Non Violent Resistance and Neurodiversity: Effective relational support for autistic individuals people with intellectual disability

Non-Violent Resistance and Neurodiversity introduces Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) as a parenting approach for neurodiverse families, where one or more members is autistic or has an intellectual disability. These families often face difficulties such as increased levels of distressed behaviour, challenges in emotional regulation, isolation and higher parental stress. NVR is a therapeutic approach that is designed to manage such issues and strengthen relationships through positive authority and without punitive measures. Importantly for neurodiverse families, NVR methods do not depend heavily on the spoken word. NVR is a relatively new intervention and research is ongoing, but results to date have shown its effectiveness in reducing childhood aggression, increasing parental confidence, improving family relationships and managing stress. Drawing on these studies along with practice-based examples, NVR expert Sophie Doswell shows how the approach can be effectively adapted for any neurodiverse family, and provides a roadmap for restoring balance through safety, trust, empowerment and connection.