What Does “Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy” Mean?
- Hannah Lees
- Jul 9
- 2 min read
At Joyful Journey Occupational Therapy, we believe every child is unique — and that’s something to celebrate.
You may have heard the word neurodiversity before and wondered what it means. Simply put, neurodiversity means that everyone’s brain wor
ks a little differently. Some kids are great with numbers, some feel big emotions, some move a lot, some talk less, some learn in their own way. All of it is normal. All of it is human.
So what is neurodiversity-affirming therapy?
It means we don’t try to "fix" your child or make them act more “normal.”Instead, we:
Accept your child for who they are
Support their needs in a way that feels safe and respectful
Build on their strengths, not just focus on their challenges
We look at what your child loves, what helps them feel calm, and how they learn best — and we use that in our therapy.
How is this different from old-school therapy?
In the past, some therapies tried to train kids to hide their natural behaviours — like stimming, avoiding eye contact, or needing quiet time.But these behaviours are often ways kids cope and feel safe.
Neurodiversity-affirming therapy says: “There is nothing wrong with your child. Let’s help them thrive just as they are.”
What does this look like at Joyful Journey?
We let children move, fidget, and be themselves in sessions
We ask for consent before touching or changing anything
We work closely with families — because no one knows your child like you do
We help your child understand their own needs and feel proud of who they are
You're not alone
We know parenting can feel overwhelming — especially when you're trying to support your child with limited time or money. At Joyful Journey, we’re here to walk beside you, with kindness, understanding, and zero judgment.
Your child’s journey is joyful because it’s theirs — and we’re here to support it every step of the way.
Want to chat with someone from our team? Reach out anytime — we’re here for you.
Comments