As part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week, The Therapy Adventure is hosting a supportive webinar for parents and carers, recognising the challenges that families face and sharing neurodiversity-affirming perspectives that can support children to build a positive sense of identity.
We will explore how neurodivergent differences are often misunderstood, how this can impact children’s self-esteem and wellbeing, and how parents can advocate for their child in ways that are both supportive and affirming. Led by their Clinical Psychology team with input from Manchester Parent Carer Forum and supported by Manchester City Council.
The session will be hold online via Zoom. Please book your place using the button below.
About the Speakers:
Dr. Ali Downes
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Ali Downes is a specialist in mindfulness practice, with a rich background in clinical psychology. She has been a Clinical Psychologist since 2009 and has worked extensively in both the NHS and private sectors. She is also a children’s yoga and mindfulness teacher and a Dru Yoga teacher, combining her psychological expertise with holistic approaches to therapy.
Dr. Becky Quicke
Clinical Psychologist
Dr Becky Quicke is an experienced Clinical Psychologist and Founder of Autistic Girls, who has been assessing children and adults’ mental health since she qualified in 2005.
She worked in the NHS for 10 years until she set up her own private assessment and therapy practice for children, adults and families in 2015. Whilst having supported many autistic/ADHD children and adults throughout her career, it has been since her daughters’ diagnosis of autism and an understanding of her own neurodivergence, that she came to realise that more specialist assessment services are needed to understand and diagnose autistic and ADHD women and girls.
Georgina Merckel
Georgina is the Learning Coordinator at The Therapy Adventure. Georgina supports the delivery of outdoor therapeutic provision and outdoor and adventure therapy, she supports the team to develop courses to train practitioners, facilitates training and workshops and manages the online operations of the organisation. Georgina is a parent carer of a child with medical needs.
Jordan Navarro
Jordan is father to an autistic teenager and is the Coordinator at Manchester Parent Carer Forum. He will be speaking about the role of Parent Carer Forums and how they can benefit families of deaf, disabled and neurodivergent children.