Neurodivergent Clients Finding Their Voice: How Email Counselling Makes Therapy Accessible

When people ask who email therapy suits best, they’re often surprised when I say neurodivergent clients.

As an autistic therapist and long-time Email Counsellor, I’ve seen how powerful this format can be, especially for clients who’ve found traditional talking therapy inaccessible. My work mainly involves Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD clients, so that’s the focus here. I do recognise Email Counselling may be less suitable for some dyslexic clients due to written communication challenges, though experiences can vary.

For many neurodivergent (ND) people, traditional sessions can feel relentless, eye contact, tone, quick responses, and the pressure to “perform” in neurotypical ways. Email counselling offers a completely different rhythm. Writing instead of talking eases that pressure, helping clients unmask more quickly, build trust, and express what they truly need support with.

This can all help to deepen the therapy relationship and trust which in turn helps clients to be more open and share what they really need support with.

Space without Pressure

When you work via email, your client isn’t caught in the “respond now” loop. They get to sit with their thoughts. They can draft it, delete it, start again. The nervous system calms, the mind relaxes. Clients can wait for the heat of the moment or the intense emotions to settle before choosing when to sit down and begin writing to me. And then the words come, they are often clearer, deeper and more honest.

Clarity through Words

If you’ve ever had a client mutter “I know what I’m feeling, but I can’t find the words,” you’ll recognise how writing changes that. Written down, their feelings get clearer. The chaos in their head becomes something more tangible.

And as a counsellor I can see the pace of their language, their word choices, their rhythm, it’s all giving me information to support them.

For some, the slower pace and lack of real-time pressure makes it more accessible as they might feel self-conscious coming to an in-person or video call session. Email counselling allows people to express themselves without the spotlight on how the words are said out loud, focusing instead on what those words mean.

Writing instead of talking can be particularly important when our ND clients find it difficult to speak slow enough to be understood, are non-speaking, speaking at times or access alternative communication methods.

Sensory Safety & Accessibility

Let’s talk about the physical environment for a moment. For an ND person with sensory sensitivities, even the journey to the therapy room can trigger the system. Lighting, background noise, hallway chatter, everything builds up. With email counselling the client creates their own space in the comfort of their own home. No unexpected noises, no awkward small talk.

And even compared to online sessions, in email therapy clients don't have to worry about a possible triggering picture in the background of the therapist's screen, or feel like they are meant to comment if they notice their therapist has a new haircut. Instead they can focus deeper on processing their own stuff.

Routine and Rules

For many ND people - especially autistic folks - routine and clear rules create a sense of safety. My clients often appreciate the freedom to choose when they send their weekly email and when they read my reply. By agreeing on a clear deadline for their message to reach my inbox, we keep things boundaried while still flexible and accessible. Clients can build routines that don’t fall apart if, say, I have an emergency dentist appointment and can’t “meet” at our usual time.

Stimming

Many therapists provide stimming toys in sessions, but what about loud or big stims, like shouting, jumping, or foot-stomping?

Are counselling rooms truly accommodating? Would neighbours get worried, or clients feel safe enough to stim freely? Even on video calls, it can be hard for clients to fully express themselves.

Email Counselling removes that worry. Clients can stim freely and write their emails whenever it suits them, without concern about how it might be perceived.

Special Interests

Encouraging ND clients to talk about their special interests can be a great way to help them settle into therapy. However with 50 minutes of unstructured talking each week, it’s easy for sessions to go down rabbit holes and can leave little space for what they really want support with.

Writing changes that. In Email Counselling, clients work within a word limit and have time to reflect, so they can stay focused on what matters most, without getting sidetracked or feeling stuck on one topic.

Over Active Brains at Night

Many neurodivergent people - especially ADHDers - find their minds come alive late at night. They might be wide awake and full of thoughts while others are winding down. So expecting them to show up for a 9am therapy session isn’t always realistic.

That’s where Email Counselling really helps. Clients can write whenever they’re most focused - even at 2am or 7am or 11pm - and you can still reply within your normal working hours. Everyone gets to work at their best time which can also fluctuate. This means you as a therapist can also work at the time that's best for you even if it is 2am!

Unmasking

Neurodivergent folks often carry the weight of mask­ing, presenting one way to fit in, even in therapy. With email sessions, that all shifts. What clients say is more direct, less filtered by “Am I saying this in the ‘right’ way?”, “Am I looking okay while saying it?”. The conversation becomes free of those extra layers. It becomes more honest. More them.

Memory

Many ND clients can struggle with memory and focus making it difficult to pick up on where they were last time. Trying to remember useful phrases their therapist says out loud can feel impossible. But with written therapy the client can go back and read previous emails. They can see the changes occurring.

They can also re-read my responses when they’re struggling. I’ve had many neurodivergent clients say, reading back my words helps when they are spiralling and self doubting themselves. Having that record helps me too as I can look back and remind myself if they return to a topic we have explored many months previously.

Support at a Different Pace

You might think email counselling would feel less connected. But I find the opposite. It’s slower. It’s more thoughtful. We both type, reflect, send, wait. There’s respect in the pause. For many neurodivergent clients, that pause is helpful, it’s not pressure, it’s an invitation. And the relationship still builds at a more manageable pace.

Are you Intrigued to Learn More?

If reading this blog, you can see the power of words for your ND clients, and want to offer this in your private practice, have you ever thought about training as an Email Counsellor?

Why Professional Training Matters

If you’re a thinking about training as an Email Counsellor, remember it isn’t just a different format, it’s a specialist skill which requires professional in-depth training.

Without professional training, you not only risk not being covered by your insurance, but you may also find yourself in challenging safeguarding situations that could put both you and your clients in very choppy waters.

The ECA Professional Certificate in Email Counselling has been awarded quality check status by National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). By enrolling in our course, you will gain the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to work as an Email Counsellor in your private practice.

Join Us and Make a Difference

Don’t miss the opportunity to offer this powerful medium for your ND clients. Apply now and take the first step towards training as an Email Counsellor.

Find out more to start your journey in this unique therapeutic training course.

Limited places available, only runs once per year.