Are You Neurotypical or Neurodivergent?

Understanding ourselves is an important aspect of our mental health and personal growth. By recognizing whether one's traits align more with neurotypical or neurodivergent characteristics, individuals can better understand their unique perspectives and experiences. Neurotypical refers to individuals whose neurological development and functioning are considered typical or within the normal range. These individuals do not have significant differences in their cognitive, social, or behavioural functioning, and their experiences align with societal expectations (Baron-Cohen, 2002).

On the other hand, neurodivergent individuals refer to those who have variations in neurological development and functioning that differ from the typical or expected range. These variations may manifest as conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or Tourette's syndrome, among others. Neurodivergent individuals often have unique strengths, challenges, and perspectives that differ from the typical population (Sinclair, 2015). It is important to note that neurodiversity should be celebrated, and individuals with neurodivergent traits should not be viewed as abnormal or in need of "fixing." Rather, the focus should be on accommodating their needs and providing support to maximize their strengths and improve their quality of life (Milton, 2017).

Neurodivergent individuals experience the world differently than neurotypical individuals. It is important to take into account individual differences and lived experience as it has a direct impact in how neurotypical or neurodivergent traits are expressed. Once you learn which category you fall under, you can learn more about how to set up your environment for success in order to increase coping and reduce burnout or fatigue. Here are some similarities and differences between the experiences of neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals:

Tips on Finding a Practitioner For You

1. Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, it is important that you find a practitioner that uses a strengths-based approach. Both neurotypical and neurodivergent clients have unique strengths and abilities that can be utilized in therapy. A strengths-based approach can help clients identify and build on their strengths, which can increase their self-confidence and motivation.

2. Provide feedback and ask for clarity and accommodations along the way:

I've had several clients tell me that they previously had negative experiences with healthcare professionals in the past due to a lack of understanding or accommodations. It is imperative that your healthcare professional meets you exactly where you are and adapt therapeutic interventions to meet the individual needs of clients.

3. Find a practitioner who is flexible and open to adapting their approach to best meet the needs of their clients. This may include modifying interventions to be more visual or concrete for neurodivergent clients, or adapting interventions to be more abstract or conceptual for neurotypical clients. It is important to note that these considerations are not exhaustive and that each client is unique in their needs and experiences.

4. Don't force it if it's not a good fit. There will be someone out there that is just right for you.

If you're a neurodivergent individual, you might have find that you often feel misunderstood or invalidated. As a fellow neurodivergent who is also a therapist, I can assure you that I know the feeling all too well. If you're looking for a safe place to land, here at Sacred Spaces, we have both training and lived experience in working from both a neurotypical and neurodiverse framework. To assess if our team is the right fit for you, book a free consult with us today at https://sacredspaces.teletherapy.io.

References:

Baron-Cohen, S. (2002). The extreme male brain theory of autism. Trends in cognitive sciences, 6(6), 248-254.

Milton, D. (2017). The significance of autism: Why all autistics should have the chance to shine. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Sinclair, J. (2015). Neurodiversity: Some basic terms & definitions. Retrieved from https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Neurodiversity-Some-Basic-Terms-Definitions.pdf

American Psychological Association. (2019). Understanding ADHD: Information for parents. https://www.apa.org/topics/adhd-parents

National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Autism Spectrum Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd/index.shtml

Shaywitz, S. E. (2018). Overcoming Dyslexia: A new and complete science-based program for reading problems at any level. Vintage.