Neuro-Affirmative Mindfulness: How Mindfulness can Support Autistic Adults

 

We live in a world designed for the average or ‘neurotypical’ mind, and secular mindfulness was developed in this context. So what happens if your mind isn’t neurotypical? Does mindfulness really suit all kinds of minds?

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In this talk Dr Kelly Birtwell will discuss neurodiversity and the research on mindfulness for autistic adults. She will share findings from her recent research with and for autistic people, and from her book chapter with two autistic co-authors about autism sensitive mindfulness-based programmes. This talk will explore how we can approach mindfulness differently, so it is more accessible for autistic adults (including mindfulness teachers), and how we can move towards neurodiversity-affirmative approaches.

 

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Dr Kelly Birtwell is a neurodivergent research psychologist, counsellor, and mindfulness teacher. Based in the Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research at the University of Manchester, her work explores mindfulness for underserved groups. Her interests include person-centred approaches to mindfulness, mindfulness-related harm and adverse events, and experiences of neurodivergent individuals.

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She is co-author of the chapter “Autism sensitive Mindfulness-based programmes” in the Palgrave Handbook of Third-Wave Psychotherapies, due to be published at the end of 2025, and led the Mindfulness and Neurodiversity Special Interest Group at the 2025 International Conference on Mindfulness Asia-Pacific, in Hong Kong.

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Kelly has received funding from the Mind & Life Institute (US) to explore autistic adults experiences of mindfulness: https://www.mindandlife.org/grant/exploring-experiences-and-features-of-mindfulness-and-contemplative-practices-for-autistic-adults/ and funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR, UK) to explore autistic adults experiences of dance (https://www.spcr.nihr.ac.uk/Three-Schools/three-schools-mental-health-award-holders-phase-2/investigator-led) and general practice support for autistic adults (https://fundingawards.nihr.ac.uk/award/NIHR206157).