• Are you a neurodivergent person who wants to more deeply understand yourself and our world?

  • Are you a mental health professional, social worker, coach, somatic practitioner, or other helping professional who wants to create safe space for your neurodivergent clients?

  • Do you like geeking out about neuro-affirming science and liberating social-political theory?

This will be the 11th study group that Janae has hosted, and the 3rd time that Neurodiversity has been the theme of the study group.  

This study group began as a way to collaboratively share knowledge among a community of equals, without the kind of hierarchy that is typically part of educational spaces. 

This is more than a class or a bookclub, it's a Neurodivergent community learning experience.

This is a place to explore ways that trauma is inherently connected to neurodivergent identity while also challenging mainstream ideas about mental health and celebrating diverse ways of Being. 

Although this is primarily an educational group, and not a processing group, past students in Janae's study groups have reported transformational experiences including more self-love, more gentleness with themselves, more understanding of their own bodies, more acceptance of their neurodivergence, and more connection to the neurodivergent community. 

Lesson Topics

  • A Paradigm Shift

    neuronormativity, history of the pathology paradigm, history of the DSM, history of the ND paradigm

  • ND Nervous Systems

    neural density, neuroception, stress cycle, stress responses (fight, flight, freeze, fawn)

  • Mechanisms of Trauma

    explaining trauma, trauma model of mental illness, threshold theory, allostatic load, cumulative stressors

  • Sensory Trauma

    the 8 sensory systems, sensory types, sensory accommodations, competing sensory needs

  • Burnout & Other ND Trauma Response

    anxiety & depression, dissociation, addiction, eating 'disorders', chronic pain & illness, burnout

  • Dynamic Disability & Systemic Trauma

    discrimination, ancestral trauma, intersectional trauma, masking & unmasking

  • Individual Healing

    harm in therapy, help in therapy, healing without access to therapy, healing differently from expected

  • Collective Healing

    neuroqueering, disability support, access intimacy, care networks, mutual aid, a future without normativity

Pricing options

The cost of the full series is $300. If that amount is financially difficult, you may choose a payment plan or you may pay half price, no questions asked. If the reduced cost is inaccessible, please scroll down to the end of the page to find the scholarship application.

Tentative Schedule

Janae may change the schedule due illness or unexpected loss of capacity from trauma or burnout. If the schedule changes, we will inform participants via email. Make up sessions (if necessary) will happen at the same day and same time on a different week, extending the course into April.

What is the study group like?

The Neurodiversity Study Group includes zoom calls, optional reading selections, and a private group for discussion between sessions. Each 2-hour zoom session will feature a 30-40 minute lesson, a short break, Q and A time, and facilitated group discussion. 

The study group is a space for collaborative social learning where anyone in the group is welcome to share their knowledge. 

This course covers a lot of information in just 8 weeks. The recordings will be available for at least 6 months in case you need to learn at a different pace. 

How is info shared?

There are 3 primary ways information is shared:

  • Live Sessions

    The core of this course is 1 weekly live zoom call for 8 weeks. This video call typically lasts two hours with a short break halfway through. Arrive late or leave early if you need to. Replays of each session will be posted in the course page the next day.

  • Private Group for Discussion

    We have a private community group where any neurodiversity paradigm related discussion is welcomed and encouraged. This is a place to continue discussions we run out of time for and to ask questions or start new discussions in between sessions.

  • Mindmaps, Infographics, and Notes

    During each zoom call, I'll share charts, diagrams, graphics, and images to help explain things. After each call, these images will be posted along with the replay for review. My lesson notes with outlines and definitions will also be posted after each session.

Facilitator / Teacher

Janae Elisabeth

Trauma Geek

Janae (they/she/he) is an information synthesizer who has been studying polyvagal theory and related nervous system models for 6+ years. Their specialty is tying together threads of information from many different fields to create a holistic understanding of the nervous system and neurodivergence. Janae has deeply studied these topics in an effort to understand himself better as an AuDHD PDAer with complex trauma. Since 2018, she has been teaching about trauma, the nervous system, and neurodiversity through local peer support circles and through the advocacy and education project, Trauma Geek. For legal reasons, please note, Janae is not a counselor or therapist.

FAQ

  • Can we access the course after the dates if it takes us more time to process?

    The course will be available here on this site for at least 6 months. Everyone in the course will receive a link to a private YouTube channel where the videos will live indefinitely after that.

  • If I do the recorded version, is there a way to ask questions since the live Q&A will be missed?

    There will be a discussion section with each lesson in the course. We also have a private community group for questions.

  • Would this course work for a high school student?

    Teens may take the course if they have an adult in their near-community take the course at the same time. It's especially important for young adults to have someone to process the material from this course with.

  • Are there CEUs?

    Check with your supervisor! My in-person groups count for CEUs but online groups have varying requirements.

  • Can I buy the course as a gift for someone else?

    Yes! When you go to the checkout page, you can click the box next to "This is a Gift" and then add the recipients email address.

Refund Policy

Refunds are not available after the course begins. If you are not able to complete the course with us live, the recordings will be available to you permanently. The exception to this policy is sudden financial hardship such as loss of income. 

Feedback Policy

Feedback is welcome via email throughout the course. [email protected]
Feel free to send suggestions, likes/dislikes, or ideas about how you would like to access the material in this study group. Adjustments for accessibility and understanding will be made whenever possible!