It is estimated that one in five people are neurodivergent, yet many nutrition professionals receive little training in how to work effectively with neurodivergent clients.

 

This specialised two-day course, adapted from our highly regarded four-day diploma programme developed for mental health professionals, is designed specifically for those already working in the nutrition field who wish to expand their understanding and confidence when supporting neurodivergent clients.

 

Neurodivergent individuals often have additional needs that must be recognised before any dietary advice or nutritional guidance can be meaningfully integrated. While knowing what constitutes a balanced and healthy diet is essential, the ability to approach this work in a thoughtful, person-centred way is equally important. Without this awareness, even well-intentioned recommendations may struggle to translate into real-world change.

 

Throughout the training, we explore the wide range of experiences that frequently intersect with neurodivergence, including IBS, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, poor stress resilience, and depression. These factors often contribute to the highly individualised ways in which neurodivergent clients present.

 

The course also examines the emerging research linking sensory sensitivity, interoceptive differences, and eating behaviours, including patterns of binge eating and restrictive or repetitive eating. These complex relationships are often misunderstood but are increasingly recognised as important areas of consideration when supporting neurodivergent clients.

 

Participants will gain the knowledge and resources needed to recognise neurodivergence within their client population, identify subtle early warning signs, and understand when disordered eating patterns may be escalating towards an eating disorder that requires specialised support.

 

The training is led by Lisa Smith, co-founder of NEDDE Training and BANT Registered Nutritionist specialising in functional nutrition, alongside Bernie Wright, co-founder of NEDDE Training and BACP-accredited counsellor, psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, and Debbie Grayson, pharmacist and nutritional therapist.

 

Together they bring complementary expertise from nutrition, counselling and pharmacology, offering professionals a deeper understanding of neurodivergence in the context of nutrition and equipping them with practical approaches to provide more informed, compassionate and tailored support for their clients.