A few months ago, I facilitated a training group that included a mix of hypnotherapists and counselors. When the subject of autism came up, as it often does when discussing some of the issues our clients are facing, one of the group members laughed disparagingly and expressed their dislike of "labels." Despite the increasing numbers of people diagnosed with autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the growing number of therapists who identify as neurodivergent, alongside a rising awareness of neurodivergence amongst therapists, there are still some therapists who feel that it is unhealthy for their clients to seek out a diagnosis or identify as neurodivergent.

Going back about 10 years, one of my counseling tutors was of this opinion. Unless somebody very clearly struggled to the extent they were unable to live their lives independently, she refused to accept the validity of autism and ADHD in, as she put it, their "mild" forms. I regularly hear from clients that this attitude persists among some therapists.

It's an attitude that is extremely damaging to clients for the following reasons:

Supporting a client requires a long-term commitment, and creating positive change can take months or years. As therapists, we often focus on helping our clients gain awareness about why they are experiencing issues, including exploring the roots of their problems. If we refuse to accept that our client may be neurodivergent, we run the risk of looking for the root of their current issues in the wrong place. We need to remain open to the fact........

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