Eggshell Therapy and Coaching specializes in providing mental health consultation and coaching for highly sensitive, emotionally intense, neurodivergent, and gifted adults. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching is passionate about championing issues affecting the neurodivergent population. This article will delve deeper into neurodiversity and what it means to be neurodivergent.
Each person’s brain operates differently. In terms of developmental growth, people are expected to meet specific milestones delineated by society in terms of brain functioning, behaviors, and cognitive processing.
Neurodivergent is an umbrella term used to describe individuals with variations in their mental function. Individuals with conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and other developmental or neurological conditions may be described as neurodivergent.
The concept of neurodivergence is attributed to Judy Singer, a sociologist who rose to fame in the 1990s. A self-advocate with autism, Singer challenged conventional beliefs about what is considered normal and abnormal. Having been teased since childhood due to her differences, she based much of her analysis on her personal experiences, with her work following the common theme that each human brain is unique and every individual has their own unique combination of needs and abilities.
Judy Singer defined neurodiversity as an analytical tool for examining social issues, a natural state to be respected, and an argument for the facilitation and conservation of human diversity. Singer raised the profile of neurodiversity as a powerful opportunity for society to glean greater insights into individuals whose brain works atypically, challenging the public to look outside the box and embrace diversity rather than categorizing these differences as problematic.
Neurodiversity centers around the concept that different people experience and interact with the world around them in different ways, with no “right” way of thinking, behaving, and learning. Laura Boxley PhD serves as The Ohio State University College of Medicine’s director of clinical neuropsychology training at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. She explains neurodiversity as the notion that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways. Although some of these may be considered atypical, neurodiversity creates a framework where these idiosyncrasies are viewed as “differences” rather than “deficiencies.”
Neurodivergent individuals may experience differences in mental function, behaviors, sensory processing, and learning and communication styles. They may struggle with social interactions, emotional intelligence, or working effectively as part of a group. Other behaviors, such as self-soothing actions or speaking too loudly, may also be present. Mental health conditions that fall within the neurodivergent category include autism, ADHD, Down’s syndrome, and dyslexia.
Eggshell Therapy and Coaching helps neurodivergent people to recognize their intellectual excitability, intense curiosity, and emotional sensitivity as blessings rather than problems that need to be “fixed.” The organization helps individuals to build the skills necessary to harness their unique strengths, as well as creating greater social awareness of the issue of neurodiversity.
In a world that has yet to fully understand and embrace neurodiversity, neurodivergent people are often told they are “too dramatic,” “too sensitive,” or “too emotional,” leading many to feel misunderstood, misrepresented, and unable to reach their full potential. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching is committed to redressing the balance, helping neurodivergent individuals to take charge of the narrative, exploring both the beauty and the challenges that come with their unique traits and helping them to flourish in a world that is still learning to understand and appreciate their unique gifts.
Created by Imi Lo, the Eggshell Therapy and Coaching website provides a wealth of information and resources on neurodiversity, including a podcast featuring interviews with world-renowned experts in the field. Eggshell Therapy and Coaching helps neurodivergent people to face life’s inevitable challenges and position themselves for success by recognizing their own unique gifts, enabling them to release their suppressed creative potential and realize their full potential.
