Smooth Transitions Psychotherapy

Neurodiversity: This word is now commonplace in describing those children who process information in a way that diverges from most of the population. Until my son’s diagnoses of dyslexia and ADD, I had not heard this word. I had been listening to my brother discuss the unique strengths and challenges of his daughter, who has managed the challenges which come with sensory processing disorder since starting school and who is awaiting evaluation for autism. But until unique challenges started affecting the life of my own child, I hadn’t done the research. 📚

I believe most parents see strengths in their children, including those whose face substantial challenges. So, when faced with a diagnosis, we can become defensive, denying it, or block our minds to the possibility of such challenges thus stymieing the potential for our child’s positive growth. And this is understandable: diagnoses, by definition, are “problems” that we try to fix. 🔨

Now, I would argue that it is our educational system that really needs fixing, but that is an overwhelming task that will likely take more time than our child’s time in the system itself. So, we must find a way for our unique children to thrive in a system that is not designed for their way of processing information and seeing the world. Eyes 👀 🌍

This book is an amazing resource for parents who are just coming to terms with their unique children. It highlights the strengths of each distinct diagnosis, rather than challenges, and areas in which these children can thrive now and into adulthood. It provides hope, inspiration, and affirmation for the unique possibilities that these children possess. For they really do possess largely unrecognized gifts to this world. 🌈✨