Training course

Neurodivergent
Wellbeing Approach

© Neurodiverse Connection 2024

NdWA 2024 is now fully booked. Join the waiting list for the next course in 2025.

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About

What is the Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach course?

The Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach is a holistic, Neurodivergent-friendly well-being curriculum that offers education and practical strategies for Neurodivergent individuals, their family members, friends, caregivers, and professionals who support them.

This programme is based on the concept of ‘experience to share’ and is designed to promote the wellbeing of participants, which they can then share with those they care for and support.

NdWA speaks to all aspects of Neurodivergent people

  • The mind

    NdWA speaks to Neurodivergent people’s minds via metacognitive (thinking about thinking) and self-coaching techniques.

  • The body

    NdWA speaks to Neurodivergent people’s bodies, through the cultivation of embodiment and instinct via nervous system education, neurosensory exercises and self-regulation strategies

  • The spirit

    NdWA speaks to Neurodivergent people’s spirit, energy and life-force through the development of intuition and an understanding and advocacy of self, their strengths and preferences, alongside exploring meaning in the world and in life.

  • I will encourage schools to think about implementing more time for joy and implementing some of the strategies that support their young persons nervous system responses as part of daily practice.

  • I feel like [I have] a better understanding of my autism.

  •  I will be more mindful of the emotions of the young people that I work with and how I can help them self-regulate.

  • It was great, thank you and it very much resonates with the work our provisions have done on the curriculum and listening to autistic feedback of experience of mainstream school.

  • It will speak to the importance of understanding their autistic learners and children and try to increase their understanding to make positive changes. Particularly in reference to consent and masking.

Course content

Course content

  • Session 1

    Foundations

    • What is neurodivergence and what are neurotypes?

    • Creating safe space for neurodivergent people

    • The importance of education

    • Wholeness for wellness (mind, body, spirit)

    • The core approaches—creativity, metacognition, instinct and intuition

    • The basics of wellness—wellbeing factors, mindful embodiment and self-compassion

  • Session 2

    Stress & The Nervous System

    • Education – polyvagal theory, window or capacity, survival and stress responses

    • Instinct and felt sense

    • Hyper and Hypo sensory processing

    • Self-regulation, self-soothing and resourcing

  • Session 3

    The Mind

    • Metacognition

    • Executive functioning, memory and sequencing

    • Self-coaching – life audit, intention setting and 4 As

    • Guided visualisation

  • Session 4

    Know Your Self

    • Rhythms and cycles

    • Emotions and alexithymia

    • Managing energy and capacity to reduce burn out

    • Self-compassion

  • Session 5

    Joy

    • Building capacity

    • Making sense or life

    • Finding meaning and the importance of special interests

    • Feeling connection

  • Session 6

    Unmasking

    • Be creative in learning about you

    • Gender and sexuality

    • Communicating preferences and truth

    • Releasing the old and writing your story

  • Session 7

    Self-Advocacy

    • More about neurodivergence and neurotypes

    • Reasonable adjustments – your rights

    • Power and control

    • Boundaries and assertiveness

  • Session 8

    Embodiment—The Practices

    • Grounding

    • SOS – Containment, releasing anger

    • Regulation – ABC, breathing

    • Building capacity – self touch, kidney adrenal and progressive muscle relaxation

FAQs

FAQs

  • NdWA training can be delivered to parents, family members and friends of Neurodivergent people of all ages, hospital teams, community teams, educators, third sector groups, or anyone else who works or lives with Neurodivergent people.

    We aim to work with individuals or teams who support Neurodivergent people , but we can also work directly with Neurodivergent people.

    This course is open to Neurodivergent and Neurotypical individuals.

    Attendees must be 18 years or older.

  • The NdWA course is delivered online via Zoom. The sessions will include a mixture of presentations, practical demonstrations, and discussion.

    In addition, you will be required to complete reflection tasks outside of sessions to gain your certificate. There is a workbook to accompany the session content—available digitally for free, or as a printed booklet for £20.

    NdWA can be delivered as 8x 90-minute sessions, or 4x half-day sessions. Please check the booking information to see which formats are being offered.

  • £200+VAT place-of-work-funded attendees

    £50+VAT for self-funded attendees

    Bursary places are also available upon request

    A digital course workbook is included with entry fee. A printed course workbook is available at an extra cost of £20.

  • To complete this training, you will need:

  • These sessions are suitable for up to 20 attendees.

  • Yes, definitely. 

    The content is useful for everyone in that it offers access to a comprehensive and holistic wellbeing programme.  It reduces barriers and prejudice through education and supports embodiment and self-exploration.  It is especially useful for reducing stress, anxiety, low mood and feelings of disempowerment, isolation and hopelessness.

  • Yes.

    To gain your certificate you need to attend all eight sessions and complete some of the techniques and reflection tasks.

  • We strongly advise that you ensure you are able attend all eight sessions before you book your place on the course.

    For confidentiality reasons, the sessions cannot be recorded and shared with attendees who may have missed them. If you are unable to attend a session due to unforeseeable circumstances, please contact the trainer as soon as possible.

Your trainer

Meet your trainer

This programme is delivered by NdC Associate, Kay Aldred

Kay is passionate about increasing awareness of the gifts of neurodivergence. As well as being an experienced neurodivergent teacher of all age groups, Kay is herself late-diagnosed autistic and has parented neurodivergent children of her own.

Kay has worked pastorally and therapeutically with children and adults throughout her career within educational, retreat and wellness settings. Kay uses her lived personal and professional experience to explore intersectional insights and trauma-informed, autism-friendly approaches.

How was this course developed?

The Neurodivergent Wellbeing Approach course was inspired by the idea of improving well-being through body-first methods and embodiment perspectives, which are bottom-up approaches.

In this training, Neurodivergent individuals explore what gives their lives meaning and how to become their allies and advocates by partnering with themselves.

The training also incorporates trauma-informed and nervous system-friendly practices, focusing on the power of regulation and co-regulation between Neurodivergent people and those offering support.

Waiting list