Neurodiversity-Informed Care: Insights from Dr. Daniel Masud

Listening Differently in Neurodiversity-Informed Care

“Working with individuals who discover their neurodivergence later in life remains some of the most meaningful I’ve done. Many have spent decades trying to fit into systems never designed with their brain in mind – an activity that can leave lasting imprints on identity, confidence, and wellbeing.

So, my approach to psychiatric care is grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and deep respect for difference. Neurodiversity-informed care, in my eyes, is about helping people reconnect with a more authentic version of themselves – often by putting language to experiences that may have gone unnamed for years.

This kind of work requires a slower, more attentive form of listening – one that asks what someone is saying in combination with how they experience the world around them. It’s a less about checking boxes and a little more about joining someone in their journey to their discovery of self.”

In a case like this, where there’s a late diagnosis of ADHD and Autism, what’s your initial clinical focus – and what are you looking to better understand about the individual?

“When someone receives a late diagnosis of ADHD or Autism, my first clinical priority isn’t actually to ‘assess’ them. My first goal is to truly understand the full arc of their personal narrative. Now, this is not just in terms of symptoms, but also in how they’ve come to understand and survive in a world that often misunderstood them. I always want to know how they make sense of their experiences before this framework existed, and what is beginning to shift now that they have a name for it.

Many arrive with years of self-blame, confusion, or internalised criticism. My role is to gently help reframe that, and help to uncover the logic behind their adaptations and the resilience within their strategies. We explore sensory sensitivities, patterns of energy and focus, and how these relate to emotional regulation, without imposing an external structure.”

This treatment plan in this case study brought together a number of disciplines. What role do you play in shaping or guiding such a multidisciplinary approach?

“In this kind of multidisciplinary work, my role is often to weave complete coherence – to make sure we’re all seeing the same person, not fragmented versions of a ‘presentation’. I hold a neurodevelopmental lens across the team and encourage us to ask what is happening, as well as why it makes sense for this individual in the context of their life and how they process the world.

That means paying close attention to pacing, communication styles, and the sensory or emotional load we might be placing on them… often unintentionally. I also try to hold reflective space for the team, especially as working with neurodivergent individuals can challenge our assumptions around progress, engagement, and ‘responsiveness’.

Ultimately, I aim to build a shared formulation that feels dynamic – something we revisit and reshape together, in line with the individual’s own evolving understanding of themselves.”

What does it look like, in practice, to provide genuinely neurodiversity-informed care? Are there any key principles or considerations that guide your approach in cases like this?

“Neurodiversity-informed care begins with curiosity and humility. As I mentioned, I approach each encounter as a collaboration, not an assessment. Traditional psychiatric frameworks don’t always capture the nuance of neurodivergent experience, so part of my role is translating those frameworks into language that feels accessible, respectful, and helpful.

When I talk about medication, for example, I frame it as an experiment in additional support, rather than a correction of something that is ‘wrong’ that must be ‘fixed’.

And finally, trust is central to the process. That’s often built through predictability, clarity, and steady partnership. Above all, my aim is to affirm difference. I want people to leave a session feeling more like themselves.”

What kind of emotional or behavioural shifts do you tend to see during this kind of high-containment residential care? What stands out to you in this example?

“In the early stages of high-containment care, it’s common to see an increase in emotional expression. When someone begins to feel truly safe – when they no longer have to mask or manage how they’re perceived – long-suppressed feelings often begin to surface. And this, for me, is true progress.

In this case, what stands out is a gentle shift from defensiveness to openness. As the individual felt more held, they began to articulate needs directly, with less fear of being misunderstood or judged. That movement – from self-protection to self-expression – is deeply meaningful. It’s a reminder that containment isn’t about control. It’s about creating enough stability for someone to begin meeting their authentic self… sometimes for the very first time.”

How do you ensure that psychiatric care – particularly medication review or optimisation – works in harmony with other therapeutic elements like psychotherapy or family therapy?

“I see medication as just one part of a broader process – a tool that supports regulation and meaning-making, but never a standalone intervention. I work closely with therapists and families to ensure that any pharmacological changes align with where the individual is emotionally, psychologically, and relationally.

Timing matters. A medication shift during a period of intense therapeutic work, for instance, can either stabilise or destabilise – depending on how it’s introduced and held within the wider treatment context. And that’s exactly why close communication across the team is essential. It allows us to remain consistent, responsive, and attuned to the individual’s evolving needs. I also prioritise collaboration with the individual and their family, ensuring that treatment decisions are shared and transparent.

Ultimately, the goal is integration; where every therapeutic element complements and amplifies all others.”

Finally, what does successful resolution look like to you in cases like this – particularly when navigating both identity and clinical recovery at the same time?

“Success, for me, is when someone begins to feel at home in themselves. It might sound simple, but it’s often the most transformative outcome. It’s when a person can view their patterns, sensitivities, and ways of being with understanding rather than shame. When self-advocacy begins to replace self-criticism.

Clinically, that might mean improved emotional regulation, renewed energy, or re-engagement with life. But at a deeper level, it’s about integration. In neurodivergent contexts, recovery is about returning to what was hidden, misunderstood, or muted… not fixing what’s broken. When someone can hold both their sensitivity and their strength with compassion, that’s when something truly shifts.”

“What continues to move me in this work is seeing how understanding and compassion can restore a sense of coherence that may have felt fragmented for years. Neurodiversity-affirming care asks us to shift from a mindset of ‘intervention’ to one of relationship – to truly see and value someone’s way of being in the world.

When that happens, recovery and identity are no longer separate journeys. They become intertwined paths toward authenticity and belonging.

And when someone reaches that quiet moment of recognition of ‘I make sense now’ …

…it’s a powerful reminder of why this work matters.”