someone has “deficits in social communication,” we can say they have a different communication style, perhaps more direct, less reliant on eye contact, or more comfortable with written formats.
Hyperfocus can be recognised as a strength in the right context, something many creatives, scientists, and entrepreneurs rely on.
Dyslexia isn’t just about difficulty with reading; it’s often accompanied by exceptional visual thinking, creativity, and big-picture insight.
When we shift the language, we shift our expectations. And expectations shape outcomes.
Why Neuroaffirmative Care Matters
Traditional mental health systems often encourage neurodivergent individuals to "mask" to hide or suppress their natural ways of being. This can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Neuroaffirmative care supports people as they are, not who they’re expected to be. It improves wellbeing, reduces stigma, and unlocks potential, especially when individuals are free to express themselves authentically.
The Double Empathy Problem
An essential concept within neuroaffirmative thinking is the Double Empathy Problem. It challenges the assumption that communication difficulties lie solely with the autistic person. Instead, it suggests that misunderstandings often arise from a mismatch in communication styles between autistic and non-autistic individuals.
When two neurotypical people communicate, there’s usually shared cultural and social referencing. The same applies when two neurodivergent individuals interact, particularly when their communication norms align. Many autistic people report that conversations with other autistic individuals feel more natural, honest, and easeful than with neurotypical peers. This highlights that the challenge is not a deficit, but a difference in reciprocity.
Being neuroaffirmative means recognising this mutual dynamic. Rather than trying to teach neurodivergent people to “mask” or emulate neurotypical norms (like forced eye contact or small talk), it invites both parties to adapt and build bridges.
In clinical or social settings, this might look like:
Slowing the pace of conversation
Using visual supports
Validating a preference for direct or written communication
When neurodivergent individuals are in spaces where their communication styles are accepted rather than corrected, their stress decreases, and their confidence grows.
This reinforces the core neuroaffirmative message: when we create spaces that honour difference, we don’t just reduce distress, we unlock potential.
Neuroaffirmative Care in Clinical Practice
Being a neuroaffirmative clinician means adapting both mindset and method. Here are some practical examples:
Sensory accommodations: Reduce fluorescent lighting, allow movement, offer fidget tools or weighted blankets
Communication flexibility: Allow time to process, reduce verbal overload, offer written or visual options
Reducing pressure: Don’t insist on eye contact or interpret stimming (e.g., hand-flapping) as distress
It also means actively listening to lived experience and being aware of how trauma, masking, and exclusion can shape the presentation of neurodivergence, especially in girls and marginalised groups.
Supporting a Positive Neurodivergent Identity
An essential part of neuroaffirmative support is helping individuals develop a positive sense of self.
This doesn’t mean ignoring challenges. Many neurodivergent people face very real difficulties with executive functioning, sensory overwhelm, or emotional regulation. But instead of only focusing on what’s hard, we help them see their strengths:
A child with autism and a passion for trains or coding might find a future in STEM with the right support and mentorship.
A teen with ADHD who struggles with routine may shine when encouraged to explore creative or entrepreneurial outlets.
A person with dyslexia might excel in design, engineering, or leadership due to their strong visual thinking skills.
Finding neurodivergent role models, authors, athletes, inventors, or activists can be a powerful tool in building identity, especially for those who have felt “less than” for most of their lives.
What We Can All Do
Being neuroaffirmative is about ensuring that neurodivergent individuals don’t just survive systems, but shape and thrive within them.
As clinicians, teachers, employers, and peers, we can all ask:
Am I seeing this person through a deficit lens or a difference lens?
Am I creating conditions that support autonomy, dignity, and growth?
Am I listening to their voice, or trying to make them fit mine?
“Neuroaffirmative care doesn’t ask people to fit in — it helps them belong.”
How Schoen Clinic Chelsea Can Help
At Schoen Clinic Chelsea, our multidisciplinary team includes psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists experienced in autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent mental health care. We offer assessments, therapy, and tailored support for children, adolescents, and adults.
Contact us today to learn how we can support you or a loved one in a neuroaffirmative way. Enquire now | Learn about our autism assessments | Learn about our ADHD assessments for children and for adults.
About the author
Dr Bradley Powell is an award-winning Clinical Psychologist at Schoen Clinic Chelsea with over seven years of experience supporting children, adolescents and adults.
He specialises in treating anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and ADHD.
Combining evidence-based therapies with a warm, personalised approach, Dr Powell helps individuals better understand themselves, overcome challenges and build long-term resilience.
