Most therapists are trained to read behavior- but what happens when the signals don’t match the manual? Neurodivergent clients communicate through a complex language of nervous system responses that traditional training often misses. A shutdown gets labeled as resistance. Sensory overload is mistaken for a mood episode. Rigid thinking is pathologized without curiosity about what it might be protecting. When a client says “I don’t know,” it’s dismissed as avoidance, when it may reflect alexithymia, interoceptive challenges, or a need for more processing time. This workshop introduces a sensory-relational lens to help clinicians move beyond surface behaviors and toward the sensory and relational needs driving what they observe. You’ll learn to recognize the difference between resistance and nervous system protection, between avoidance and genuine processing differences. We’ll explore what neurodivergent-affirming practice looks like in action: prioritizing autonomy over compliance, validating communication differences rather than correcting them, and adapting your approach to meet nervous system needs instead of imposing neurotypical expectations.