Aim

To provide professionals with a framework for recognising and working with eating disorders and disordered eating in both neurodivergent and neurotypical clients.

Objectives

• Explore ethical practice, overall health considerations, and the psychological experiences clients may bring to treatment.

• Examine the influence of culture, stigma, and societal narratives surrounding eating behaviours and body image.

• Recognise and support eating disorders and disordered eating with the neurodivergent individual in mind.

• Understand the client’s motivations, coping mechanisms, and the complex pathways involved in recovery.

• Explore the interaction between physical and emotional processes within the mind and body.

• Develop the skills required to support clients through health gain, lapse, relapse, and recovery.

• Build appropriate and sensitive clinical language and communication approaches when discussing eating behaviours and recovery.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Understand the importance of working with each neurodivergent client in a person-centred and compassionate way.

• Gain insight into the additional challenges neurodivergent individuals may face during recovery from eating disorders and disordered eating.

• Learn how to recognise potential signs of neurodivergence in clients and apply appropriate supportive interventions.

• Develop an understanding of hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity in autistic individuals and strategies that support engagement.

• Explore ways to work effectively with ADHD clients who may experience difficulties with executive functioning and organisation.

• Understand the importance of pacing, rapport building, and thoughtful assessment when beginning work with this client group.

• Examine why neurodivergent individuals may be more vulnerable to developing disordered eating and eating disorders.

• Understand the role of mental health and nutrition in treatment outcomes for neurodivergent clients.

• Learn how appropriate nutritional interventions can help clients engage more effectively in other aspects of their treatment.

• Reflect on how communication styles can either support engagement or unintentionally create barriers within the therapeutic relationship.