Neurodiversity, Neurodivergence, Neurospicy is not a disorder! It is a superpower.
With 15 years experience helping people of all ages, we really understand Neurodiverse clients. We do not complete Assessments but focus on the therapeutic work which will empower you or your child to advocate with more confidence and self-understanding to improve quality of life. Autism assessments are available for adults aged 18+.
Neurodiversity is the concept that there is a natural variation in how people’s brains and bodies function. This impacts how people experience, understand and interact with others and the environment. There are natural differences in the way people learn and communicate. Thank goodness for Neurodiversity and the unique way each person offers something wonderful to the world.
Most children’s brains develop in ways that are seen as typical for their age and stage. These children can be described as neurotypical.
About 1 in 5-6 children have variations in their brain development. These variations include those seen in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and dyslexia. These children can be described as neurodivergent.
Among adults, dyslexia is the most common type of neurodivergent condition. Approximately 10% of adults are diagnosed with dyslexia. Around 4-5% of the population has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A further 1-2% of people has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
How we help
Let us help you navigate your challenges or your challenging children... or both! We can help with ongoing therapy for kids, teens and adults as well as couples / parent sessions to help give you more insight to understand yourself or your child better. This will improve your empathy, connection, compassion and understanding of how to get the best out of your relationship, plus tools for everyone to stay regulated. Together we look at a range of themes exploring topics which are often more difficult for people who are wired differently. These relate to a range of Executive Function challenges such as:
Self- Regulation
Self-regulation is the process that your brain goes through that gives you the ability to control behaviours and emotions in response to a particular situation.
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness relates to being able o recognise one's thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and tendencies. It involves understanding personal strengths and weaknesses, identifying emotions, and inferencing or predicting the consequences of actions.
Attention & Focus
Attention is the cognitive process that allows us to concentrate on specific stimuli or tasks while ignoring others, a process commonly referred to as selective attention. Focus, while often used interchangeably with attention, can be considered as sustaining attention over time or maintaining attention on a task despite distractions.
Working Memory
Working memory refers to the ability to hold and manipulate information over short periods. It's like mental "juggling," where the child retains necessary details while solving a problem or performing a task. Working memory is crucial in various cognitive tasks, including reading, problem-solving, and math. It also plays a role in attention control, helping children concentrate despite distractions.
Response Inhibition
Response inhibition refers to the ability to suppress impulsive behaviours, delay responses, and to stop oneself from performing an undesired action. It's essentially the cognitive equivalent of "think before you act." The development of response inhibition is vital as it impacts a child's behavioural control, decision-making, and emotional regulation.
Social Skills
This refers to the skill of being able to read and attend to social cues, which are forever changing in the environment. Using the language of the Social Thinking curriculum, practice helps improve these skills.
Task Initiation
Task initiation is the ability to begin a task or activity independently and without unnecessary procrastination. This is not to be confused with motivation - a person can be motivated and still struggle with task initiation. In this sense, task initiation is the polar opposite of procrastination.
Flexibility & Adaptability
Cognitive flexibility refers to the brain's ability to transition thoughts between multiple concepts or perspectives. This skill allows children to adapt their thinking or strategy in response to changes or new information. Adaptability, closely linked to cognitive flexibility, involves adjusting to new conditions or changes in the environment effectively.
Organization
Organization refers to the ability to develop and maintain systems to keep track of information or materials. This skill is crucial in areas such as following instructions, writing an essay, managing belongings, or even keeping track of homework assignments. Good organization skills aid in efficiently managing tasks and reducing unnecessary stress related to misplaced items or forgotten responsibilities.
Time Management
Effective time management helps children to accomplish tasks in a timely manner, reduces stress related to rushing or cramming, and is vital for long-term projects and assignments.
Planning
Well-developed planning skills can lead to better academic performance and more efficient problem-solving abilities. They also foster self-confidence as the child learns to break down complex tasks into manageable steps and achieve set goals.
Self-Discipline
Self-discipline, or inhibitory control, is an executive function that refers to our capacity to control our thoughts, actions, and emotions, even in the face of temptation or distraction. This skill is foundational to a variety of life aspects, from academic performance to social relationships and emotional health.
Self-Regulation
Self-regulation is often considered a hallmark of executive functioning. Well-developed self-regulation skills can lead to better social relationships, improved academic performance, and positive mental health outcomes. They enable children to cope with frustration, delay gratification, and follow rules and instructions.
Task Completion
Being able to complete tasks efficiently is linked to improved academic performance, better time management skills, and increased self-confidence. It also lays the groundwork for developing resilience, as children learn to overcome challenges and manage setbacks.
School refusal
School refusal is a not uncommon and has major social, emotional, and educational implications for the child, their family and their community. Associated psychiatric disorders of anxiety and depression may be present and are also common. If unsupported, the issues may progressively get worse so early intervention is important.
Oppositional Behaviour
Behaviour communicates something. For neurodiverse kids, it is often misunderstood why they are unusually angry, throw tantrums, don't follow rules, or maybe even harm others.
If you or your child struggles with any of the above, we have plenty of experience within the school system and in private practice to help you! Please get in touch via the details on our contact us page.