The Neurodiversity Paradigm in Practic: An Affirming, Intersectional Training for Clinicians
27 February, 13 March and 20 March 2027 | Fully Online | 15 CPD Hours
This 3-day intensive training offers a deep dive into the neurodiversity paradigm through an affirming, political, and socially aware lens. It’s designed for psychotherapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers and other health professionals who want to expand their understanding of neurodivergent experiences and transform their therapeutic practice through a neurodiversity-affirming and social justice lens.
Why choose this training?
This is not just another neurodiversity training. It is an in-depth exploration of the neurodiversity movement, its social justice foundations, and its practical clinical applications. It’s not just techniques… it is a deep dive into truly shifting how we understand and support neurodivergent people in our practice and in our lifes.
Module 1: What is Neurodiversity?
Explore the history, politics, and key concepts behind the neurodiversity movement, and learn to deconstruct neuronormativity in therapy.
Module 2: Understanding the Neurodivergent Experience
Deep dive into different neurotypes, trauma, intersectionality, and affirming practices with GSRD and neurodivergent clients. Learn in depth about autism, ADHD, BPD, DID, and other neurotypes, and how to work in affirming ways with these experiences.
Module 3: Working with Neurodivergent Couples and Relationships
Apply what you've learned about different neurotypes to couples and relationship work. Explore how to adapt your clinical approach for neurodiverse couples, from assessment and contracting to working with conflict, rupture and repair in ways that respect different communication and regulation needs.
Module 4: Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice
Practical tools, case studies, regulation strategies, and a live Q&A session with Sonny Jane Wise. Learn how to apply approaches in real situations, practice using neuroaffirming effective approaches with different neurotypes, and how to integrate them in your own way of working.
Course overview
About your trainer
Silvia Plaza is a General Health Psychologist and Psychotherapist, Neurodiversity Trainer, and founder of Violet Psychology. They are a graduate member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and registered in their Health Psychology division (M10773), a pre-accredited Psychotherapist with the IACP (M16507), and a chartered Psychologist in Spain (CL06469). Silvia specializes in neurodiversity and gender, with extensive experience supporting LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent clients, and training professionals and organizations.
Silvia has experience facilitating in:
Professional training for therapists, including a neurodiversity module for the GSRD Diploma at RainbowMinds and modules on neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ with The Institute of Couples Therapy as well as extensive workshops and training through Violet Psychology.
Workshops at universities, such as ICHAS.
Speaker event at Specialisterne.
Talks and workshops for professional and community organizations, such as BelongTo.
Neurodiversity training for school staff, including Kildare Place School.
Online training courses on neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+, including a course delivered for Dr. Amy Marshall (US based psychologist).
Panel discussions on invisible disabilities and neurodiversity, organized by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit.
Talk on neurodiversity and inclusion for Riot Games.
Corporate talks and trainings for a range of private organizations.
Throughout the course, Silvia will facilitate modules, guide discussions, and provide practical tools grounded in their clinical and training expertise.
Guest speakers:
The programme includes live guest sessions, talks, and Q&A with a group of invited speakers and specialists, including:
The programme includes live guest sessions and talks with invited speakers and specialists, including:
Katie Munday, ESRC-funded PhD candidate and co-founder of the Autistic Substance Use Network, specialised in OCD and with lived experience, discussing OCD within a neuro-affirming framework.
[Speaker TBC], BPD specialist: BPD through a neuro-affirming and trauma-informed lens. (To be confirmed)
[Speaker TBC], neurodivergent couples and relationships.
Anonymous Guest Speaker — A Latinx Indigenous autistic practitioner and system with lived experience of DID.
They will share personal and community perspectives on identity, culture, neurodivergence, and plurality, offering invaluable lived-experience insights.
All of our trainers and guest speakers are multiply neurodivergent.
What is included
3 days of live online training (15 hours total)
Guest speakers with lived and professional experience.
Access to recordings for a limited time (sessions with guest speakers and group discussions will not be recorded).
Practical tools and resources, including ready-to-use PDF templates for client work.
Group discussions and reflective exercises.
Certificate of completion for 15 hours of CPD training issued by Violet Psychology.
Registration
Dates: Saturday 27 February, Saturday 13 March and Saturday 20 March 2027
Format: Fully online via Zoom (link will be sent to participants in advance)
Schedule: [9:30 AM – 4:00 PM] Irish time (GMT). Please check the time difference if you're joining from outside Ireland.
Hours: 15 CPD hours
Fee: Early Bird (until January 23rd): 385€
Standard / Full Price: €450. Payment plans available (ask us by email silviaplazavioletpsychology@pm.me)
Discounted rates:
Students: €300
Unemployed: €300