Self-Development in Group Therapy with Neurodivergent Youth

The challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are many and create delays in development overall, but particularly in the area of self-development for children and adolescents. Neurodevelopmental delays can lead to disruptions in self-development, which may negatively impact the individual's social, cognitive, and emotional functioning. Group therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for youth, however, there is a lack of literature demonstrating how group therapy can be beneficial for self-development for neurodivergent children. The areas of self-development include self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-repair. This article will explore the rationale and strategies to create and facilitate therapy groups that foster self-development in neurodivergent youth.