1st Edition

Neurodiverse Couple Therapy A Practical Guide to Brain-Informed Care

By Kelli Murgado-Willard Copyright 2024
350 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

350 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

350 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This inclusive and comprehensive manual equips marriage and family therapists with the skills to identify, support, and provide Brain-Informed Care to neurodiverse couples. Written from Murgado-Willard's unique perspective as a neurodivergent couple therapist, this book addresses a knowledge gap in the couple counseling field and helps therapists develop and maintain an ethical standard of... Read more

Section I: Foundational Concepts

Chapter 1. What’s Neurodiversity?

Chapter 2. What’s Brain-Informed Care (BIC)?

Chapter 3. What’s a Neurotype?

Section II: Best Practices

Chapter 4. Exploring the Relationship with Your Own Brain

Chapter 5. Respecting Neurodivergence from First Contact

Chapter 6. Understanding the Issues Neurodiverse Couples Face

Section III: Clinical Application

Chapter 7. Neurodiverse Couple Assessment

Chapter 8. Therapy Interventions for Neurodiverse Couples

Chapter 9. What’s Brain-Informed Neurodiverse Couple Therapy (BINCT)?

Section IV: Case Studies

Chapter 10. Wanda & Ben

Chapter 11. Celia & Julio

Chapter 12. Walker & Lizbeth

Index

Biography

Kelli Murgado-Willard is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 12 years’ experience. She writes from her first-hand experience of being neurodivergent and runs her own therapy practice, Love All the Brains, in Georgia, USA.

'Written with passion and intellectual rigor, this practical guide pulls readers into a unique approach that integrates the intersection of couple therapy and neurodiversity. With a foundation built on scientific evidence and theoretical rationale, Murgado-Willard offers a broad conceptual overview as well as specific techniques that can be implemented by therapists. Based on a decade of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, Murgado-Willard’s innovative approach to neurodiverse couple therapy will appeal to graduate students expanding their base of knowledge as well as to seasoned clinicians seeking to continue their professional development'

William F. Doverspike, PhD, Adjunct Professor, Emory University

‘Conversations with Kelli leave my head spinning with thoughts and possibilities. She approaches life with expertise, passion, and honesty. This book is no exception. My understanding of neurodiversity used to be limited in the past, but now I feel more confident and competent. I'm eager to apply these concepts and exercises in my work to best serve neurodiverse couples’

Rachelle Colegrove, MA, CST, Co-Founder of The Fun Marriage Workshop

‘Kelli adds an important, missing piece to the field of relationship therapy and mental health care in general. One size does not fit all in relationships, and this text provides a solid foundation for mental health professionals wanting to better serve our many neurodivergent clients.’

Dana Frederick, MA, LPC, LMFT

‘Embracing the emerging mind is our task and our delight. Kelli’s exploration of what we know now shows us ways to open to the wonder of our mind. Relying on personal and professional experience, Kelli gives the helper in all of us a glimpse of unity through our many differences.’

Laura A Hahn, LPC

‘Kelli's passion to educate her peers about neurodiversity has not only led to transforming my family's life, but also my entire counseling practice...for the better! Neurodiversity affects all of us, either directly or indirectly, which makes her book a must-read for counselors because informed care equals better care, every time!’

Lauren Dack, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, LPC, CPCS