A Neurodiversity-Affirming Reading List for Therapists and Clients
I was chatting with some other therapists about good books for neurodivergent folk. They came up with a list. This aims to be a curated, community-informed reading list for therapists and clients exploring neurodivergence. All books listed:
- support the neurodiversity paradigm
- offer lived experience or neuro-affirming perspectives
- avoid deficit-based or pathologising narratives
- were positively received in the peer discussion
- exclude authors or titles noted as problematic
Books for Autistic and Otherwise Neurodivergent Clients
Untypical
Wharmby, P. (2022) Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About It. London: HarperNorth. ISBN: 9780008529307.
A clear and affirming account of autistic experience in a neurotypical world, offering practical insights for clients and clinicians.
The Umbrella Picker
McNeice, J. (2021) The Umbrella Picker: A Journey to Autistic Diagnosis. Sheffield: GP. ISBN: 9781739785086.
A thoughtful, relatable reflection on late autism identification, especially resonant for women and AFAB clients.
Strong Female Character
Brady, F. (2022) Strong Female Character. London: Brazen. ISBN: 9781914240461.
Comedian Fern Brady’s powerful, funny, and uncompromising memoir of growing up autistic.
Unmasked
Middleton, E. (2023) Unmasked: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Autism and Neurodivergence. London: Penguin. ISBN: 9780241652022.
A contemporary and accessible guide for people exploring or understanding their autistic identity.
Letters to My Weird Sisters
Limburg, J. (2021) Letters to My Weird Sisters: On Autism and Feminism. London: Virago. ISBN: 9781838950064.
A reflective, literary exploration of autistic identity through a feminist and historical lens.
Books for Clients Navigating Therapy
The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy (my recommendation)
Jones, S. (2024) The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN: 9781839977305.
A neurodivergent-authored, compassionate, and highly practical guide to understanding therapy, self-advocating, and bridging misunderstandings with therapists. Useful for both clients and practitioners.
Books for Autistic or Neurodivergent Therapists
On Being an Autistic Therapist
Marnau, M. (2023) On Being an Autistic Therapist: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Guide. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN: 9781915220561.
An essential text for autistic therapists and trainees. Marnau offers an honest and sensory-aware exploration of therapy practice, relational nuance, and the lived experience of being an autistic clinician.
Foundational Books on Neurodiversity and Neuroqueerness
Unmasking Autism
Price, D. (2022) Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity. New York: Harmony. ISBN: 9780593235232.
A widely respected exploration of masking, liberation, and the neurodiversity paradigm.
Neuroqueer Heresies
Walker, N. (2021) Neuroqueer Heresies: Notes on the Neurodiversity Paradigm, Autistic Empowerment, and Postnormal Possibilities. Autonomous Press. ISBN: 9781945955266.
A foundational text introducing neuroqueer theory, radical neurodiversity, and liberation-based practice.
Summary Table of Recommended Books
| Title | Author | Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Untypical | Pete Wharmby | Autistic lived experience | Clients & therapists |
| The Umbrella Picker | Jane McNeice | Late autism diagnosis | Clients |
| Strong Female Character | Fern Brady | Autistic memoir | Clients |
| Unmasked | Ellie Middleton | Autism, identity | Clients & younger adults |
| Letters to My Weird Sisters | Joanne Limburg | Feminism & autism | Clients & therapists |
| The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy | Steph Jones | Therapy access | Clients & therapists |
| On Being an Autistic Therapist | Max Marnau | Autistic therapists | Therapists |
| Unmasking Autism | Devon Price | Masking, authenticity | Clients & therapists |
| Neuroqueer Heresies | Nick Walker | Neurodiversity paradigm | Therapists & trainees |
References
Brady, F. (2022) Strong Female Character. Brazen. ISBN: 9781914240461.
Jones, S. (2024) The Autistic Survival Guide to Therapy. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN: 9781839977305.
Limburg, J. (2021) Letters to My Weird Sisters. Virago. ISBN: 9781838950064.
Marnau, M. (2023) On Being an Autistic Therapist. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. ISBN: 9781839972727.
McNeice, J. (2021) The Umbrella Picker. GP. ISBN: 9781739785086.
Middleton, E. (2023) Unmasked. Penguin. ISBN: 9780241652022.
Price, D. (2022) Unmasking Autism. Harmony. ISBN: 9780593235232.
Walker, N. (2021) Neuroqueer Heresies. Autonomous Press. ISBN: 9781945955266.
Wharmby, P. (2022) Untypical. HarperNorth. ISBN: 9780008529307.