Working closely with Neurodiversity
Over at the TLC Counselling Hub I have been working very closely with neurodiverse clients from all walks of life. This includes clients who are currently either waiting for assessments and diagnosis, or clients who already have this information.
One thing I always say is that labelling someone does not define who they are. In fact, by labelling someone it can be harmful and damaging. It’s like putting people into a box, but one that is unhelpful, uncertain and one that can create societal stigmas.
I embrace my client’s neurodiversity as their own unique way of being. I endeavour to ‘see’ the client and go beyond any label they may or not have been diagnosed with.
There has been a real surge in Neurodiversity over the last few years and it seems very topical at the moment. I personally as a therapist, have seen a sharp increase in teenagers and young adults who have sadly fallen through the net accessing my services recently.
These young clients are often in crisis by the time they walk through the Hub door. They are usually in the burn-out spiral and are ready to give up. They predominantly have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, misdiagnosed and often mismanaged their entire lives.
The good news is Neurodiversity is not just a buzz word anymore. In fact we have just had Neurodiversity Celebration Week 18th-24th March so what does it all mean and how best can we describe it?
Neurodiversity is a word used to describe the very different thinking styles that affect how people communicate and perceive the world around them. I say how they interpret incoming stimuli.
Neurodiversity is an umbrella term – a word that sums up lots of different things. It includes autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette’s to name but a few!
So is Neurodiversity very common?
Actually yes it is, around 15-20% of all the people living in the world are thought to have a neuro-difference of some type. No two people will be affected in the same way. At the TLC Hub I look at the best ways of working with my neurodiverse clients. I often say to facilitate their way forward I need to obtain a footstep into your world and see what your landscape looks like. Only then can I glimpse on what their needs may be.
I really enjoy working with Neurodivergent clients, as usually they have the most fascinating illuminating brains, which can be depicted as their super-power but can also be their nemesis! Fundamentally whatever their diagnosis, or Neurodivergent type may be, I see them as human being first and foremost, and being human is what it’s all about.
28-12-22
Be the difference that makes a difference… we left behind some hope!
How it all began
We headed off the four of us from Andover to Heathrow airport on a cold unremarkable November day. What we could not have possibly known back then sat in the departure lounge, was that we were embarking on a trip of a lifetime. Or more importantly a trip that was going to become life changing for the volunteers involved!
8 hrs later stepping off the plane into the very warm African sunshine, I felt a real sense of excitement of what this trip had in store. Little did I know that I, along with the rest of the team would be leaving behind a sense of hope to a small village in the middle of the African desert!
As-Eyla sits 3 miles from the Ethiopian border and approximately 99 miles from Djibouti City. This inspiring story starts with the vision of one-man, the very humble Jordan Wylie. Jordan made a promise to a young lad to build him a school and 4 years later in 2021 he did just that!
Due to Jordan’s amazing fund-raising achievements, he single handily paddle boarded around the UK in extreme often brutal conditions. His valiant efforts raised the vital funds that were needed for the school to be built. Our group of 12 volunteers from all walks of life were the first to go out and see the finished result. The trip had so many pinch me moments and highlights that will stay we me for a lifetime.
One of my personal highlights was working with Rhianna, a young, gifted artist who must take all the credit for having the vision of creating the stunning rainbow. With some cord from an unused mosquito net and a pencil tied to it, Rhianna skilfully and painstakingly drew the arcs in 37+ degree heat! It was a real joy to see the rainbow starting to take shape.
The painting team were inside mixing the colours to the right consistency for the rainbow paint to go onto the wall. I think you will agree the result is absolutely stunning!
So how did we leave behind some hope?
For months we had been planning, fundraising, making school packs, making jewellery, collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, (courtesy of the very generous New Street Dental Practice https://newstreetdentalcare.co.uk/) t-shirts, book bags, caps, again very kindly donated by a local company Stitch A Logo https://www.stitch-a-logo.co.uk and a huge variety of other resources to take out to a very unsuspecting community.
During the pandemic, as well as the weekly clapping, we used rainbows to signify hope to support and encourage our amazing frontline workers. Fast forward nearly three years and we were able to leave some hope behind in the form of a rainbow for the children, teachers and community of As-Eyla! The outstanding thing is that all the children I worked with had never seen a rainbow let alone drawn one!
The rainbow is an iconic symbol biblical even, in the bible, a rainbow is the symbolism of covenant and making promises. You will find out that God used the rainbow to make a promise to Noah after the flood. Many will also associate rainbows with art as it’s something often used early in life when learning to draw, paint, or colour and rainbows are also an excellent example that is used to teach children about different colour. It has been used in songs telling us that dreams really will come true!
For the LGBTQ+ community the rainbow symbol demonstrates equality and diversity which is represented by the unification of the colours of the rainbow.
For me when setting up the TLC Counselling Hub I chose the rainbow as my logo to signify hope- for my clients, it also helped me remember my why- and what that represented to me and my personal journey.
An appearance of a rainbow after a dark time in someone’s life, is often said to act as a sign of a new beginning and offers hope and promise of a brighter future ahead.
Being at the school with all those beautiful, happy, smiling faces was what the trip was all about for me. I felt alive, human in a very humbling human moment!
What else did we get up to o this amazing expedition?
Yes, without doubt we all had an amazing time at the school, but there was also the ‘Terres De Extreme’ part to this expedition we also:
- got to swim with whale sharks and take part in an important marine study.
- did a beach clear up on the beautiful desolate but plastic strewn beaches.
- got to dive, snorkel paddleboard in beautiful unseen/unspoilt turquoise seas
- Slept outside on the boat and gazed up at the stars
- Visited to Lac Assal ‘the honey sea’ third saltiest lake on the planet and boy it did it sting the eyeballs! lac http://lac assal
- 3+hour desert trek in 38-degree heat complete with camels, singing and team work!
- Early morning buggy ride to watch the sunrise in the very beautiful but dystopian Lac Abbe http://lac abbe
- Desert survival session- doing it the local way.
- Agroforestry regeneration project. We also had the privilege to plant a tree at the Neem Farm in memory of loved ones and personalise a stone to leave at our tree.
- Basket weaving with the ladies of the community at the Neem Farm.
- participate in a very closely run footy match with the community in attendance
- Dance with the local teenagers one evening- glow sticks were a huge hit (thanks Lee)
- A tour of the beautiful Neem Farm and all it has to offer https://theneemfarm.org/en/
- And much much more!
I guess the one thing I will take from this life changing expedition, is the people. The many different inspirational people I met along the way from all walks of life.
None of this could have been possible without Jordan though. One of the most inspirational, humblest people I have have met (and trust me I’ve met a few over the years!) He is like a magnet and people young and old are drawn to his illuminating, and yet calming influential personality.
I believe we all came away with a sense of purpose, fulfilment personal achievements and most importantly some hope for the future.
It’s not too late to support this or many of the other wonderful projects that the Frontline Children organisation are involved in. As the big fella says, ‘be the difference that makes a difference’! https://www.frontlinechildren.org
“Children are ultimately the innocent victims of war, and we must do everything we can to help” – Jordan Wylie
Ambassador, Frontline Children
