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Neuro-Collective

Neuro-Collective empowers families to embrace neurodiversity, fostering inclusivity and resilience through community support, advocacy, and education in mental health care practices that affirm neurodivergent identities.

Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice in Mental Health Care Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice in Mental Health CareA One-Day Professional Training &amp; Fundraiser for Neuro-Collective Date: April 10, 2026,Time: 9:30 AM &ndash; 4:30 PM, Location: VirtualContinuing Education: 6 hours&nbsp;Registration Fee: $120 and Pay What You Can options available&mdash; all proceeds to Neuro-Collective This one-day professional training offers a rigorous, skills-based introduction to neurodiversity-affirming practice in mental health care. Designed for registered clinicians and supervised trainees across disciplines, the training moves beyond awareness-level content to examine the theoretical foundations, clinical applications, and systemic implications of working from the neurodiversity paradigm. Grounded in the scholarship of autistic researchers and disability theory &mdash; including the neurodiversity paradigm, the Double Empathy Problem, and emerging research on masking, late identification, and autistic burnout &mdash; this training invites participants to critically examine the assumptions embedded in conventional diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks, and to develop practice that genuinely reflects the dignity and self-determination of neurodivergent clients. The day is structured across five modules integrating didactic instruction, experiential learning, and facilitated case consultation. Module 1 &mdash; The Neurodiversity Paradigm: Foundations and History&nbsp;A theoretical and historical grounding in the neurodiversity paradigm, including its origins in autistic self-advocacy, its relationship to the social model of disability, and a structured comparison with the pathology paradigm that currently organizes most clinical training and practice. Introduction to the Double Empathy Problem and its implications for the therapeutic relationship. Module 2 &mdash; Identity, Language, and the Clinical Relationship&nbsp;An examination of how clinical language reflects and reinforces paradigmatic assumptions, including a practicum in reformulating deficit-based documentation. Substantive coverage of masking and camouflaging, autistic burnout, and the clinical presentation of late-identified neurodivergent adults. Consideration of how the therapeutic relationship itself requires adaptation within an affirming framework. Module 3 &mdash; Assessment, Diagnosis, and the Pathology Paradigm&nbsp;A critical analysis of current diagnostic tools and criteria, including embedded neurotypical norms, assessor bias, and the relationship between gender, race, class, and diagnostic access. Lifespan considerations and the clinical interface of neurodivergence with trauma, anxiety, and mood presentations. Introduction to strengths-based and participatory assessment frameworks. Module 4 &mdash; Neurodiversity-Affirming Clinical Practice&nbsp;Practical application of affirming principles across therapeutic modalities, including adaptations for CBT, ACT, DBT, trauma-informed care, and expressive and somatic approaches. Facilitated case consultation using a neurodiversity-affirming reformulation framework. Environmental and structural accommodations as relational ethics. Module 5 &mdash; Systems, Advocacy, and Practitioner Sustainability&nbsp;The clinician&#39;s role in institutional, educational, and policy contexts &mdash; including writing affirming documentation for third-party systems, supporting families navigating educational and children&#39;s services, and the ethical tensions of working within systems that may cause harm. Practitioner positionality, supervision considerations, and sustainability in affirming practice. Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Articulate the core tenets of the neurodiversity paradigm and distinguish it from the pathology paradigm across clinical domains</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Identify how deficit-based assumptions are embedded in diagnostic criteria, clinical language, and therapeutic goals</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Demonstrate affirming, non-pathologizing language in clinical communication and documentation</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Apply neurodiversity-affirming principles across neurotype and lifespan</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Recognize masking, internalized ableism, and late identification as clinically significant phenomena requiring adapted responses</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Navigate ethical tensions between client self-determination and institutional requirements</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Identify systemic advocacy obligations and strategies relevant to neurodivergent client populations</li></ul> This training is appropriate for registered mental health professionals and supervised trainees at all career stages, including:Psychotherapists and counsellors &middot; Psychologists &middot; Registered social workers &middot; Occupational therapists &middot; Speech-language pathologists &middot; Clinical supervisors and educators &middot; School-based mental health professionals No prior background in neurodiversity-affirming frameworks is required. Participants with existing knowledge will find the theoretical grounding and applied skill components substantive. All registration proceeds will be directed in full to Neuro-Collective in support of its mission to empower families to embrace neurodiversity, promote inclusivity, and create a compassionate community that fosters understanding, connection, and resilience. Neuro-Collective is a community-led organization committed to building genuine belonging, advocacy, and peer support for neurodivergent individuals and families. Participants in this training are not only investing in their professional development &mdash; they are directly resourcing an organization doing essential, community-driven work. We are pleased to offer a professional learning experience that is both clinically meaningful and philanthropically purposeful.Learn more about Neuro-Collective -&gt; www.neurocollective.ca ACCESSIBILITY &amp; ACCOMMODATIONSWe are committed to providing an accessible online learning environment. Participants are welcome to engage in whatever way works best for them throughout the day.Cameras may be kept on or off at any time and for any reason &mdash; no explanation is required. Participants who prefer to contribute via the chat function rather than verbally are equally welcome to do so, and chat contributions will be actively integrated into facilitated discussions. The training platform supports closed captioning, which participants are encouraged to enable as needed. Advance materials &mdash; including the full training outline and any preparatory readings &mdash; will be distributed prior to the training day so participants can orient to the content and structure ahead of time. The schedule includes structured breaks, and the overall format is designed with predictability and flexibility in mind. Participants with specific access needs &mdash; including alternative formats, additional supports, or questions about platform accessibility &mdash; are encouraged to contact us in advance so that we may make appropriate arrangements.info@neurocollective.ca Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.For group registrations, institutional billing inquiries, or questions about continuing education credit eligibility, please contact <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:info@neurocollective.ca" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">info@neurocollective.ca</a>.Facilitated by Meghan Maynard, PhD (candidate), MA, BCW, RPMeghan is a neurodivergent psychotherapist, researcher, and mother to neurodivergent children. Meghan has over 20 years of experience in mental health care, including work in hospitals, shelters, community settings, education, and private practice. Meghan blends her lived experience together with up-to-date research and literature to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities.

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