A neurodivergent-affirming approach to children’s mental health

An estimated 3.4% of Australian children are autistic, while around 5% have an ADHD diagnosis. Many of these children also experience mental health difficulties, such as anxiety and depression. This is because navigating a world that is built for neurotypical people can have a significant impact on a neurodivergent child’s wellbeing. But these mental health difficulties are not inevitable.

Therapeutic approaches that encourage children to behave in neurotypical ways can lead to shame, anxiety, depression and reduced self-worth. In contrast, a ‘neurodivergent-affirming’ approach equips children and their families with skills, tools and strategies and promotes environmental accommodations to meet their needs. This approach has been found to increase children’s self-esteem and confidence, strengthen family and social relationships, improve learning and academic outcomes, and reduce anxiety and stress

In this episode, host Jacquie Lee is joined by psychologists Jason Tran from Willow Tree Psychology and Wellbeing and Esther Fidock from Neuro Nurture Collective, speech therapist Kate Mulheron from Perspectives Speech Therapy, and Tammie Sinclair and Jasmine Deakin from Sunny Spectrum. She also speaks with Bec and Jaisen, two of Emerging Minds’ family partners and parents of autistic and ADHDer children. They explore how a neurodivergent-affirming approach supports both children’s and parents’ mental health, what this approach looks like in practice, and how it can help you to feel more confident in working with this cohort.

In this episode, you will learn: 

• how a neurodivergent-affirming approach benefits autistic and ADHDer children’s mental health [05:53]

• how different practitioners apply a neurodivergent-affirming lens in their work with children and families [11:14]

• how understandings of trauma-informed care complement a neurodivergent-affirming approach [16:21]

• how the language you use can make a big difference to an autistic or ADHDer child [17:17].

Further information and resources:

Podcast episodes

Working with families in neuro-affirming ways – Emerging Minds

How you can support your neurodivergent child – Emerging Minds Families

The team around the child: A mum’s story of her son’s neurodiversity – Emerging Minds

Autism, neurodiversity and child-centred practice – part one – Emerging Minds

Autism, neurodiversity and child-centred practice – part two – Emerging Minds

Articles

A professional’s guide to supporting autistic clients and parents – Reframing Autism

Transforming allied health: The ‘how’ of neurodiversity-affirming services – Reframing Autism

Neurodivergent affirming practice: Helping your clients accept their authentic selves – Dr Megan Neff (Neurodivergent Insights)

Websites

Reframing Autism

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2019). Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC).

Cherewick, M., & Matergia, M. (2024). Neurodiversity in practice: A conceptual model of autistic strengths and potential mechanisms of change to support positive mental health and wellbeing in autistic children and adolescents. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 8(3), 408–422. DOI: 10.1007/s41252-023-00348-z.

Hsiang, C. H. T., Campbell, L., & Tavener, M. (2024). Clinicians’ experiences and perceptions of family therapy in the context of autism. Journal of Family Therapy, 46(4), 423–441. DOI: 10.1111/1467-6427.12467.

Kroll, E., Lederman, M., Kohlmeier, J., Kumar, K., Ballard, J., Zant, I., & Fenkel, C. (2024). The positive impact of identity-affirming mental health treatment for neurodivergent individuals. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1403129. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1403129.

Sedgewick, F., Hull, L., & Ellis, H. (2021). Autism and masking: How and why people do it, and the impact it can have. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. (n.d.). Kids Health Info: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [Web page]. Accessed 7 January 2025.

Walker, N. (2014). Neurodiversity: Some basic terms & definitions [Online essay]. Neuroqueer.