Delivering Neurodiversity Affirming CBT in NHS Talking Therapies

5 CPD Hours From £249+VAT

Online Course, 5 CPD Hours

Wed 25 Nov 2026 09:30-15:25

Evidence-based framework to improve accessibility, engagement and outcomes for neurodivergent clients

Can you do more to ensure your CBT approach meets the needs of your neurodivergent clients? This expert-led workshop explores where traditional approaches can fall short and provides an evidence-based neurodiversity-affirming framework that will enable you to make meaningful adaptations to improve your therapeutic effectiveness and client experience.

Designed specifically for High Intensity CBT Therapists and NHS Talking Therapies professionals, this workshop provides practical strategies that can be implemented immediately within your routine clinical practice.

Early bird available: don't forget to book your place on or before Friday 9th October to save £50!

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Upskill your practice

Practical adaptations to improve outcomes for neurodivergent clients

This interactive online workshop has been crafted to ensure CBT Therapists develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to provide effective neurodiversity-affirming care while working within NHS Talking Therapies guidelines.

By attending this workshop, you will be able to:

Strengthen your understanding of neurodiversity, the appropriate language to use and common mental health problems
Implement a neurodiversity-affirming therapeutic framework within your practice
Work through interactive clinical case studies with your expert workshop leader
Build your confidence through productive peer-led discussions
Navigate best-practice whilst working within NHS guidelines

Live online learning

Develop practical neurodiversity-affirming CBT skills

This interactive online workshop will give you the opportunity to learn from an experienced NHS Talking Therapies practitioner, share challenges with peers and reflect on how you can implement neurodiversity-affirming approaches within your own clinical practice. Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to:

Join online to connect with CBT therapists and talking therapies professionals from across the UK
Take part in guided discussions around assessment, formulation, communication, adaptations and service delivery for neurodivergent clients
Ask questions and gain practical guidance from Icarus Williams throughout the day
Explore real-world clinical examples and interactive case studies to strengthen your confidence in applying neurodiversity-affirming CBT
Reflect on your current practice and identify opportunities to improve accessibility, engagement and therapeutic effectiveness
Share experiences, challenges and solutions with peers facing similar clinical and service pressures
Leave with practical strategies and realistic next steps to help embed neurodiversity-affirming principles within your practice and service

In-house training

Available as a bespoke course to teams of 25 people or more

Please do contact us if you would like this training delivered exclusively to your team, with the content tailored to the specific needs of your service. Please email Sarah Kemm or call Sarah on 01732 897788 for further details.

9:30	Join, tech support and opportunity to network in breakout rooms
9:50	Instructions, introductions and opening remarks Icarus Williams, High-Intensity CBT and ACT Therapist, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
Setting the scene: Outlining the purpose of a neurodiversity-affirming CBT framework
10:00	Assessing and addressing neurodiverse needs Examining why current CBT approaches fall short for neurodiverse clients Recognising the limitations of standard formulations in CBT Considering the evidence for neurodiversity-affirming practice and frameworks
Understanding neurodiversity in clinical practice
10:15	Strengthening your comprehension of neurodiversity Understanding neurodiversity and the importance of accurate, inclusive language Identifying common neurodivergent presentations of common mental health problems and their implications within therapeutic practice Identifying neurodivergent-specific experiences within therapy
10:45	Questions and answers with Icarus Williams
10:55	Interactive discussion: Optimising your understanding of neurodiversity How might the language used in assessments or reports reinforce stigma for neurodivergent clients? What practical changes could you make in your clinical communication to be neurodiversity-affirming? What considerations do you find most important when working with neurodivergent clients?
11:55	Feedback from interactive discussion: Optimising your understanding of neurodiversity
11:25	Screen break
Becoming a neurodiversity-affirming therapist
11:35	Implementing the therapeutic framework within your practice What are the key characteristics and expectations of a neurodiversity-affirming therapist? Applying neurodiversity-affirming principles to enhance communication and clinical effectiveness Case study exercise: evaluate best-practice evidence and service-level approaches for embedding neurodiversity-affirming therapy
12:05	Questions and answers with Icarus Williams
12:15	Interactive discussion: Applying the neurodiverse-affirming framework in practice What should a neurodiversity-affirming therapist approach be in day-to-day clinical practice? What changes are your team or service looking to implement to better embed neurodiversity-affirming care? What barriers will you face in implementing this framework in your practice?
12:35	Feedback from interactive discussion: Applying the neurodiverse-affirming framework in practice
12:45	Lunch break
Working within NHS guidelines
1:15	Identifying best practice whilst working within NHS guidelines Examining the challenges of delivering neurodiversity-affirming care within current NHS Talking Therapies guidelines Exploring practical approaches to adapting CBT whilst maintaining delivery of evidence-based interventions Examining current formulations and how to work effectively with your clients
1:55	Questions and answers with Icarus Williams
2:05	Interactive discussion: Operating and implementing the framework in your service How can you balance adherence to NHS Talking Therapies guidelines with individualised, neurodiversity-affirming care? Which CBT adaptations do you think are most effective for improving accessibility for neurodivergent clients? What is your experience of current formulations within your day-to-day practice? Which practical adaptation discussed today could have the greatest impact on client experience within your practice?
2:25	Feedback from interactive discussion: Operating and implementing the framework in your service
2:35	Screen break
Interactive clinical case study: Optimising the neurodiversity-affirming framework
2:45	Applying neurodiversity-affirming CBT in practice Exploring clinical decision-making through a case-study example Comparing traditional CBT intervention planning with a neurodiversity-affirming approach Identifying practical lessons for therapists and services
3:15	Feedback from interactive clinical case study: Optimising the neurodiversity-affirming framework
3:25	Closing remarks and end of day

Your expert workshop leader

Learn from a leading advocate for neurodiversity-affirming practice who is helping to shape how NHS Talking Therapies services better support neurodivergent clients.

Icarus Williams

High-Intensity CBT and ACT Therapist

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Biography

Who should attend?

Connect with fellow CBT Therapists who are committed to strengthening their neurodiversity-affirming practice

This practical, interactive workshop offers a valuable opportunity to deepen your understanding of neurodiversity, enhance your clinical skills and explore evidence-based approaches to delivering affirming care. Through expert-led teaching, interactive discussions and clinical case studies, you will gain practical insights and actionable strategies that can be applied within your practice.

Leave with greater confidence in adapting CBT for neurodivergent clients, a stronger understanding of neurodiversity-affirming principles and new ideas from peers facing similar clinical challenges.

This workshop is designed specifically for:

High Intensity CBT Therapists
CBT Therapists/Psychotherapists
Clinical Leads
Clinical Supervisors
Service Managers

Past attendee feedback

This online training course is part of a series of interactive events designed to support the real-world challenges facing NHS Talking Therapies services. Take a look at our recent attendee feedback to see what previous delegates have valued most from attending earlier this year:

“Excellent for learning latest guidance/research on key topics to improve service delivery.”

- Avon and Wiltshire NHS Trust, Transforming Outcomes in NHS Talking Therapies, January 2026

“Really interesting topics covered today and definitely some practical ideas to go away and think about.”

- Northumberland Talking Therapies, Transforming Outcomes in NHS Talking Therapies, January 2026

“Really useful and relevant content, presented smoothly and professionally.”

- Norfolk and Waveney NHS Talking Therapies, PWP Professional Development and Wellbeing Forum, March 2026

“Would recommend, a great day to come away from practice and have some space learn, share some ideas and reflect.”

- NHS Talking Therapies HIOW, PWP Professional Development and Wellbeing Forum, March 2026

“This was a great experience, the content was relevant and helpful. The day ran well.”

- Bromley Healthcare, PWP Professional Development and Wellbeing Forum, March 2026

“Highly organised and engaging online format.”

- WCL Mind, Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner National Networking Forum, February 2026

Pricing structure

Early bird rate: £249+VAT - one NHS or public sector place when booked before Friday 9th October 2026
Standard rate: £299+VAT - one NHS or public sector place when booked after Friday 9th October 2026
Group booking: 4th place free! Book 3 NHS or public sector places and get the 4th for free
Commercial companies are invited to attend and sponsor this day. Please contact Vanessa Jarman on 01732 897788 for further details.

This course is available for in-house training

If you have a group of 25 or more members of staff who require this training, then why not commission your own on-site course? Please email Sarah Kemm or call Sarah on 01732 897788 for further details.

Reservations

You can reserve a no-obligation place whilst you apply for funding.

If your funding has not yet been secured or you would like to hold your place with no obligation whilst waiting for your study leave to be approved, you can reserve your place with us. Please email the reservations team at SBK Healthcare with your details:

Booking contact: name, job title, department, email and telephone number
Event(s) to reserve for: title and date
Delegate details (for each delegate): name, job title, department, email and telephone number
Organisation details: name and address

Alternatively you can make a confirmed booking by emailing the above information to the bookings team.

Registration fees

You will be sent an instant payment option or invoice on registration. Your payment is required in advance. If your fee has not been received prior to the event, and you are not able to provide a PO or proof of payment, you will be asked to make a credit or debit card payment on the day.

Modify registration

To let us know if your details are not correct when you have already registered, please email bookings@sbk-healthcare.co.uk.

Cancellations and substitutions

A full refund of fees will be made only for cancellations received within the first 48 hours of the booking being made. Notice of cancellation must be received in writing by emailing the bookings team at SBK Healthcare. Should you need to cancel your registration after this date, the registration fee remains payable in its entirety although a substitution will be accepted and conference documentation will be provided. Substitution attendees for delegates unable to attend after registering are acceptable at any time.

Conference changes

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of the conference organisers to alter the content, speakers or the timing of the programme. We will endeavour to keep you abreast of such changes but any unavoidable change to the format will not constitute a reason to refund the fee. Should the event be postponed, we will endeavour to reschedule the event. If, for reasons beyond the control of the conference organiser, the event is cancelled, a full refund will be made. We do not accept any liability for any incurred costs resulting from a postponement or cancellation.

Certificate of attendance

A certificate for Continuing Professional Development will be given to every attendee, as a record of continuing professional training and development.

Privacy notices

To view the details on how your data is being collected and used, please view our Privacy policy.

Why sponsor?

Our role at SBK Healthcare is to bring industry together with healthcare professionals so that you can educate and inform your audience. These trail-blazing talking therapies forums offering dedicated presentation, Q&A, networking and discussion time, each sponsor will be full immersed into the event and able to effectively engage with your NHS audience.

Your event, managed by us

SBK Healthcare also provides in-house forums. Working closely with you as the client we can research, produce, market and deliver the conference or online forum that best suits the audience and meets your goals.

Reach out today

If you would like more information on our sponsorship options an in-house forum or if you wish to discuss your needs and what solutions may be appropriate for your business, please contact:

Vanessa Jarman
Contact: 01732 897788
Email: vanessa.jarman@sbk-healthcare.co.uk