Support for neurodivergent adults, children, teenagers, couples, and families

You may feel as though your mind works differently from those around you. Perhaps things that seem effortless for others leave you exhausted. Perhaps you have been told to try harder, focus more, or to be better at managing your emotions. 

At Mind and Body Works, you can find therapists who are experienced in supporting a wide variety of neurodiverse clients. 

Our team of neurodivergent affirming therapists offer support to adults, teenagers, and children, as well as the families and partners of those who identify as neurodivergent.

What Is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity describes the natural variation in human brains, in how they think, learn, communicate, process emotions, and experience the world. It is not a deficit, but rather an acknowledgment of real, significant difference. This difference can carry challenges as well as distinctive strengths.

“Neurodivergent” is a term used to describe people whose neurological development and functioning differ from what is considered “typical”. This can include, but is not limited to:

Autism

• Often characterised by differences in social interactions and communication
• Can also include sensory processing differences 
• 1 in 20 children in Ireland are Autistic, according to AsIAm

 

Dyslexia

• Learning differences that may become apparent in school, college or work environments
• Often affecting spelling, reading or comprehension

• Affects 1 in 10 people, according to Dyslexia Ireland

 

ADHD/ADD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder/Attention Deficit Disorder)

• Affects learning and behavior
• Often affecting attention and short term memory 
• Impulsiveness and distractability are common 
• Estimated that 5% of people have ADHD/ADD

 

Dyspraxia (DCD or Developmental Coordination Disorder)

• Affects fine and/or gross motor skills, and motor coordination
• May affect planning, organisational skills and auditory or verbal processing
• Affects 10% of the population, according to Dyspraxia DCD Ireland

 

And other cognitive or learning differences

These are genuine, neurological differences that shape how a person moves through the world. Each of these differences exist on a spectrum, and affect each person differently.

For children, teenagers or adults whose experiences are shaped by neurodiversity it is vital that the support that they receive is neuro-affirming.

Therapists who work from a neuro-affirming approach can also support partners or families of neurodiverse individuals. Difficulties may occur in relationships or families systems due a lack of understanding around the needs of a loved one. By engaging in neuro-affirming therapy, partners and families of neurodivergent individuals can develop a deeper understanding of how their loved one experiences the world, and how they can best be supported.

Who is Neuroaffirming Therapy for?

This service may be a good fit for you if:

• You have a formal diagnosis, are self-identified, or are questioning whether you might be neurodivergent
• You often feel misunderstood, overwhelmed, or as though you are running on empty
• You often suppress or hide your natural traits in order to fit in (commonly referred to as “masking”)
• You experience anxiety, low mood, shame, or trauma connected to feeling different
• You feel that you need support with relationships, work, school, parenting, or managing the demands of daily life
• You want a clearer understanding of your own needs, your patterns, and your strengths

You do not need to have everything figured out before you reach out for support. 

Many people come to therapy with the sense that something is not quite right. Therapy offers you the space to explore your worries, navigate your experiences and without judgement. 

Common Challenges You and Your Therapist Can Explore Together

Emotional wellbeing

Anxiety, depression, rejection sensitivity, chronic stress, low self-esteem, and difficulties with emotional regulation are all common experiences for neurodivergent people. These are not character flaws; they often arise from years of navigating a world that was not designed with your needs in mind.

Masking and burnout

Masking – the often unconscious effort to appear more neurotypical than you are – is exhausting. Over time it can lead to autistic or ADHD burnout: a state of deep physical and emotional depletion that can be difficult to recover from without support. Therapy offers a space to put the mask down.

Sensory and environmental needs

Understanding your sensory profile; what overwhelms you, what grounds you, what environments help you to function, can be genuinely life-changing. Therapy can help you to identify triggers, explore boundaries, and find sustainable ways to manage sensory overload.

Identity and self-acceptance

Whether you received a diagnosis years ago or are only beginning to question your neurology now, making sense of who you are can bring up a complex mix of feelings: relief, grief, confusion, anger, and, often, clarity. Late-identified adults often carry shame and self-doubt. Therapy can help you to process what a diagnosis (or the absence of one) means for you.

Relationships and communication

Friendships, romantic relationships, family dynamics, social expectations, and workplace communication can all present particular difficulties for neurodivergent people. This is not because you are bad at relationships; it is often because the unwritten rules of social interaction were never made explicit to you.

Work, study, and daily functioning

Executive functioning challenges, difficulties with transitions, motivation, organisation, and time awareness can make ordinary demands feel disproportionately hard. Therapy can support you in developing strategies that work with your brain rather than against it, whether you are navigating secondary school, university, or a demanding career.

Our Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach

Neurodivergent-affirming therapy is not designed to make you appear more neurotypical. The aim is to help you understand yourself better, reduce suffering, and build a life that fits who you actually are.

In practice, this means:

• We focus on your lived experience, not just your diagnostic label
• We support self-advocacy, autonomy, and the right to make your own choices about how you live
• We work at your pace, adapting to your communication style, your needs, and your preferences
• We recognise the very real impact that stigma, ableism, or years of invalidation may have on your mental health
• We do not pathologise difference – we explore it with curiosity and respect

Our therapists draw on a range of evidence-based modalities, including integrative therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), compassion-focused therapy, somatic work, psychoeducation, and trauma-informed approaches. 

Whatever modality your neurodiverse-affirming therapist uses, they will adapt it to suit your specific needs. The approach always follows the person, not the other way around.

What Sessions May Include

Therapy looks different for everyone, and sessions will be guided by your goals and what feels most helpful for you. Over the course of your work together, sessions might include:

• Exploring your experiences, challenges, and what you want from therapy
• Understanding your patterns, triggers, and the strengths you may not yet fully recognise in yourself
• Developing practical tools for emotional regulation
• Building routines and coping strategies that are realistic and sustainable
• Processing shame, grief, trauma, or burnout, including the feelings that can accompany a late diagnosis
• Practising communication strategies and boundary-setting
• Working on self-advocacy, whether at work, in education, or at home

Sessions are not about fixing you. They are led by you; your hopes, aspirations and goals for the therapeutic process.

Accessibility and Adaptations

We know that the environment in which therapy takes place matters, particularly for neurodivergent clients. We have taken steps to ensure that accessing support at Mind and Body Works is as straightforward as possible.

• Sessions are available both online and in-person across our Dublin and Galway centres
• If visiting in person for the first time feels daunting, your therapist can send you a photo of the therapy room beforehand so you know exactly what to expect
• All therapy rooms in our centres are furnished consistently, which means there are no surprises when it comes to the physical environment
• We work to maintain a sensory-aware setting: lighting, noise, and space are all muted and gentle
• Sessions can be adapted in pacing, and format to suit your specific needs

If you have a particular accessibility requirement that is not listed here, please do get in touch. We will do our best to accommodate you.

What Therapy Can Give You

Progress in therapy is rarely linear, and outcomes will vary for each person. That said, many people who engage with neurodivergent-affirming therapy find that over time they experience:

• Greater self-understanding and a clearer sense of their own identity
• Reduced shame and self-blame
• Improved emotional regulation – not suppression, but genuine capacity to process and respond
• Stronger, more clearly defined personal boundaries
• More confidence in asking for support and communicating needs
• Improved relationships with partners, family, friends, or colleagues
• More sustainable approaches to work, study, and everyday life
• A more settled and compassionate relationship with themselves

These are not guarantees – therapy is a process, and it takes time. But for many neurodivergent people, finding a space where they do not have to explain or justify how their mind works is itself a significant relief.

Support for Parents, Partners, and Families

Neurodivergence affects not just the individual but everyone around them. 

Parents, Partners and Families may struggle to understand differences in communication, emotional processing, or sensory needs.

Neurodivergent-Affirming Couples Therapy is available to couples where one or both partners are neurodivergent, as well as to partners of neurodivergent individuals who are seeking support in their own right. This service may help you to:

• Understand how neurodivergence shapes communication, including differences in how each partner processes information, expresses emotion, or interprets social cues
• Address the “demand avoidance” dynamic, where one partner’s need for flexibility and the other’s need for predictability can pull in opposite directions
• Work through conflict patterns that have developed over time, including shutdown or flooding responses during arguments

Sessions can be held online or in person, and the pace and format will be adapted to suit both of you.

 

Parents trying to support a neurodivergent child may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or worried that they are doing the wrong thing. Families may find themselves caught in cycles of miscommunication or conflict that no one fully knows how to break.

Neurodivergent-Affirming Family Therapy can help:

• Parents seeking to understand their neurodiverse child’s or teenager’s needs more clearly
• Families looking to reduce conflict and find more effective ways to communicate
• Parents who want guidance on supporting a neurodivergent young person using affirming, non-punitive approaches

 

You do not need to have all the answers before coming. Families, couples and individuals looking for support often arrive simply with the sense that something needs to change, and that is a perfectly reasonable place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a formal diagnosis to access therapy?

No. Therapy is open to anyone who is formally diagnosed, self-identified, or simply questioning whether they might be neurodivergent. A diagnosis can be useful, but it is not a requirement for accessing support.

Is this an Autism or ADHD assessment service?

This is not an assessment service; rather, it is a space for neurodivergent individuals and those close to them to explore challenges, build understanding, and work towards wellbeing through therapeutic support. Mind and Body Works offers an ADHD Assessment Service for Adults. You can read about this service, how it works, the costs, and how to make a booking here.

Can therapy help with burnout?

Yes. Autistic and ADHD burnout can be serious and slow to recover from. Therapy can help you understand what contributed to burnout, identify warning signs, and develop more sustainable patterns of living and working so that you are not constantly running on empty.

Will therapy try to change my neurodivergent traits?

No. The aim of neurodivergent-affirming therapy is not to make you “less autistic” or “less ADHD.” We are not trying to reshape you to fit a neurotypical mould. The goal is to support your well-being, deepen your self-understanding, and help you make choices that are right for you.

Can sessions be adapted to my needs?

Yes. Sessions can be adjusted to suit your communication preferences, sensory needs, pacing, and accessibility requirements. If there is something specific that would help you feel more comfortable, please let your therapist know – or mention it when you get in touch, and we will do our best to arrange things accordingly.

Ready to Get in Touch?

If you are looking for therapy that takes your neurodivergent identity seriously – that does not ask you to shrink yourself, or to fit a shape that was never designed for you – you are welcome to reach out. Our team is here to listen, and there is no pressure to have everything worked out before you do.

Sessions are available in person across our Dublin and Galway centres, and online throughout Ireland.