Working with neurodivergence in young people

ACT is exceptionally well suited to help autistic young people and ADHDers. Join international expert and clinical psychologist, Dr Louise Hayes in this practical and focused workshop that is aimed at professionals who work with neurodiverse young people, where you will learn: 

• Skills to nurture and grow self-acceptance with compassion 

• Ways to focus on individual strengths and achievement goals 

• How to help neurodivergent young people build stronger social connections.  

• Methods to help young people build flexibility with cognitions  

• Techniques to skilfully respond to rules to build agility and resilience 

• Practical strategies to ensure your practice is neuroaffirming across all levels 

In this workshop, Louise will demonstrate how you can use the DNA-V model, as the growth model of ACT, to explore neuroaffirmative strategies for young people; meeting them where they are at and working with them on how they might want to grow. 

The DNA-V model (discoverer, noticer, advisor and values) is a psychological framework created by Louise for young people that is developmentally appropriate, neuroaffirming, and links to growth. 

Background to the workshop

An increasing amount of neurodivergent young people are coming to therapy, It is now estimated that 15-20% of children and young people may be neurodivergent (National Statistics, 2023).  

Many neurodiverse children and young people experience challenges with their mental health. They face social pressures to behave ‘appropriately’ – or like their neurotypical peers – at school, in friendship groups, and communities. Coping strategies can take a huge toll on their emotional wellbeing, leading to feeling like a failure, internalised stigma, high levels of self-criticism, low self-acceptance and burnout. This can impact on school attainment, developing healthy relationships, and generally thriving in life. 

ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) offers practical skills to address these issues and help neurodivergent young people build psychological flexibility to effectively move through these challenges and successfully attend to the various development tasks, such as managing emotions, building healthy social relationships and developing habits to achieve, build and identify connection to chosen values.  

Working with neurodiversity is now a fundamental skill requirement for any practitioner working with young people and the ability to adapt therapeutic interventions in a way that is meaningful to neurodivergent young people is essential.  Learn how, in this insightful and purposeful training session. 

More about the DNA-V model

Developmental. Easy. Ground-breaking. That’s how people see DNA-V. The strength of this framework is its focus on the whole person and how to support them with their individualised needs. This makes it a framework that is ideal for neurodivergent young people because we focus on what works rather than some external ideal standard. When we use DNA-V with young people we can do so much more than work on thoughts and feelings, we can help them choose their passions, choose their strengths, build their relationships, and choose how they want to show up in the world.   

DNA-V has become a game-changer in how people implement ACT across the world. This approach is being used in schools, clinics and everywhere that young people seek help, and Louise cannot wait to share. You’ll learn a neuroaffirming framework that helps young people (a) follow their passions, accept themselves, see themselves from new perspectives, and (b) find ways to face their challenges and learn.  

What you will gain from this workshop

What you will: 

• Learn how to apply the DNA-V approach that builds a whole-person life compass in collaboration with the young person 

• Understand individual development in a case conceptualisation and intervention plan that assists with issues commonly face by neurodivergent young people. 

• Utilise experiential exercises in a neuroaffirmative way to support young people’s awareness of their body, senses, and feelings  

• Obtain strategies to build flexibility in cognitions and use cognitive rules to grow stronger (and get unstuck) 

• Use the DNA-V model to focus on a young person’s strengths that accompany neurodivergence and gain practical strategies to help them work toward self-determined goals 

• Focus your sessions through a neuro-affirming lens to work on self-identity, using this as a context that allows a young person to build their individual strengths and achievement goals 

Prerequisite reading

There is no pre-requisite training. If you’d like to do some prior readings so that you are familiar with DNA-V, here is a place to start: 

• Read how DNA-v has been helping care leavers in the UK 

• Read the first chapter of The Thriving adolescent 
• Read the first chapter of What Makes You Stronger 

Who might benefit from this workshop

This webinar is suitable for all professionals who work with young people aged 12-24, including psychologists,  BCBAs, counsellors, social workers, teachers etc.