Advanced Certificate in Working with Neurodivergent Clients

New for 2026! We’re delighted to welcome Catherine House, a highly experienced BACP Accredited Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor, and Trainer to deliver this exciting new course. Catherine’s training is passionately focused on promoting understanding of neurodivergence and supporting fellow practitioners to deepen their confidence, curiosity and capacity to work neuroinclusively.

Move beyond introductory training and gain the advanced knowledge and skills needed to work confidently and ethically with neurodivergent clients.

Why this course?

As practitioners we are increasingly aware of neurodiversity, yet many training courses stop at awareness. This certificate is for therapists, counsellors and clinical supervisors who wish to deepen their understanding of working with neurodivergent clients in a neuro-affirming, inclusive, relationally-attuned way.

Over four weekends, you’ll gain the insight and understanding needed to foster truly neuro-inclusive therapeutic spaces, improving outcomes for your clients. Catherine brings extensive experience in neurodiversity training and will support you to develop not just knowledge, but adaptable relational and systemic skills for practice.

What will you gain?

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Understand the history of the neurodiversity paradigm, including cultural othering, mis-diagnoses and the lived experience of neurodivergent clients.
• Translate this understanding into your ethical, professional practice: creating therapeutic spaces that are truly neuroinclusive.
• Build relational and systemic insight: recognise how neurodivergence interacts with relational dynamics, systemic factors, identity, difference and cultural context.
• Develop adaptable skills: how to tailor and adjust your therapeutic approach (modality, pace, boundaries, communication) to support neurodivergent clients effectively.
• Increase your confidence in working with neurodivergent clients: including those who may be undiagnosed or have multiple intersecting identities, ensuring you work inclusively, respectfully and safely.

Learning is facilitated through a blend of theory, experiential work, and practical skills development.

Course Content

Weekend 1: Foundations, Othering, and Trauma

• History and paradigms of neurodiversity (Medical, Social, Neurodiversity models).
• Systemic othering, stigma, and intersectionality on neurodivergent identity.
• Diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and the trauma associated with navigating mental health and diagnostic pathways.
• Ethical and clinical implications of medication and the role of diagnosis.

Weekend 2: Relationships, Stigma, and Eating Disorders

• Impact of neurodivergence on relationships (family, romance, workplace), including Double Empathy and transference/countertransference.
• Alexithymia and Interoception in the therapeutic space.
• Neurodivergence & Eating Disorders
• Systemic impact on families and caregivers, including parental grief and advocacy.

Weekend 3: Core Theories and Neuro-Inclusive Spaces

• Monotropism, Intense World Theory, and differences in processing styles.
• Translating theory into action by learning to create neuro-inclusive therapeutic spaces.
• Working with sensory differences (hypersensitivity, overload), including simulations and universal design principles.
• Communication styles and planning for supportive client and therapist interactions.

Weekend 4: Integration, Conceptualisation, and Action

• Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF).
• Reflections on shifts in understanding of “othering.”
• Personal action plans for implementing neuro-inclusive practice in your specific setting.

Dates

Our 46-hour Advanced Certificate in Working with Neurodivergent Clients takes place over four weekends on the following dates:

Sat & Sun 18 / 19 April 2026
Sat & Sun 9 / 10 May 2026
Sat & Sun 6 / 7 June 2026
Sat & Sun 4 / 5 July 2026

Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm

Location: Basingstoke Counselling Service, Goldings, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AN

Why choose Basingstoke Counselling Service?

At BCS, we are known for the provision of robust, high-quality CPD courses. Now we are extending our specialist CPD offering with our Advanced Certificate in Working with Neurodivergent Clients. Choosing this course means you will benefit from experienced facilitation, peer-learning in a supportive professional community, a small cohort that encourages reflection and integration, and the high training standards for which BCS is known.

Cost

£1,295

Welcome Back Discount! If you’ve previously completed a CPD course with BCS, use code BCSRETURN50 to receive a £50 discount (valid on the early bird and standard rate). Terms and conditions apply, see below.

Payment Plans:

We are happy to arrange payment by instalments, please email events@basingstokecounselling.org.uk so that we can set up a payment schedule for you and reserve your place.

There is a £25 admin fee for setting up the instalments as we do incur costs and unfortunately as a small charity, we do need to pass this on.

BCS Staff & Counsellors:

There is a 50% discount available on the full price (not the early bird price) for BCS Staff & Counsellors. This is limited to a maximum of two people, and they must be working with the organisation for the duration of the course.

Requirements for our Neurodiversity training:

• You must hold a formal, recognised qualification in counselling or psychotherapy at diploma level or above.
• You must be a full member of a professional body (e.g., BACP, UKCP, etc.) and work within their ethical framework.
• You must achieve a minimum of 75% attendance to be eligible for your Advanced Certificate in Working with Neurodivergent Clients (you will be asked to submit a short reflective piece covering the learning outcomes of any missed content).

About Catherine House MBACP (Accred):

Catherine House is a BACP accredited counsellor, coach, clinical supervisor and trainer with experience delivering training within charity and corporate sectors. Her work focuses on understanding neurodivergence and creating neuroinclusive spaces, helping organisations and individuals to recognise and value diverse ways of thinking and being.

Until November 2023, Catherine was a Neurodivergent Specialist Counsellor within the University of Surrey’s counselling team. She now works in private practice, supporting primarily neurodivergent individuals, couples and family members through counselling and coaching. Catherine also facilitates a development group for placement counsellors at a local charity, fostering growth, reflective practice and connection. In a previous incarnation, Catherine spent several years as a lecturer, honing her skills in communication, facilitation, and adult learning.

Her approach is grounded in humanistic principles and informed by additional multimodality training. Her further training in Reflective Therapeutic Practice and Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology brings a reflective, strengths-based, compassionate perspective to her work.

Diagnosed with ADHD at 52, and as the mother of three neurodivergent children and wife to an ADHD husband, Catherine combines lived experience with professional expertise. She is passionate about promoting understanding of neurodivergence and supporting fellow practitioners to deepen their confidence, curiosity and capacity to work neuroinclusively.

Terms and Conditions:

The £50 discount code (BCSRETURN50) is applicable for both the early bird and standard rate. You will be required to provide the name and completion date of your previous CPD course during the booking process.

Please note that in order to receive the BCS discounted rate, you must remain a BCS staff member or counsellor for the entire duration of the course. Full course fees will be payable if you leave the organisation during the course.

In the unlikely event that unforeseen circumstances arise and BCS has to cancel the CPD course, you will receive a full refund. In the event of cancellation by you, the participant, BCS reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee as indicated by the table below. All requests for cancellations must be received in writing, with changes becoming effective on the date written confirmation is received.

Please ensure you meet the entry requirements prior to booking your place. If you do not meet the entry requirements, you will be unable to attend the course, and your withdrawal will be treated as a cancellation and subject to the above cancellation policy.

Contact

If you have any questions about the course then please email events@basingstokecounselling.org.uk or call us on 01256 843125.

CPD for counsellors

We run various different CPD for counsellors throughout the year. Take a look at all our upcoming courses or join our mailing list to be the first to hear about our CPD opportunities.