Neuroaffirming Practice
At Lumina, neuroaffirming practice is the foundation of everything we do. It shapes how sessions are structured, how communication happens, how pace and process are managed, and how goals are defined.
This approach is grounded in specialist training in autism and neurodivergence, combined with lived experience, and a genuine belief that when the whole person is understood, the work can actually begin.
Lumina is a strengths-first practice, and the language used here reflects the neurodivergent community's own understanding of itself.
What This Looks Like in Practice
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Sessions are paced to suit you. There is no pressure to move faster than feels comfortable or safe
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Communication style is flexible. If talking doesn't feel right, there are other ways in
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Sensory and environmental needs are considered, whether working in person or via Telehealth
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Masking is not required or expected, you can show up as you are
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Goals are defined by you, not by a neurotypical standard of what functioning should look like
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Your lived experience of neurodivergence is believed, without requiring a formal diagnosis to validate it
A Note on Language
Language in the neurodivergent community is meaningful, and evolving. At Lumina, identity-first language is used as a default (i.e. "autistic person" rather than "person with autism") reflecting the preference of most in the community. Where individuals have a preference of their own, that is always followed.
The term neurodivergent is used broadly here to include autism, ADHD, AuDHD, learning differences, sensory processing differences, and other profiles that fall outside neurotypical norms.
A Note on Assessment and Diagnosis
Lumina Therapy does not provide diagnostic assessments. If you are seeking a diagnosis, we can help provide a referral to a relevant practitioner.
Where it's useful, we offer tools that help build a clearer picture of how you work, what you need, and how to advocate for yourself in the environments you move through. These are offered on a needs basis, not as a requirement of working together.