This self-access class helps practitioners to adopt a neurodiversity-positive approach throughout their practice, particularly providing more appropriate and successful interventions in complex couple situations.
Neurodiversity applies to ways of thinking which are considered outside normative patterns, and have traditionally been seen as deficits. To combat this, neurodiversity has been adopted as a non-medical term which is increasingly being applied to neurodevelopmental labels. Nonetheless, many of us remain confused by the concept of neurodiversity and what it actually relates to. It’s common for therapists to believe neurodiversity only applies to autism and attention deficit ‘disorders’, when it actually covers a large number of mental health and genetic conditions, where similarities in presentation may exist. This training will clarify the range covered by neurodiversity, ways sex and relationships can be affected and how therapy can help.
The overlap in presentation and co-existence of diversities has led to an awareness that neurodiversity occurs on a spectrum, so that practitioners are often likely to encounter aspects of neurodiversity in their work. This particularly applies to sex and relationship therapy where partners from widely different places on the spectrum may encounter more misunderstanding and frustration. The ability to recognise neurodiverse traits and thinking can, therefore, be hugely beneficial for couples, when therapists are able to explain what’s happening, adapt the therapeutic process and offer management strategies.
Locating neurodiversity within a spectrum diminishes the sense of difference between partners, especially as some of their thinking and behaviour is likely to have developed in response to desperation about their apparent limitations. Shame and blaming, may be minimised as couples are helped to find what works for them rather than what they think ought to be happening. Even the masking and compensation of many ND individuals can confuse their partners and considerably increase anxiety, particularly around sex.
Learning Outcomes
- Neurodiversity exists on a spectrum and applies to thinking differences, which can be challenging for couples when one identifies as neurotypical.
- People affected by neurodiversity often miss out on support because it isn’t always recognised that three or more neurodiverse ‘conditions’ frequently co-exist.
- The effect of exacerbating contexts, such as race and sexuality, are important considerations when treating someone affected by neurodiversity.
- Practitioners can assist with sex and relationship difficulties by adopting a neurodiversity-positive approach and adapting their practice to better meet clients’ individual needs.
*This self-access class is a recording of a live event that took place in 2025.
About the Trainer
Cate Campbell.
As well as being a Relationship and Psychosexual Therapist, Cate is a supervisor and has taught and written courses to master’s level for the Relate Institute and Foundation for Counselling & Relationship Studies, as well as writing four books about sex and relationships. A 1:1:2 approach is increasingly being used in trauma therapy with couples which interested me as a qualified EMDR practitioner.
In my two decades as a sex and relationship therapist, I have worked with many clients and couples affected by neurodiversity and was a neurodiversity specialist therapist for the Different_Together website. I have taught about neurodiversity on a number of courses as a Relate Institute trainer and lecturer with the Foundation for Counselling & Relationship Studies. In my trauma therapy practice, I find a disproportionate number of clients are affected by neurodiversity, often due to difficulty with dating and relationships as well as due to sexual abuse, as problems with recognising nuance may create more vulnerability to predators.
