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their own face (or maybe that one's just me). If they're not good at camouf laging their proprioceptive issues, they may even walk like they're slightly drunk. If they are good at camouf laging, they'll likely be carrying a lot of tension in their leg, hip, and low-back muscles from forcing themselves to walk "normally." Don't try to "dig all the tension out" because that won't happen. If by some miracle you do manage, you may be compromising their ability to camouf lage after the session. That could be dangerous for them, depending on where they need to go or what they need to do afterward. When it comes to relieving the tension from this type of camouf laging, slow and steady wins the race. Another source of muscle tension is "masking" or suppressing needs or behaviors that others find "weird." It can also involve mimicking behaviors of others in an attempt to fit in. Each time you see a client who masks or camouf lages a lot, their starting muscle tension for each session will likely be as high as it was at the beginning of their first session. Don't let this discourage you. As their trust in you grows, they'll be able to relax more on the table. They may never get to a level that you'd consider relaxed, but they don't need to. Just let them f loat out of your office more relaxed than they've ever been. What You Can Do • Be patient and understanding. Leave your judgmental sentiments behind and use your empathy. Treat your clients how you would want to be treated. • Have a robe or other easy covering for clients to use. In case they need to use the restroom urgently mid- session, a robe is important. When it's urgent, putting pants on is almost impossible without having an accident. • Believe your clients when they say they're relaxed. "Relaxed" is a subjective state, and therefore different for each person. If your client says they're relaxed, believe them. This is in no way a comprehensive list of neurodivergent traits or accommodations, but it's a good place to start. Remember, no one expects you to make all the possible accommodations I've mentioned, especially if they're counter to your needs. Heck, no one's saying you have to make any at all, but some are quite easy and cost zero money—like believing your clients when they say they're relaxed. If you want to better serve your neurodivergent, and many neurotypical, clients, I encourage you to evaluate yourself and your practice honestly and decide where you could make the greatest improvement. Then, choose a couple accommodations you can easily and quickly implement and put them in place. Later, choose a couple more as goals that you'll work on and implement those. In no time, you'll have a neurodivergent-friendly practice. And given that a great many neurodivergent people don't like change, if you can meet their needs, you'll have some of the most loyal clients you've ever had. Notes 1. NIH National Cancer Institute Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, "Neurodiversity," April 25, 2022, https://dceg.cancer.gov/ about/diversity-inclusion/inclusivity-minute/2022/neurodiversity. 2. Cleveland Clinic, "Neurodivergent," last reviewed June 2, 2022, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154- neurodivergent. 3. British Dyslexia Association, "Creating a Dyslexia Friendly Workplace," accessed March 2023, https://bdadyslexia.org. uk/advice/employers/creating-a-dyslexia-friendly-workplace/ dyslexia-friendly-style-guide; Exceptional Individuals, "Dyslexia Fonts: The Top 10 Dyslexia Friendly Styles," November 10, 2020, www.exceptionalindividuals.com/about-us/blog/our-top-10- dyslexia-friendly-fonts. 4. Vocovision, "Auditory Processing Disorder (APD): Symptoms, Testing & Treatment," accessed March 2023, www.vocovision. com/resources/parents/auditory-processing-disorder. Chelle Doetsch has been a massage therapist since 2002 and has had multiple neurdivergencies her entire life. She is a member of the "lost generation" of autistic adults who wasn't diagnosed until middle age. Chelle uses she/they pronouns. L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 63 For more on this topic, read Chelle Doetsch's blog, "Communication with Neurodivergent Clients," that accompanies this article at abmp.com/updates/blog-posts/ communication-neurodivergent- clients.