Giftedness refers to exceptional abilities in one or more areas, such as intellectual, creative, or academic domains. Twice-exceptional (2e) individuals are gifted people who also experience challenges such as learning differences, ADHD, autism, or other conditions that impact their daily lives. These dual characteristics create a unique set of strengths and struggles, often leading to asynchronous development, heightened sensitivity, and intense emotional experiences.

Giftedness and twice-exceptionality are not problems to be fixed but complex traits to be understood and supported. Neuroaffirming care acknowledges the unique combination of strengths and challenges these individuals face, fostering an environment that encourages growth, self-awareness, and resilience. This approach emphasizes respecting their individuality, balancing support for areas of difficulty with celebration of their talents and passions.

Key Principles of Neuroaffirming Care for Giftedness and Twice-Exceptionality:

• Recognizing the unique strengths of gifted and 2e individuals, including creativity, problem-solving, and deep thinking

• Supporting emotional regulation and managing the intensity that often accompanies giftedness

• Addressing areas of challenge, such as executive functioning or sensory sensitivities, without diminishing strengths

• Encouraging self-advocacy and providing tools to navigate educational, social, and professional environments

• Promoting self-compassion and reframing struggles as part of a multifaceted and dynamic identity

Many neurodivergent individuals experience anxiety, PTSD, or complex trauma, often as a result of navigating a world designed for neurotypical ways of thinking and being. These challenges may arise from experiences of misunderstanding, exclusion, sensory overwhelm, or the pressure to mask neurodivergent traits. Trauma can deeply impact emotional regulation, relationships, and a sense of safety, making neuroaffirming care essential in addressing these intersecting needs.

Key Principles of Neuroaffirming Care for Trauma:

• Acknowledging Trauma’s Impact

  • Understanding how systemic and interpersonal trauma can exacerbate anxiety and emotional dysregulation in neurodivergent individuals

• Fostering Safety

  • Creating a therapeutic environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and free to express their authentic selves without judgment

• Building Emotional Regulation Tools

  • Supporting the development of skills to manage anxiety and trauma responses, tailored to neurodivergent needs and sensitivities

• Recognizing the Role of Masking

  • Exploring the impact of masking neurodivergent traits and providing space to process the exhaustion and harm it may have caused

• Encouraging Self-Compassion

  • Helping individuals reframe their experiences with anxiety and trauma through a lens of self-compassion and resilience

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological difference that affects attention, executive functioning, and impulse regulation. ADHD exists on a spectrum, with symptoms and traits varying widely between individuals. Many people with ADHD also experience hyperfocus, creativity, and innovative thinking, alongside challenges such as inattention, impulsivity, and difficulty with organization.

Neuroaffirming care approaches ADHD as a difference rather than a deficit, celebrating the unique strengths that often accompany it while offering support for areas of difficulty. This perspective moves away from pathologizing behaviors and focuses on fostering self-awareness, skill-building, and self-compassion.

Key Principles of Neuroaffirming Care for ADHD:

• Acknowledging and valuing the unique strengths often associated with ADHD, such as creativity and adaptability

• Collaborating on personalized strategies that align with each individual’s goals, values, and lifestyle

• Reducing internalized stigma by encouraging self-compassion and reframing ADHD as a difference, not a deficit

• Offering practical tools for time management, organization, and planning in ways that are sustainable and manageable

• Recognizing how sensory sensitivities, stress, and social dynamics influence ADHD symptoms and adjusting approaches accordingly

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental difference that impacts how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Autism exists on a spectrum, meaning experiences and traits vary widely from person to person. Core characteristics often include differences in social communication, sensory processing, and behavior patterns, as well as unique strengths and interests.

Autism is not a problem to be fixed but a difference to be understood and supported. Neuroaffirming care acknowledges that autism is a natural variation of human neurodiversity, emphasizing respect for each individual's unique strengths, needs, and challenges. It rejects harmful, deficit-based models of care and instead focuses on fostering acceptance, self-advocacy, and empowerment.

*My experience is working with what is often referred to as level 1 autism or low need ASD.

Key Principles of Neuroaffirming Care for Autism:

• Recognizing the value of autistic traits and respecting autistic identity

• Supporting sensory and communication needs without judgment

• Encouraging self-advocacy and collaboration in therapy

• Avoiding goals aimed at forcing neurotypical behaviors, focusing instead on authentic self-expression

By providing an affirming space, individuals with autism can explore their identity, build meaningful connections, and thrive on their own terms.

Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) possess a heightened sensitivity to sensory and emotional stimuli. This trait, known as sensory processing sensitivity, is a natural variation in temperament and is not a disorder. HSPs often experience deep emotional responses, strong empathy, and heightened awareness of subtleties in their environment. However, they may also face challenges such as overstimulation, difficulty with boundaries, and emotional overwhelm.

High sensitivity is not a weakness to be fixed but a trait to be understood and nurtured. Neuroaffirming care acknowledges the value of sensitivity and focuses on creating an environment where HSPs feel safe, respected, and empowered. This approach encourages self-compassion, emotional regulation, and strategies for managing overstimulation without shame or judgment.

Key Principles of Neuroaffirming Care for Highly Sensitive People:

• Recognizing the unique gifts of high sensitivity, such as empathy, intuition, and creativity

• Creating environments that reduce overstimulation and support emotional well-being

• Teaching tools for emotional regulation and recovery from sensory and emotional overload

• Collaborating on strategies to honor boundaries and respect individual needs

• Promoting self-acceptance and reframing sensitivity as a valuable and integral part of identity

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) performed to reduce distress or prevent a feared outcome. OCD can manifest in various forms, such as contamination fears, symmetry or ordering, intrusive thoughts, or checking behaviors.

OCD is not simply about being neat or organized; it is a complex condition that significantly impacts daily functioning. Neuroaffirming care acknowledges the challenges of OCD while emphasizing the strengths often associated with it, such as attention to detail and strong problem-solving abilities. This approach focuses on reducing shame, fostering self-compassion, and supporting strategies to manage anxiety and compulsions effectively.

Key Principles of Neuroaffirming Care for OCD:

• Reducing Shame and Stigma: Normalizing intrusive thoughts and breaking the cycle of self-criticism or guilt

• Fostering Self-Compassion: Helping individuals understand OCD as a condition rather than a character flaw

• Teaching Anxiety Management: Providing tools to tolerate uncertainty and reduce compulsive behaviors

• Promoting Flexibility: Encouraging individuals to explore alternative responses to obsessive thoughts without rigidly avoiding discomfort

• Emphasizing Strengths: Highlighting positive traits, such as persistence, creativity, and problem-solving skills

Some forms of neurodivergence I don’t work with extensively but can provide referrals and resources for include:

1. Dyslexia

   • Difficulty with reading, writing, and language processing, often paired with strong problem-solving and creative skills

2. Dyscalculia

   • Challenges with understanding numbers, math concepts, and spatial reasoning

3. Dysgraphia

   • Difficulty with handwriting, spelling, and written expression

4. Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)

   • Challenges with motor coordination, planning movements, and organization

5. Tourette Syndrome

   • Involuntary motor and vocal tics, often accompanied by conditions like ADHD or OCD

6. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)

   • Significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviors

While these are not areas of my expertise, I have connections to resources and professionals who specialize in these neurodivergences and would be happy to provide referrals to ensure you receive the support you need.