ND in Practice: Working with Young Adult

Service Description

ND in Practice: Working with Young Adults For: Qualified and trainee counsellors What happens when we stop learning about neurodivergence for a moment, and start thinking about practice? In this two-hour online CPD. rather than teaching you about autism and ADHD through presentations and slides, we'll introduce you to Harper, a composite case study of a neurodivergent young adult referred for therapeutic support. You'll meet Harper through their referral and then, much as in real practice, find out more as the work unfolds. Together, we'll consider what you're noticing. What are you making sense of – and what might you be missing? What happens when apparent disengagement, poor motivation or risky behaviour is viewed through a different lens? How might our expectations of independence and adulthood influence the way we understand what Harper needs? Through facilitated discussion and reflective practice, we'll explore: • assessment and outcome measures • motivation, overwhelm and regulation • masking, belonging and relationships • risk, coping strategies and self-medication • transitions, expectations and independence • education, family and wider systems • our own responses and assumptions There won't always be a neat answer. This is case-based learning with some of the qualities of a reflective practice or supervision conversation. We'll bring relevant theory, ethics and neurodivergent-affirming practice into the discussion as the case calls for it, rather than beginning with theory and applying it afterwards. By the end of the session, you'll have practised how to: • look beyond presenting behaviour and become curious about what may be happening underneath • notice where expectations of young adulthood may be shaping assessment, formulation or the therapeutic process • consider relational, environmental and systemic influences • think about risk and coping without losing sight of function, context and meaning • recognise where your own responses and assumptions may be entering the work • identify practical ways of making therapeutic work more accessible and collaborative This isn't an introduction to autism or ADHD, and you don't need to be a specialist in neurodivergence. The aim isn't to leave knowing more facts about neurodivergence. It's to leave better able to think about what you're seeing, hearing and experiencing in the room – and what you might do differently as a result. Come ready to meet Harper. Online | 2 hours | Live and interactive