Definitions

What do “Neurodivergent”, “Neurodiverse” and “Neurotype” mean?


For all humans, the way we intake and process information, how we respond to sensation, and how we regulate our behavior are tied up in how our brains work. Sometimes this is called neurology. 

Many people do this in more or less the same way as most other people. We call these people neurotypical. For other people their neurology works differently, we call these people neurodivergent. 

The term neurodivergent covers a lot of things including, autism, migraines, ADHD, seizure disorders, learning disabilities (LD), developmental disorders, giftedness, Tourette syndrome, and many more. These are all different examples of neurotypes, being neurotypical is also a neurotype. 

At Rainbow Brain, we are particularly good at understanding some neurotypes (Learning Disabilities, Autism, ADHD, and Giftedness). We believe that no neurotype is better or worse than any other. We believe all neurotypes are fundamentally part of what makes someone who they are.

We also know that when you are neurodivergent you often need to have a better understanding of yourself, more coping mechanisms that are right for you, and be able to explain yourself to other people. 

Some people work with us because they want to build those skills. Other people have different goals but want a therapist who understands and values their neurotype. In a session this might look like: finding ways to do rating exercises without using numbers, being unphased if a client stims in session, going through a therapy program without doing worksheets, taking movement breaks, or many other things.