About this event
Welcome to the Living & Working with Neurodivergence: Mental Health & Wellbeing 2024 conference!
We are thrilled to invite you to a day of insightful workshops and discussions, all from the comfort of your own space via Zoom. Our event offers a diverse array of workshops, allowing attendees the freedom to tailor their experience to their interests and needs.
We believe in accessibility for all, which is why we offer a unique ticketing system where attendees can choose their price, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate.
Plus, with access to both the LIVE Zoom event AND recordings, you can engage with the content at your own pace.
Join us for a day of learning and connection.
RECORDING
This workshop will be recorded and you can use the ticket function to pre-purchase the recording before the event. This will be useful for colleagues who are not able to attend the event live and also for those who attend the event live and want to watch it again.
ZOOM
This workshop will be hosted on the Zoom meeting platform where we will use our cameras and microphones to interact with each other as a group.
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All the colleagues at ONLINEVENTS and the presenters we collaborate with are committed to working in a manner consistent with the BACP Ethical Framework, which can be accessed on the link below. When registering for this event you are agreeing to be present and interact in a manner that is consistent with this Framework.
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS:
Making Space: Calm, Belonging and Solace – Francesca Bernardi
In the hustle and bustle that surrounds our daily lives it can be difficult to truly appreciate the value of solace, tranquillity and calm. Spaces for taking stock, belonging and feeling ─ in silence ─ are often absent. This gentle presentation will offer practical ideas for ‘making space’ in a mindful manner, finding ways to create and reimagine a dedicated place in your home or professional setting, for being, centredness and calm.
Drawing on the group’s energy, the workshop will include ideas, small changes and tips that can help achieve making space, to transform a small part of your environment and explore unexpected possibilities.
I will integrate creative and play methods, facilitating creative exercises to embody simple movements and mark-making to enjoy a restorative moment from the comfort of your desk.
Please bring with you: loose paper, card, or a sketchbook, pens, pencils (or any other mark making tools of your choice).
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The Obstacle is the Way – Liliya Wheatcraft
The AuDHD Psychiatrist shares her story of autistic burnout, surviving years of pressure following her whistleblowing in the NHS (including regulatory GMC investigations precipitated by spurious retaliatory referral); retiring on the grounds of ill health aged 39; constructing her own system of mental health recovery and rehabilitation over several years, as she bootstrapped herself out of the abyss of despair, suicidal depression and PTSD; confronting the stigma of autism, ADHD and mental illness among her colleagues; building and developing her own understanding of neurodiversity, from vehement (often offensive) criticism to understanding, support and promoting the concept; and, finally, building on it further with her AUTISTIC Framework and the concept of Neurodevelopmental Asynchrony.
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Interoception: Practical Application – Karin Brauner
Last year I did a presentation and provided a lot of theory on interoception. As we already have the grounding for that and it is in the library for watching on-demand, this year I thought I would grab some of the more practical applications that I briefly presented or mentioned and bring them to you in a way that is easy to follow and apply in your own lives or practices with your clients.
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Preliminary Findings on What Autistic People Want in Psychotherapy – Matthew Bolton
This talk will center on a recent research project to uncover first-hand accounts of autistic experiences of psychotherapy and examine the therapeutic wants and preferences of persons on the autism spectrum.
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Buckle Up!: The Roller-Coaster Ride of Therapists’ Autistic Self-Insights (While Also Supporting Clients with Theirs) – Vauna Beauvais
When a psychotherapist, trained to guide others through the complexities of the human experience, discovers that they themselves are autistic, it sets in motion a profound journey of self-discovery and reevaluation. This realisation, often coming later in life, can be both transformative and challenging for any adult.
As therapists, we are well aware of the profound impact that the journey of self-discovery can have on an autistic adult’s selfhood and on their life choices and relationships. The work of piecing everything together, processing huge realisations and feelings, finding and embracing authenticity, gaining supports and strategies, and navigating the challenges of the world is not an easy one, but it is a journey that holds the potential for tremendous growth, resilience, transformation and a better experience of life.
For a therapist, the process of discovering and embracing their autistic self is intimately intertwined with their role as a mental health professional as it requires the therapist to navigate not only the personal implications of their newfound identity but also the professional consequences and responsibilities that come with it. The journey of self-discovery forces them to see the systemic barriers that autistic individuals face within the mental health field and in society at large, and also eventually forces them to confront the gaps in their own professional training and the limitations of the therapeutic approaches not designed for autistic people. We have a unique responsibility to create safe and welcoming spaces for neurodivergent individuals, to listen to and amplify their voices, and to work towards dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate stigma and marginalisation and that weight can be heavy to carry while we are also doing our own emotionally impactful work that can sometimes send us reeling. We are but one person, after all.
For relatively newly identifying autistic therapists, the path forward involves self-reflection, discoveries, realisations, realignments, fights for self-advocacy, and learning, learning, learning. While we want to speak out and have the courage to challenge the status quo, to push for more inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming practices within the mental health field, and to serve as a role model and advocate for the autistic community, we are also a person that can be overwhelmed, hurt, enraged, traumatised and very very tired. We can be fired up, hyper-focused, or floored, all within the same week. We want to right the wrongs and give every autistic client the responsiveness and validation that they deserve. And we may hear client stories that may ignite personal insights or trigger trauma responses and we worry about how strong we are, muse over at what point secondary trauma may become unethical, marvel at our therapeutic ability, and yet sometimes even doubt we are good enough. But we can see in our client’s faces that we are very much needed. And, at the same time, the rent still needs paying, the neighbour still expects a smile, the dog still needs to go to the vet, and you still have to remain a reasonable human being to loved ones when you might be crushed or confused inside.
In this workshop there will be a presentation about the process of late identification in autistic adults. This will be recorded for the Online Events library. And then the next part invites participants into a safe space together that isn’t recorded. There we will share experiences and explore the complex interplay of personal identity, professional practice, and societal attitudes that shape the journey of an autistic person, and more specifically shape the journey of an autistic therapist who is travelling that while also keeping it all togther in life and work. Through a combination of personal narratives, case studies, and group discussions, we will delve into the emotional impact of late diagnosis, the challenges of navigating professional relationships and responsibilities, and the importance of self-advocacy and community support. By engaging in this exploration, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the unique experiences of autistic therapists and to feel connected, supported, empowered, and celebrated.
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The Homestead Model™: Supporting High Masking Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs, Creatives and Corporates Who Are On The Quest For Deepening Their Understanding Of Their Authentic-Self – Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar
Yasmin will take you on a whistle stop journey of The Homestead Model™ going through its 10 core modules. This workshop will introduce my model of neurodivergent wellbeing and how it can be used to support clients and corporate organisations.
The Homestead Model™ is a holistic, polyvagal-informed, one-to-one 12-session program designed for high-masking neurodivergent creatives, entrepreneurs, and corporate organisations.
Created and delivered by neurodivergent relational trauma therapist Yasmin Shaheen-Zaffar, it enhances self-understanding through psychoeducation and the mind-body connection.
The goal of The Homestead Model™ is to help neurodivergent individuals develop a better understanding of their authentic selves, paving the way for self-empowerment and profound personal growth.
This approach combines talking therapy, sharing neuroscience theories, self-monitoring, sound therapy, movement, and technology to help the nervous system feel balanced and comfortable.
It’s about guiding the nervous system to a place where it feels safe and content, enabling individuals to thrive and feel good again.
Workshop Agenda
1. Introduction to Neurodivergent Wellbeing
Definition and importance.
Goals of the workshop.
2. Overview of The Homestead Model™
Holistic, polyvagal-informed approach.
Tailored for high-masking neurodivergent individuals.
Safe and Sound Protocol
3. Journey Through The Homestead Model™
A brief overview of the 10 core modules.
4. Q&A Session
Interactive discussion and questions.
5. Closing Remarks
Summary of key points.
Next steps and further resources.
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Why Neuro-Affirming Support Improves Outcomes – Louise Brown
In this presentation we will look at what neuro-affirming practices are and how they can support clients to move away from blame and shame towards kindness and compassion and therefore improve overall wellbeing.
This will include consideration for the systems and structures we use to administrate our practice as well as what happens in the therapy room.
Finally we will consider how therapists can be affirming of their own neurodivergence and how this modelling of self-compassion and kindness can support clients to do the same.
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Tracy Clark
As a private practitioner of many years, I have had the privilege of working with and supporting clients from the neurodivergent community. Mainly people who are autistic and dyslexic. My clients include individuals, couples and young people. I am Person-centred trained however I have used various modalities and creative ways within my clinical practice to meet the client’s needs.
I have been assessed over the years for an intellectual learning disability, called Dyslexia. My personal experience of being dyslexic has been very mixed over the years, however I find that as a visual learner I can incorporate my experience of dyslexia into my clinical practice.
Website | www.tracyaclarkcounselling.co.uk
Facebook | Tracy A Clark Counselling
LinkedIn | Tracy Clark PgDip
John Wilson
I have been facilitating in Counselling & Psychotherapy programmes in the UK for more than 10 years.
I am currently the director at Temenos Education and have a private practice where I offer online Psychotherapy and Supervision using video and chat communication platforms along with virtual environments. I am also the co-founder of onlinevents which has grown to be the world’s largest library of online video and audio content with instant certification and a learning log.
I am also a past chair of the Association for Counselling & Therapy Online (ACTO) and have served for 6 years on the board of the World Association for Person Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counselling. My passion to bring online learning into the field of Counselling & Psychotherapy has also led to the development of online experiential learning within the Temenos programme, facilitating the exposure of Temenos students to external tutors who are located in different parts of the world. Along with the inclusion of experiential learning of online Counselling & Psychotherapy for Temenos students so that they qualify with knowledge and practice in online communication and relationship.
You can read an article I co-authored about online group facilitation here: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/UB2QJDKNCGUMUNUURU8W/full?target=10.1080/14779757.2019.1650807
