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Affirming, Autonomy-Centered Support from Neurodivergent Insights Navigating moments of acute distress can be uniquely challenging for neurodivergent people. Mainstream crisis resources don’t always honour neurodivergent experience or autonomy, and many of us have encountered barriers to accessing affirming support. That’s why I’m sharing a powerful, free resource created by Dr. Megan Anna Neff and the team at Neurodivergent Insights: The Safety Plan Workbook & Crisis Resource Guide for Neurodivergent Adults. What Makes This Resource Different? Created by Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a neurodivergent psychologist, author, and educator, this workbook is grounded in lived experience, clinical knowledge, and a deep understanding of neurodivergent minds. This Crisis & Suicide Prevention Guide is designed for neurodivergent adults, caregivers, and clinicians, with a focus on: Accessible, autonomy-centred options Tools for self-compassion, safety planning, and crisis navigation Affirming, non-pathologising language Support that respects your choices and needs What’s Included in the Crisis & Suicide Prevention Guide for Neurodivergent Adults? This resource is structured into seven practical, compassionate chapters: 1. What is Suicidality? Understanding suicidality as a gradient and learning language that brings safety, clarity, and support. 2. What Our Brains Are Doing Why suicidal thoughts can surge during overwhelm, and what your brain is trying to communicate. 3. Creating a Safety Plan A compassionate and neurodivergent-affirming plan of supports, cues, and comforts to help you navigate moments of overwhelm. 4. Crisis Moment Tools Strategies to interrupt overwhelm, steady your nervous system, and ride out intense moments with safety and support. 5. External Support Resources Ways to reach out—hotlines, warm lines, peers—and how to access help while honouring your autonomy. 6. Creating a Hope Box Assembling grounding tools, reminders, and supports to reconnect you to safety and meaning. 7. Building in Friction Clear strategies and scripts for reducing access to means in ways that protect both safety and autonomy. Important Note Before You Begin This workbook is an educational and reflective resource. It’s designed to help you understand and plan for safety in a way that honors autonomy and neurodivergent experience. It is not a substitute for therapy, clinical care, or crisis intervention, and it does not guarantee safety. If you are in immediate danger or unable to stay safe, please reach out to a trusted person or crisis service. Clinicians using this plan should do so within the scope of their professional training and ethical guidelines. While the workbook is freely offered for educational and support purposes, Neurodivergent Insights is not responsible for outcomes arising from independent use. Access the Resource You can download the Safety Plan Workbook & Crisis Resource Guide for free from Neurodivergent Insights: 👉 Access the resource here Please share with anyone who might benefit, whether you’re seeking support, supporting a loved one, or a clinician looking for more affirming tools. You are not alone, and support is available. #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #CrisisSupport #SuicidePrevention #TraumaInformed #Accessibility

I’ve recently published an article on Counselling Directory exploring how our environment shapes our well‑being, including the impact of identity, relationships, and wider social contexts on our mental and physical health. In this piece, I reflect on how our experiences in the world can show up as anxiety, depression, exhaustion, and other forms of distress, and why it can be so healing to have these realities acknowledged in therapy. You can read the full article here: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/articles/understanding-how-your-environment-impacts-your-well-being If you’d like to explore any of these themes in a more personal, one‑to‑one way, I offer a free 30‑minute consultation to help you decide whether working together feels right for you.

If you are both neurodivergent and queer, you may be used to adapting yourself to fit into spaces that weren’t built for you. Neuroqueer therapy offers something different: a space where you don’t have to mask, explain, or split parts of who you are. It recognises that your brain and your identity are both meaningful. Distress is not seen as something “wrong” with you, but often as a response to exclusion, misunderstanding, or pressure to conform. This is an anti-oppressive approach. It means we don’t try to fix you. We question the systems that have made things harder for you. What this kind of therapy can look like: Communication that works for you (spoken, written, pauses, or non-verbal) Flexibility with pacing, structure, and sensory needs Space to talk about masking, burnout, and identity safely Support that fits your brain, not generic expectations You don’t need to perform or be “easy to work with” here. Why it matters: Many neurodivergent queer people have been misunderstood in therapy or support spaces. You might have been told to change, to fit in, or to separate parts of yourself. Neuroqueer affirming therapy shifts the focus: From “What’s wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you and what do you need?” This can help you build self-trust, reduce shame, and find ways of living that are more sustainable and more you. Finding a Neuroqueer Therapist Not all therapists offer neuroqueer therapy, but you can look for professionals who: Have experience with both neurodivergence and LGBTQAI+ therapy Use affirming, client-centered approaches Are open to adapting therapy methods to individual needs Online directories and queer or neurodivergent community groups can be good resources for recommendations. If you’re looking for a space where you can show up as your full self, without masking or explaining, you’re welcome here.

In my practice, I often notice that clients come in with concerns about people pleasing. This can show up in many ways, like always saying yes, struggling to set boundaries, or feeling anxious about upsetting others. You might have heard it called fawning, approval seeking, over-accommodation, or codependent behaviour. No matter what words we use, the impact is real and can be exhausting. Reframing People Pleasing as Fawning I approach people pleasing as a survival response, not a personal flaw . Fawning means trying to stay safe by pleasing others, especially if directness or saying no feels risky in your life. For many neurodivergent folks, this response starts in environments that reward compliance or punish difference. People Pleasing Has Many Names… You might see yourself in some of these words: Trying to Keep the Peace: People pleasing, fawning, conflict avoidance, over-accommodation Putting Yourself Last: Self-sacrificing, caretaking, self-abandonment Seeking Approval: Approval seeking, fear of rejection, perfectionism Boundary Challenges: Boundary issues, assertiveness challenges, codependency All of these are common, and you’re not alone if you notice them. What Our Work Can Look Like - At Your Pace Every client is different, so our sessions are designed to fit you. Some ways we might work together include: Having open, gentle conversations about your experiences and feelings Exploring where fawning shows up in your life Building self-compassion and naming your needs Trying out new skills, but only if and when you feel ready, absolutely no pressure Celebrating every bit of progress, big or small You’re always in charge of what we do together. Whether you’d like to talk, imagine, or simply notice patterns, you set the pace. My role is to offer support, encouragement, and tools. Your comfort and autonomy come first. Reclaiming Your Power You can learn new ways to respond and care for yourself. Here are some steps: Notice fawning:  Pay attention to when you feel the urge to please Practice saying no:  Start small, with safe people or situations Share your feelings:  With people you trust, try to express what you really feel or need Be kind to yourself:  Fawning was a survival tool, not a failure Seek support:  Therapy, peer support, or neurodiversity-affirming spaces can help Healing from people pleasing takes time, patience, and support. You deserve to be seen, heard, and valued, not just for what you do for others, but for who you are. In our sessions, we’ll work together so you can reclaim your voice, set healthy boundaries, and live more authentically. Your needs matter.

Living with AUDHD can feel like trying to manage too many things at once. You may be navigating sensory overload, fast thoughts, executive dysfunction, emotional overwhelm, or the pressure to keep up with a world that was not designed with your needs in mind. I offer neurodiversity-affirming therapy in London and online for adults who want support that understands both autism and ADHD traits, without asking you to mask, shrink, or fit a narrow idea of what therapy should look like. What AUDHD-Affirming Therapy Can Help With AUDHD is a term some people use to describe the overlap of autistic and ADHD traits. For many people, this combination can bring both real strengths and real challenges. AuDHD Affirming Therapy can help with: Sensory overwhelm and shutdowns. Executive dysfunction and task paralysis. Emotional regulation. Masking and burnout. Late diagnosis and identity questions. Communication and relationship stress. Building routines that actually fit your life. Why Standard Therapy Often Misses the Mark Generic therapy can overlook how autism and ADHD interact. It may focus too much on changing behaviour, instead of understanding what supports you actually need. In an AUDHD-affirming approach, we look at the full picture: Your sensory profile. Your attention patterns. Your energy levels. Your communication style. Your strengths, not just your struggles. This is therapy that adapts to you. It is not about making you “more normal.” It is about helping you feel more resourced, understood, and steady in yourself. How I Support AUDHD Clients My approach is collaborative, flexible, and paced around your needs. Together, we might explore: Practical strategies for overwhelm, focus, and self-regulation. Sensory-friendly tools and routines. Identity work around masking, late diagnosis, and self-acceptance. Communication and relationship skills that feel authentic. Strength-based support for work, daily life, and transitions. Sessions are calm, collaborative, and tailored to you. Everyday Supports That Can Help Small changes can make a real difference in daily life. You might find it helpful to: Create sensory sanctuaries with dim lighting, headphones, or tactile comforts. Use visual planners with colour cues for priorities. Take grounding pauses when overload builds. Set clear boundaries with others. Notice small wins, even when they feel minor. These supports are not one-size-fits-all. Therapy can help you adapt them to your own needs, energy, and environment. What to Look For in an AUDHD Therapist If you are looking for support, it may help to find someone who: Understands both autism and ADHD. Offers a warm, non-judgemental approach. Adapts communication and session structure. Works collaboratively rather than rigidly. Sees your strengths as well as your challenges. It is okay to ask questions before booking. Feeling safe with your therapist matters. Your Path Forward AUDHD counselling can create space for clarity, confidence, and self-understanding. It can help you make sense of your experiences, develop practical tools, and build a way of living that feels more sustainable and more like you. You deserve therapy that sees the whole picture. If you are looking for affirming AUDHD support, you can book a free consultation here: Book a free consultation

Are you looking for support that truly understands you as a neurodivergent adult? At Open Fields, I offer affirming therapy for adults who are autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, or identify as neurodivergent in other ways. My aim is to make therapy a safe and welcoming space: no masking, no judgment, just understanding. What is Affirming Therapy? Affirming therapy means: You are respected and accepted as you are Your strengths and experiences are valued Therapy is shaped around your needs, not about changing you We work together to build skills and confidence, not to “fix” you How I Support You I listen deeply, without judgment We set goals together, at your pace I adapt my communication to what works best for you Your whole identity, including gender, race, and culture, is honoured I always prioritise your safety and comfort Therapy at Open Fields - Affirming Practice is about helping you understand yourself, manage challenges, and build a life that feels authentic. You deserve therapy that celebrates your neurodivergence and helps you thrive. Ready to start? Reach out   Connect