A New Standard for Affirming Care

The presentation features two leading voices in the field of neurodiversity-affirming care: Dr. Ali Cunningham of The Nest by Family First and Dr. Tony Meiners of The Neurodivergent Collective. Together, they will guide clinicians through a historical and contemporary exploration of how mental health systems have interacted with autistic individuals.

“For too long, the burden of adaptation has been placed on the client,” says Dr. Ali Cunningham. “By centering lived experience and understanding the unique neurobiology of our clients, we can refine our practice to be truly respectful and effective.”

“When therapy assumes one processing style, but a client experiences the world differently, that mismatch can make therapy feel confusing, inaccessible, or even invalidating,” say Dr. Meiners. “Clients are quick to be labeled as resistant or avoidant without taking into context the person’s neurobiology showing up for therapy.”

Key Learning Highlights

Attendees will move beyond theory into practical, ethical application. The session is designed to help mental health professionals:

• Identify Trends: Understand the historic and current clinical landscape to better conceptualize affirming treatment.
• Explore Model Mismatch: Learn how neurodivergent-informed care creates a more accessible and ethical framework for therapy.
• Apply Adaptations: Gain generalizable tools to adjust therapeutic structure, pacing, and communication styles to support neurodivergent engagement.

Rooted in Research

The presentation is backed by a robust body of peer-reviewed literature, including recent works from 2024 and 2025 (such as Jones, 2024 and Strang & Sakdalan, 2025). By integrating current data with practical clinical wisdom, Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Meiners aim to equip providers with the skills necessary to bridge the gap between traditional training and the actual needs of the neurodivergent community.

Event Details

• Title: From Autistic Experience to Clinical Adaptation: Neurodivergent-Informed Care and Model Mismatch in Therapy
• Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
• Time: 8:30 AM – 10 AM PDT / 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM EDT
• Location: Virtual (Registration link below)
• Registration: LINK

Family First Adolescent Services: Family First Adolescent Services provides specialized, trauma-informed care for adolescents and their families. Their program, The Nest, focuses on providing a safe, affirming environment for neurodivergent individuals to thrive.

The Neurodivergent Collective: Providing affirming, personalized mental healthcare attuned to neurodivergent adults in Newport Beach, California.