Finding myself through the ‘Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach’
In this blog, we hear from Andreia Costa, a past attendee of our Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach training course. Andreia shares a heartfelt insight into how the course supported her to honour and embrace her own Neurodivergent identity and needs, as well as those of her Neurodivergent daughter.
I’ve been trying to remember how I first came across Neurodiverse Connection – and I can’t. This is just how my brain works. Before starting something, I often feel the need to retrace my steps all the way back to the beginning. But in this case, it doesn’t really matter.
What matters is what happened next: in Autumn 2024, I took part in the Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach (NdWA) training course. That course has profoundly shaped my Neurodivergent journey – both as a parent and as an individual.
Where I was before the training
At the time, I was just a few months into my journey as a neurodiversity advocate. My motivation was simple: I’m the mum of a gorgeous, then 7-year-old Autistic daughter, and I wanted to learn as much as I could to support her wellbeing.
Back then, I had no idea I would soon come to realise that I, too, am likely Neurodivergent. I don’t yet have a formal diagnosis, but the self-awareness that’s grown since then has been transformative.
Why the NdWA course stood out
The NdWA training was life-changing for me. It provided deep insights into different neurotypes, but more importantly, it emphasised embodiment – understanding and connecting with our bodies as a foundation for self-awareness and self-regulation.
The sessions were refreshingly Neurodivergent-affirming, focusing on:
Stress and the nervous system
Understanding the mind
Knowing ourselves
The concept of joy
Unmasking
Self-advocacy
Embodiment as a daily practice
For someone like me – very good at ignoring my own needs and pushing through physical and emotional warning signs – these lessons were a turning point. I began to understand the importance of listening to my body, not just for my daughter’s sake, but for my own.
Recognising burnout
Earlier this year, I had gone through burnout. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp just how depleted I had become – I only knew that my drive to keep going was relentless.
If I hadn’t taken the NdWA course, I’m not sure I would have had the language or the awareness to recognise my burnout for what it was. The training gave me tools to identify my limits, acknowledge my needs, and approach self-care not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
A shift in self-understanding
Through the course, so many things began to make sense – the way I process the world, the sensory sensitivities I had dismissed, the patterns in my thinking and behaviour. It was like finding puzzle pieces I didn’t know were missing.
Kay, our tutor, was a huge part of this impact. Her knowledge was vast, but what stood out most was her authenticity. Every session felt grounded in real experience, not just theory.
The community that came with it
The NdWA course didn’t just end when the sessions did. Our group stayed in touch, creating a space where we could share experiences, challenges, and small victories. To this day, we’re still connected – a circle of Neurodivergent people, each with our own unique story, offering mutual support and understanding.
Kay remains a source of inspiration for me. I’m honoured to have had her as a guest on my own NDV Podcast: Neurodiverse Voices, a project I launched in April 2024 to raise awareness, foster understanding and embrace difference. I can’t wait to share her episode with the world. She was also a speaker at the OH BRC Neurodiversity Conference, which I led the organisation of. This was another exciting opportunity to highlight Kay's expertise and authentic voice within the Neurodivergence space.
Final reflections
The Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach training wasn’t just another course – it was a mechanism. It gave me knowledge, yes, but it also gave me permission: permission to listen to my body, to honour my needs, to embrace my identity and to keep growing both as a parent and as a person.
Most importantly, it reminded me that wellbeing isn’t a destination. It’s an ongoing practice – one we can nurture in ourselves and in each other, especially within Neurodivergent communities.
And while I may never remember how I first stumbled across Neurodiverse Connection, I know this: taking that training was one of the best decisions I’ve made on this journey.
