Living authentically
Supporting neurodivergent clients to safely unmask
Society’s unspoken neuro-normative rules often force Autistic individuals to mask their authentic selves, reshaping their behaviour to gain acceptance and avoid conflict. While masking may offer short-term safety, over time, it can lead to feelings of inauthenticity, social disconnection, and emotional exhaustion. This workshop will equip you with the knowledge and practical tools to help your neurodivergent clients embrace their true selves, navigate the complexities of unmasking, and build lives rooted in authenticity and self-acceptance. Led by an Autistic and ADHD clinical psychologist, this session offers an empowering and compassionate approach to supporting your clients’ journey toward living authentically.
Background to the workshop
The world is built on neuro-normative social rules that often conflict with the natural communication styles and preferences of Autistic individuals. While many Autistic people value honesty, directness, and consistency, these differences are frequently misunderstood by non-Autistic individuals, leading to misjudgments, communication breakdowns, and even social exclusion. To avoid these challenges, many Autistic individuals engage in masking by suppressing their differences and performing neurotypically. While masking can offer a sense of safety in social interactions, it often comes at a heavy emotional cost, leaving individuals feeling disconnected from their authentic selves and undervalued for who they truly are.
As therapists, we are uniquely positioned to help our clients navigate this journey of unmasking and self-acceptance. However, the process is complex and fraught with risks, such as rejection or misunderstanding from others. This workshop will address the critical need to support neurodivergent clients in reclaiming their authenticity while ensuring they feel safe and empowered in their choices.
What you will gain from this workshop
By attending this workshop, you will:
- Gain a deep understanding of what masking entails and the emotional and psychological toll it takes on Autistic individuals.
- Learn how to help clients build a sense of belonging and self-worth by recognising and embracing their Autistic differences as integral parts of their identity.
- Explore how to support clients in navigating the challenges of unmasking, including context-specific considerations and sharing their identity with friends, family, or colleagues.
- Equip yourself with practical tools to empower your clients to live more authentically, while also respecting their need for safety and choice in different social settings.
This workshop will provide you with actionable insights and therapeutic strategies to help your clients live more fulfilling, authentic lives aligned with their neurodivergent identity.
About this workshop
This 2-hour workshop is designed to be highly interactive and practical, combining mini-lectures, real-world case examples, and experiential exercises. You will benefit from the expertise of an Autistic and ADHD clinical psychologist who brings both professional insight and lived experience to the session. Through guided discussions and reflective activities, you will learn how to integrate these strategies into your therapeutic practice and better support your neurodivergent clients in their journey toward authenticity and self-acceptance.
Who will benefit from this workshop?
This workshop is ideal for therapists and psychologists who understand neurodiversity-affirming practice and have a sound understanding of Autism and neurodivergence who are looking to deepen their skills in working with neurodivergent clients. It is particularly suited to professionals who are committed to fostering self-acceptance and authenticity in their clients while addressing the unique challenges of unmasking. Whether you work with diagnosed or undiagnosed Autistic individuals, this workshop will provide you with valuable tools to enhance your clinical practice.
This is an intermediate level workshop. If you require an introduction to the topic of working with neurodiversity, check out our on-demand workshop with Jennifer Kemp: Working with neurodivergent adults: Developing self-compassion and self-acceptance
Feedback from previous attendees on Jennifer’s workshops
“It was absolutely everything that I had hoped it would be and more and I have gained so many resources and new thinking and feel much better equipped to work with my neurodivergent senior medical and public health leader clients. I can honestly say this is the best training I have done for many years.”
Dr Fiona Day MBChB, FFPH, CPsychol Medical & Public Health Leadership Coach
“Excellent experience, highly recommended.”
Lou Gane, Neurodiversity-Affirming Health Coach
“The presentation itself was so interesting and informative. The resources have also been great.”
Julie McKendry, Behaviour Analyst
Group booking discounts
Contextual Consulting offer discounts for groups of people from the same organisation e.g. an NHS Trust that does not have a contract arrangement with us.
Please email us here to arrange a group discount or find out more about our CPD contracts here.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify and assess Autistic masking and its impact on individuals.
- Use strategies to help your clients get to know themselves by exploring their values, interests, and stimming preferences.
- Explore situations with your client in which they can safely unmask.
- Understand how to support your clients to confidently unmask with friends and family.
- Support your clients to develop a sense of belonging, embrace Autistic social preferences, express themselves authentically, and advocate for their needs.
APA psychologists: This program is sponsored by Contextual Consulting and is approved for 2 CE credits for psychologists. Contextual Consulting is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Contextual Consulting maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Nationally certified counselors: This workshop is available for 2 credit hours. Contextual Consulting Ltd. has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7578.
To find out more, including attendance requirements and how to access your certificate, go to our continuing education information page.
If you have disability and require adjustments or accommodation, please email us at admin@contextualconsulting.co.uk to discuss your needs and we will do our best to help you.
Booking cancellation
The registration fee will be refunded minus a administration charge if cancellations are received at least two weeks before the workshop date.
Cancellations within two weeks of the event date are charged the full registration fee, other than in exceptional circumstances that can be verified.
Event cancellation
In the event of cancellation of the course outside of our control we will not be held accountable for travel and/or accommodation costs incurred. However, the workshop fees will be refunded.
All workshops will be subject to minimum delegate numbers being met; in the event that a workshop should be cancelled delegates will be given no less than 2 months’ notice.
Replacing delegates
If a delegate is unable to attend and a replacement is nominated there may be a charge depending on the individual circumstances, this will be advised at the time. Please contact the us to request a replacement of delegates at least a week before the workshop date.
Contextual Consulting is committed to the identification and resolution of potential conflicts of interest in the planning, promotion, delivery, and evaluation of continuing education. Potential conflicts of interest occur when an individual assumes a professional role in the planning, promotion, delivery, or evaluation of continuing education where personal, professional, legal, financial, or other interests could reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity, competence, or effectiveness.
There was no commercial support for this event. None of the planners or presenters for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.