Cultivating a Neuro-affirming Practice: Ethics and Neurodiversity (Part 1)

CPD courses & points for psychologists

South Africa: Learn about the DSM vs Neurodiversity paradigm and ethical practice in psychotherapy courses. Explore neurodivergence and ethical responsibilities.

This talk is the first part of a series focussed on how to Cultivate a Neuro-affirming Psychotherapy Practice. The first part of the talk takes a look at how the DSM conceptualizes neurodivergence, and how its roots in the medical model shape this formulation. The second part of the talk explores the separate paradigm of Neurodiversity - defining what we mean by this term and understanding its origin story. These approaches filtered through the framework of the Universal declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists, to consider how well these paradigms match up with our ethical responsibilities as therapists.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this talk, participants will be able to:

• Describe how the DSM conceptualizes neurodivergence within the framework of the medical model.
• Identify the historical and philosophical origins of the Neurodiversity Paradigm and its core principles.
• Compare and contrast the medical model of neurodivergence with the neurodiversity framework as they relate to psychotherapeutic practice.
• Explain how the Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists can inform an ethically aligned, neuroa-affirming approach to therapy.
• Evaluate potential areas of ethical tension between traditional diagnostic frameworks and neuro-affirming principles in clinical settings.