Monthly Newsletter July Launch Edition
Counselling - Neurodiversity - Information - Signposting
Small businesses and content creators across a range of fields are finding their social media reach pummelled by AI and changing algorithms.
My primary platform is Facebook, and one of my followers suggested I set up a monthly newsletter to send some of the most popular posts direct to your inbox.
I want this to be as useful as possible to subscribers, so please do share any feedback you have!
Creating Safe Spaces for Autistic People
Scott Neilson and Laura Hellfeld have created this useful guide to Creating Safe Spaces for Autistic People.
The book is designed to help both autistic and allistic (non-autistic) people to set up and develop in-person and online groups which are safe for autistics. If you aren’t autistic and you don’t have a close familial or working relationship with an autistic person then you may never have had reason to consider just how unsafe most spaces can feel.
The neurotypical world is not designed to value or accommodate difference, so accessing non-friendly places can be anxiety-inducing at best, and potentially deeply traumatising.
You can read my full review here.
Neurodivergent or Neurodiverse?
It’s really common to see these mixed up, despite the fact that they aren’t interchangeable so I created this video to help explain the difference. It’s also available to share on Facebook and TikTok.
This piece from Nick Walker goes into depth about different terms.
“Autistic people attract each other like magnets”
When Kieran Rose, The Autistic Advocate, said this in an Autistic Parents UK webinar, it reminded me of a post I'd written about how autistics attract.
Autistic people may think in similar ways and are usually attracted to one another.
If someone realises they're autistic then there's a fair chance their partner may be autistic or otherwise neurodivergent.
In the same way, autistic people tend to attract one another as friends through shared deep interests and communication styles.
Parents who aren't yet aware they're autistic are sometimes surprised when their child is identified as such because they, their family and their friends do lots of the same things as the child. They therefore don't realise that these are not considered to be standard.
There’s a shareable version here.
What exactly is the 'real world'?
It certainly isn't these forced environments where we all compete to see who can best ignore their needs and suppress their body's signals.
Image: NeuroWild
Innate neurodivergence is heritable
It always surprises me that this isn't common knowledge.
I suppose it stems from the medical model whereby anyone whose brain diverges from the norm is considered disordered. Few people want to be disordered, so parents were unlikely to want to hear it.
The neurodiversity paradigm conceptualises innate neurodivergence as a natural difference, not a disorder. A neurotypical brain is not better than others.
There is nothing wrong with being neurodivergent. And if a child has an innate neurodivergence then there's a high chance either or both of their biological parents do too. Knowing about it is pretty useful as you can learn about how your brain works and live your life in a way that works with it instead of against it.
There’s more on the medical model vs the neurodiversity paradigm in this video from AUsome Training.
Page of the Week
Every Thursday I share a new page of the week on Facebook. They’re pages in the broad field of psychology that I find interesting and worth following. I’ll provide a monthly summary in each future newsletter, but as this is the first one here’s a catch up featuring all the pages I’ve highlighted so far:
Trauma Geek - Trauma and Neurodiversity Education
Emergent Divergence: The Neurodivergent Ramblings of David Gray-Hammond
Tigger Pritchard: Neuroaffirming Advocate, Consultant and Trainer
Laura Hellfeld Neurodivergent Nurse Consulting
Upcoming Webinars and Local Training Events
(Please note these are live events and as such I am unable to verify or endorse content. Find more in the Counselling, Psychology & Psychotherapy Training & CPD - South West UK Facebook group.)
So I’m Autistic, Now What? - Pete Wharmby - Tuesday, July 9th - 7.30 to 9.30pm - £16.96 - Online.
New Resources
Things I’ve Enjoyed This Month
Yoga Nidra for Exhaustion and Chronic Fatigue - thanks Chameleon Coaching for the tip.
Work With Me
My inbox is always open to hear from people who’d like to work with me as a counsellor; collaborate professionally; or suggest ideas for potential projects. I have a couple of exciting collaborations in progress that I hope to be able to share with you next month!
My current offer:
Counselling for adults and young people aged 16+ online and in Launceston. Sessions are 60 minutes. These usually take place weekly or fortnightly but other arrangements may be possible. It’s important you feel safe and comfortable with whichever counsellor you choose. I offer a free, 30-minute online video call for anyone who is interested in working with me but would like to find out more first.
Rewind trauma therapy for PTSD symptoms can be carried out as part of counselling work or as a stand-alone therapy.
One-to-one video calls for those who are considering becoming counsellors and would like support navigating the range of qualification pathways. See How to Become a Counsellor in the UK.
Please get in touch via jade.farrington@gmail.com
Find me everywhere on Linktree.