Neurodiversity-Affirming Career Counselling
- John Hogan
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 2
What is neurodivergence?
Every brain is unique, with its own set of strengths and challenges. Some people process information in similar ways, and when these similarities align, we refer to them as sharing a particular neurotype. Individuals with the most common neurotype are often called neurotypical. In contrast, those whose brains function differently from this common pattern are described as neurodivergent. Neurodivergence includes a wide range of neurological differences.
These differences include commonly recognized neurodivergent conditions such as:
· Autism Spectrum Disorder
· Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
· Dyslexia - difficulty with reading and language processing
· Dyspraxia - issues with motor coordination and planning
· Dyscalculia - difficulty with mathematics and number-related concepts
· Dysgraphia - challenges with handwriting, spelling, and written expression
Other neurological differences often included under the neurodivergent umbrella include learning differences and processing disorders such as:
Auditory Processing Disorder - difficulty processing sounds despite normal hearing
Visual Processing Disorder - trouble interpreting visual information
Nonverbal Learning Disability - difficulties with spatial, visual, and social cues despite strong verbal skills
Slow Processing Speed - takes longer to understand and respond to information
Because society is largely structured around the needs and preferences of neurotypical individuals, neurodivergent people can face additional challenges. They are often at greater risk of stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
For instance, some neurodivergent individuals have heightened sensory sensitivities - such as being easily overwhelmed by loud noises or busy environments - which can make environments like classrooms or busy supermarkets particularly difficult to navigate. Here are some sensory sensitivity examples across the different senses:
1. Sound
Becoming overwhelmed by loud or sudden noises e.g. alarms, sirens, or shouting
Difficulty concentrating in noisy environments like classrooms, offices or cafes
Discomfort or pain from high-pitched sounds e.g. microphone feedback, vacuums
Hearing background noises others may not notice e.g. buzzing lights, clocks
2. Smell
Strong reactions to perfumes, cleaning products, food smells, or body odour
Feeling nauseous or anxious in places with overpowering scents e.g. shopping malls or hospitals
Avoidance of certain environments due to specific smells
3. Touch
Discomfort wearing certain fabrics or tight clothing e.g. tags, seams, or wool
Strong aversions to being touched unexpectedly or by certain textures e.g. sticky, slimy, or rough surfaces
Distress from light touches or crowded places where personal space is limited
4. Sight
Sensitivity to bright lights or flickering lights e.g. fluorescent bulbs, strobe lights
Difficulty making eye contact due to intense visual processing
Feeling overwhelmed in visually busy environments e.g. crowded stores, busy streets, or colourful classrooms
5. Taste
Strong reactions to specific flavours or food textures e.g. mushy foods, spicy or bitter tastes
Limited diet due to aversions, leading to food avoidance or selective eating
6. Balance and Movement
Feeling dizzy or nauseous on swings, elevators, escalators, or while traveling
Discomfort with fast movements or being off the ground
7. Body Awareness
Trouble judging the force of movements e.g. pushing too hard or too softly
Discomfort with activities that require precise body coordination
Why It Matters
These sensory sensitivities aren't ‘just preferences’. They can cause real distress and fatigue. For neurodivergent individuals, navigating everyday environments can feel overwhelming or even painful.
Neurodiversity-Affirming Career Counselling
Revolution Career Counselling provides neurodiversity-affirming career counselling. This is a specialized counselling approach that supports neurodivergent individuals, by focussing on their unique cognitive strengths and challenges and helping them to find fulfilling and sustainable careers. This approach rejects the ‘deficit model’. Instead, it embraces neurological differences as a natural part of human diversity. This career counselling approach helps clients build confidence, improve job satisfaction, and find work that genuinely aligns with their abilities and preferences, rather than conforming to neurotypical standards.
There is a significant need for this type of specialised support for people who identify as neurodiverse, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics currently reporting that 11-12% of Australian employees are neurodivergent. Neurodivergent individuals face high unemployment rates, with figures from the ABS showing a 34% unemployment rate for people with autism.
Despite challenges, neurodivergent individuals offer unique strengths such as keen attention to detail, enhanced problem-solving skills, increased creativity, and higher productivity, making them valuable assets to the workforce.
Key aspects of neurodiversity-affirming career counselling:
Celebrates neurological differences
Neurodiversity-affirming career counselling recognizes that neurodivergence is a valuable part of human diversity, not something to be fixed or eradicated.
Focusses on strengths
The career counselling process identifies and leverages an individual's unique strengths, interests and talents, rather than focussing on perceptions of weakness.
Personalized guidance
The counselling provides tailored support that respects an individual's distinct cognitive profile, avoiding inflexible 'one-size-fits-all' approaches.
Promotes autonomy
It empowers clients to make choices that feel authentic and comfortable for them, such as different communication styles and work rhythms.
Improves job satisfaction and retention
By aligning careers with an individual's personal values, true capabilities and interests, clients will find long-term success and satisfaction in the workplace.
Utilizes neuro-affirming language
Neurodiversity-affirming career counsellors use respectful language that avoids pathologizing neurodivergent traits and instead validates differences.
Addresses challenges with support
While affirming, the approach doesn't ignore the real challenges neurodivergent individuals may face. Rather, it provides practical strategies to navigate them.
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