When we think of neurodiversity — whether ADHD, autism or other neurotypes — we often focus on behaviours, thinking styles, or communication differences. But as many neurodivergent-aware somatic therapists emphasise (like Holly Bridges), there’s another layer that’s too often overlooked: the body.

At its core, neurodiversity isn’t simply about “being different” cognitively — it’s about being wired differently in body and nervous system, too.  What this means is that many of the everyday challenges neurodivergent people experience — overwhelm, sensory sensitivities, difficulty focusing, executive‑function struggles, emotional dysregulation — may be deeply rooted in a nervous system that’s constantly trying to manage stress, unpredictability or overstimulation.

Therapies that honour this reality don’t treat neurodivergence as something to “fix.” Instead, they offer a neurodivergence‑affirming, body-based path: one where nervous‑system regulation, somatic awareness, and gentle embodiment practices become tools to support clarity, calm, and self-understanding.

Drawing on these principles, working somatically with neurodivergent clients can support:

- Better self‑regulation and emotional balance — helping the nervous system settle and reducing overwhelm or sensory overload
- Improved focus, processing and executive‑functioning — by reducing internal stress so cognitive capacities can show up more easily
- More grounded communication and social engagement — when the body feels safer and calmer, it becomes easier to access one’s voice authentically
- Acceptance and self‑trust in one’s neurodivergent wiring — moving away from “deficit” thinking toward a strengths‑based, body‑aware perspective

If you live with ADHD or identify as neurodivergent, you might find that traditional talk‑ or behaviour‑ based therapies, though sometimes helpful are only part of the answer. Bringing the body into the equation — slowing down, tuning into physical rhythms, attending to what the nervous system is trying to tell you — can open up a whole different kind of healing, self‑knowledge, and ease.

Find out more about my year-long ADHD program that combines psychoeducation with regulation focused practices.