Beyond Behaviour: Supporting Neurodiverse Young People
About this Event
Beyond Behaviour: Supporting Neurodiverse Young People
Unlock fresh insights, practical strategies, and a deeper understanding of neurodiversity through this engaging and thought-provoking learning experience. Brought to you by Nelson Tasman Youth Workers Collective, this workshop is for anyone who works with, supports, influences, or cares for young people. Whether you're a youth worker, social worker, teacher, mentor, coach, parent, caregiver, or community practitioner, you'll gain valuable tools to strengthen relationships, foster belonging, and better support neurodiverse rangatahi to thrive. If supporting young people is part of your world, this is a learning opportunity you won't want to miss.
This interactive workshop explores the intersection of neurodiversity, trauma-sensitive practice, and effective youth development. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how trauma impacts the nervous system, and how power, privilege, communication styles, and adult behaviour can either support or hinder a young person’s sense of safety and connection. The workshop provides practical strategies for showing up as a safe, responsive adult, with a focus on both verbal and non-verbal communication.
The second part of the workshop focuses on practitioner wellbeing, helping participants recognise the importance of boundaries, sustainability, and preventing burnout in youth-focused roles. Through guided reflection, a meditative boundary-setting exercise, and an art-based activity, participants will develop a personalised visual resource that helps them identify and manage their own energy levels. Attendees will leave with greater self-awareness, practical tools, and a stronger foundation for supporting neurodiverse young people while sustaining their own wellbeing.
Made possible thanks to support from Department of Internal Affairs and Rata Foundation. Free for Nelson Tasman Youth Workers Collective Members.
Meet your kaiako;
Elana Cohen
Elana is a local occupational therapist with 22 years of experience working with neurodivergent people. Her practice is focused on empowering people to know themselves deeply and equipping the adults around young people to best set up supportive environments for youth to thrive. She is affirming of neurodivergent identities and trauma-sensitive. In addition to her Masters degree in occupational therapy, Elana has done advanced training in trauma, attachment, autism, and sensory processing and regularly presents on these topics.
Meagan Goodman
Meg (they/she) had the privilege of growing up on a small island in the Pacific Northwest of the US where they spent their growing up years playing in nature. Meg moved to Aotearoa in 2011 and deeply resonates with holistic approaches to wellbeing such as Te Whare Tapa Whā. Meg has worked in a diversity of roles within the public health sector, including establishing a youth mental health service across Te Tau Ihu (Top of the South Island). Meg is an active researcher and has focused on topics such as Rainbow youth experiences of accessing mental health services in the Nelson/Tasman region, and exploring the community construct of Queer Joy in an international mixed-method study. Meg is passionate about supporting people in the queer and neurodivergent communities and applies an intersectional lens to understanding experiences of distress and trauma.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
NZD 0.00 to NZD 54.51
