Support for Neurodivergent Therapists and Counsellors: A Community Space

Support for Neurodivergent Therapists and Counsellors: A Community Space Workshop with Matt Bolton

Who Helps the Helpers? Bi-Monthly Neurodivergent Therapist/Counselor Peer Group

For over two years, social worker Matt Bolton has facilitated an international peer support group for neurodivergent persons in the mental healthcare professions, including therapists, counsellors, social workers, psychologists, and others. He is partnering here with Onlinevents to bring this community experience to a wider audience.

This ongoing, open group will be offered on the second and last Friday evening of every month, from 6-7:30pm British Standard Time, and there is no attendance commitment. Attendees are welcome to join when they can based on scheduling, energy levels, finances, and other factors.

The group is a space for personal reflection, curiosity in relation to self and others, sharing and receiving, being understood and understanding others, and discussion on matters of therapeutic practice as neurodivergent counselors and therapists. Personal matters and topics of interest may be shared as it feels right to do so, but since this is not strictly a therapy or interest-focused group the response one receives may not be technically ‘therapeutic’ or what is hoped for or expected. This group is facilitated, in part, from the perspective that what matters most–more than any verbal response–is the ability of members to freely share what they need to share, whatever has been coming up for them in-group or recently out-of-group, and to be warmly and empathically heard as unique persons within that sharing.

An article

(http://mattbolton.me/papers/Bolton_NeurodivergentGroupRelating_PCQ_2025.pdf) was published about aspects of Matt’s former group in the Spring 2025 Person-Centered Quarterly.

Group norms:

• Members of the group are encouraged to participate through chat or verbally, on video or not.
• If someone is speaking and you wish to add to the conversation but feel there has not been an opportunity to do so, please use the “Raise Hand” button in Zoom and the facilitator will ensure you are included.
• If someone seems to be taking up a lot of conversational space and time or you have another concern, you can message the facilitator privately on Zoom to discuss resolution.

ZOOM 

This event will be hosted on the Zoom meeting platform where we will use our cameras and microphones to interact with each other as a group.

SELF-SELECT FEE

The self-select fee is a radical inclusion policy to open learning for all colleagues. The guide price for this event is £20.00, however, we appreciate that income varies greatly in different locations and circumstances. Please contribute what you can to help us maintain inclusive professional training.

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At Onlinevents, we and the presenters we collaborate with are committed to working in a way that aligns with the ethical codes and frameworks of our respective professional organisations. We expect all colleagues attending our events to uphold the ethical principles of their professional membership.

If you are not a member of a professional organisation, we ask that you participate in a way that is both authentic and respectful, fostering a space of mutual learning and professional engagement.

By registering for this event, you agree to be present and interact in a manner that reflects these principles.

Matthew J. Bolton, MSW

At the time of this presentation, Matt Bolton will have a master's degree in clinical social work from Saint Leo University in Florida. Person-centered, neuroaffirming, and culturally sensitive but, perhaps most of all curious about and appreciative of others’ experiences, he enjoys therapeutic work with a wide array of persons who go through varied life problems. Matt incorporates a systemic perspective to deconstruct and examine social power structures. This empowers his consideration of the intricate, intersectional functioning and relating of the person in their environment. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology and is an adjunct instructor of psychology and first-year experience courses at Saint Leo. Matt enthusiastically engages in cross-discipline research and writes on matters of learning, life, neurodivergence, and person-centeredness. He facilitates a weekly, encounter-format peer support group for neurodivergent therapists and counselors.