Great article! As another therapist I have also noticed how the question "What do you do for a living" puts disproportionate pressure on neurodivergent and/or disabled folks. It presumes they have a job, and job that they also want to talk about, which for a lot of people is not the case. I like to use other questions (like 'what they have been up to lately') to get to know others and then if they mention their work specifically I ask a follow up.
That's very true! It can feel personally invasive, but also send a neurodivergent person into a mental traffic jam of potential responses (i.e. what to share, how much to share, etc.) I like your alternative approach.
Great article! As another therapist I have also noticed how the question "What do you do for a living" puts disproportionate pressure on neurodivergent and/or disabled folks. It presumes they have a job, and job that they also want to talk about, which for a lot of people is not the case. I like to use other questions (like 'what they have been up to lately') to get to know others and then if they mention their work specifically I ask a follow up.
That's very true! It can feel personally invasive, but also send a neurodivergent person into a mental traffic jam of potential responses (i.e. what to share, how much to share, etc.) I like your alternative approach.
Me too totally get it!
The struggle is real!