The concept of neurodivergence has taken the internet by storm, serving as an important and much-needed movement to provide a safe space for people who have suffered from marginalization and misunderstanding. Harvard Health1 defines neurodiversity as:
"[T]he idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one 'right' way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits."
As a non-diagnostic term, neurodiversity serves as an umbrella concept covering autistic-spectrum disorders, ADHD, sensory processing differences, learning disabilities, giftedness, Tourette's, and a host of other conditions, asserting that these differences in thinking, learning and emotion are part of the normal range of human experience. Up to 15% to 20% of people are thought to be neurodiverse, with higher numbers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields2. As such, neurodivergence transcends diagnosis and has become a much-needed powerful political and cultural identity for advocacy and change.
Dr. Natasha Liu-Thwaites is a neurodiversity expert and author of the neurodiversity chapter in a recently co-edited volume on couples therapy3. I recently spoke with Dr. Liu-Thwaites.
GHB: How did you become interested in studying neurodiversity?
NLT: I trained as a psychiatrist, later specialising in Medical Psychotherapy, with my main modality of therapy being in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, throughout my training I took on some special interest sessions in neurodevelopmental conditions, being familiar with features in several people close to me. I initially started doing some CBT with people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and then expanded this to working with autistic people. As time went on, I found I really enjoyed working with this group of very individual people, often so interesting, and so likeable, and I didn't want to give it up! I continued with my special interest sessions, and also trained in the diagnostic assessment of both ADHD and autism, and I have continued working in this field,........