'Neurodiversity and grief': advancing a neuro-inclusive service.
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| Title: | 'Neurodiversity and grief': advancing a neuro-inclusive service. |
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| Authors: | Boyle, Paula1 (AUTHOR) neurodiversityandgrief@gmail.com, Zhvitiashvili, Nana1 (AUTHOR), Larsen, Rida1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Art Therapy: Inscape. Mar2026, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p27-41. 15p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Parents, *Health services accessibility, *Interprofessional relations, *Neurodiversity, *Culture, *Autism, *Research methodology, *Communication, *Fathers, *Art therapy, *Asperger's syndrome, Family psychotherapy, Social constructionism, Support groups, Health self-care, Grief in adolescence, Interviewing, Affinity groups, Grief in children, Patient advocacy, Thematic analysis, Race, Bereavement, Conceptual structures, Anticipatory grief, Phenomenology, Hospice care |
| Geographic Terms: | England |
| Abstract: | Background: Neurodivergent children and young people face unique challenges in grief, including exclusion from death-related rituals and pathologised grief responses. Limited understanding of their experiences has led to a lack of adapted art therapy interventions. This study was instrumental in re-evaluating a bereavement service for children and adolescents through a neuro-inclusive lens. Aims: This research aims to explore neurodivergent grief from a family perspective and to inform relevant adaptations to art therapy practice, ultimately contributing to the development of neuro-inclusive bereavement services. Methods: As part of a whole-family intervention model, the team conducted nine semi-structured interviews with parents whose children were receiving bereavement care at a hospice. These interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Analysis generated four main themes: (1) Interconnected grief and emotional experiences, (2) Communication and Advocacy, (3) Peer support and validation of parents and carers' experiences, (4) Race and culture. Findings emphasise the need for adaptations to support services for bereaved neurodivergent children and their families, as well as a more nuanced understanding of neurodivergent grief. Conclusions: This study reveals the complex nature of grief in neurodivergent youth and underscores the need for further research. Grounded in social constructionism, the research team co-created a trans-contextual perspective model with service-users, illustrating how grief and neurodiversity intersect across varied environments. Implications to practice: The research informed the development of key adaptations to art therapy practice, including changes to the therapeutic environment, development of neuro-affirmative practitioner skills, and a conceptual framework to guide neuro-inclusive practice. Plain-language summary: This paper explores the adaptations made for pre-and-post bereavement therapy, focusing on bridging gaps for support of neurodivergent children and young people in the Child and Adolescent Bereavement Service (CABS) at Harlington Hospice. Recognising the challenges faced by bereaved neurodivergent children and their families, the authors present their findings from qualitative research alongside their views on modifying art therapy approaches. Given the lack of research on bereavement experiences among individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, their exclusion from death-related rituals, and the misunderstanding of neurodiverse grief responses, the authors propose a model that examines the connection between neurodiversity and grief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Education Research Complete |
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| Abstract: | Background: Neurodivergent children and young people face unique challenges in grief, including exclusion from death-related rituals and pathologised grief responses. Limited understanding of their experiences has led to a lack of adapted art therapy interventions. This study was instrumental in re-evaluating a bereavement service for children and adolescents through a neuro-inclusive lens. Aims: This research aims to explore neurodivergent grief from a family perspective and to inform relevant adaptations to art therapy practice, ultimately contributing to the development of neuro-inclusive bereavement services. Methods: As part of a whole-family intervention model, the team conducted nine semi-structured interviews with parents whose children were receiving bereavement care at a hospice. These interviews were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: Analysis generated four main themes: (1) Interconnected grief and emotional experiences, (2) Communication and Advocacy, (3) Peer support and validation of parents and carers' experiences, (4) Race and culture. Findings emphasise the need for adaptations to support services for bereaved neurodivergent children and their families, as well as a more nuanced understanding of neurodivergent grief. Conclusions: This study reveals the complex nature of grief in neurodivergent youth and underscores the need for further research. Grounded in social constructionism, the research team co-created a trans-contextual perspective model with service-users, illustrating how grief and neurodiversity intersect across varied environments. Implications to practice: The research informed the development of key adaptations to art therapy practice, including changes to the therapeutic environment, development of neuro-affirmative practitioner skills, and a conceptual framework to guide neuro-inclusive practice. Plain-language summary: This paper explores the adaptations made for pre-and-post bereavement therapy, focusing on bridging gaps for support of neurodivergent children and young people in the Child and Adolescent Bereavement Service (CABS) at Harlington Hospice. Recognising the challenges faced by bereaved neurodivergent children and their families, the authors present their findings from qualitative research alongside their views on modifying art therapy approaches. Given the lack of research on bereavement experiences among individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, their exclusion from death-related rituals, and the misunderstanding of neurodiverse grief responses, the authors propose a model that examines the connection between neurodiversity and grief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 17454832 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/17454832.2025.2567263 |
