Over the past few decades, the neurodiversity paradigm and movement have emerged as a call to shift outdated and often harmful ableist narratives about neurodivergent individuals and produce more affirming support and therapy. For practitioners, this shift involves understanding and implementing neurodiversity affirming care. Dr. Megan Anna Neff (Neurodivergent Insights) describes neurodivergent-affirming care as a…
It is typically understood that autistic and other neurodivergent children are more susceptible to victimization, experience traumatic effects differently than other children, and may perceive daily common events as traumatic due to their varied perceptions and sensitivity to stimuli (Guest & Ohrt, 2018). Although we know that neurodivergent children experience trauma, it is not fully…
The Association for Play Therapy (2025) defines play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.” Play therapy is a way of being with the…
Behaviors often get significant attention in neurodivergent children. It is important to recognize that behavior can signal underlying issues such as sensory struggles, challenges with emotional modulation, confusion, anxiety related to social situations, transitions, unexpected changes, fears, trauma responses, medical needs, or other difficulties. Unfortunately, when a child exhibits dysregulated behavior, they are frequently mislabeled…
The term “social navigation” functions as an umbrella term, covering a wide scope and variety of social related awareness, strengths, needs, and experiences which range from simple to more complex. A person’s social navigation is often interpersonal, specific behaviors that involves an individual in interaction (or lack thereof) with others in an environment. The extent…
Visual schedules and task/activity completion visuals have existed for a long time. These types of interventions or supports have been used for children, both neurotypical and Neurodivergent, to provide help and success with several constructs. They can be created in many ways – pictures, words, dry erase boards, computer programs, etc. I have personally enjoyed…
AutPlay Therapy is an integrative family play therapy framework designed to address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children (autistic, ADHD, learning differences, sensory differences, Tourette syndrome, giftedness/twice exceptional, intellectual developmental disorder, developmental disabilities, etc.). The AutPlay Therapy process can be utilized to address a variety of concerns and need areas that neurodivergent children may…
Children with sensory differences may start to become dysregulated when they enter the lobby or waiting room of a clinic. The lighting, the noise level, specific sounds, the odors, etc. could be extremely uncomfortable or painful for the child. Thus, before the child ever finds themselves in the play therapy room, they have already started…
When I began (around 22 years ago) compiling the protocol/integration for AutPlay® Therapy, I had an understanding of neurodiversity. I had read about the term and concept from Judy Singer and had my own lived experience as a neurodivergent person. I also had an awareness and understating of ableism, primarily pertaining to individuals with physical…
Play is the natural language of all children regardless of diagnosis, disability, or developmental issue. It is the most organic process for children to express troubling thoughts and feelings that are both conscious and unconscious. Play makes learning an enjoyable and engaging experience and provides the best method to impart information needed by children to…