Why “Neurodiverse Individual” is problematic
You may have heard the term neurodiverse individual. It’s become increasingly common in conversation and even in some professional spaces. But technically, it’s not correct — and understanding why opens up a richer way to think about difference, variety, and identity.
Neurodiverse vs. Neurodivergent
Neurodiverse refers to a group of people whose members differ in neurocognitive functioning. For example, a classroom with both neurotypical and autistic students is neurodiverse. A team with neurotypical, ADHD, and autistic colleagues is neurodiverse. Diversity happens between people, not within a single individual.
Neurodivergent refers to an individual whose neurocognitive functioning diverges from what’s considered typical. Someone who is autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, or otherwise neurologically different is neurodivergent.
In short: an individual cannot be “neurodiverse” — they are neurodivergent (or neurotypical).
Why “divergent” isn’t a bad word
Some people hesitate around the word divergent because it feels like “different” or “not normal.” But divergence is actually a natural and beautiful concept. Think about trees in a forest: each tree grows in its own direction, reaching for light, water, and space in unique ways. Biodiversity depends on divergence. Variety is not only normal — it’s vital.
Humans, unfortunately, are not celebrated for diversity in the same way nature is. Social norms, institutions, and workplaces often reward conformity and sameness rather than variety. But what if we thought like the forest? What if difference wasn’t a problem to manage, hide, or fix — but a strength to honour and cultivate?
Thinking differently about divergence
If the term “divergent” triggers you, it may help to reframe it:
Divergence doesn’t mean wrong or broken; it means different, unique, and valuable.
Just as a forest thrives through many ways of being, human communities thrive through a variety of minds, approaches, and ways of sensing the world.
Divergence is about possibility — it’s about adding richness and creativity to the ecosystem of human experience.
What we can do differently
As therapists, coaches, mentors, or simply as human beings, we can:
Speak accurately: use neurodivergent for individuals and neurodiverse for groups.
Honour difference: treat divergence as a resource rather than a problem.
Create spaces that allow divergence to thrive: environments, relationships, and practices that don’t force everyone into the same mould.
Celebrate multiplicity: recognise that one person may enact themselves differently across contexts, and that’s part of being human.
An invitation: look at the trees
Take a moment to imagine walking through a forest. Notice how every tree grows differently — some straight, some twisted, some leaning toward light, some sheltered in shade. Each one is thriving in its own way.
Now think of yourself in this forest. Like the trees, your brain, body, and self grow in unique directions. Some ways of being may feel strong and visible in one environment and hidden in another. Some may have been discouraged or “pruned” by social expectation. Others may be new shoots, emerging quietly.
This is divergence. This is neurodivergence. And like the forest, your diversity is a source of resistance, creativity, and beauty. You can honour it, nurture it, and let it guide how you live, work, and relate to others.