Claire Thompson, (PhD Researcher)

Claire is interested in creating social change through creativity.  Her PhD study is an examination of Political murals in Northern Ireland to explore expressions of identity and the use of symbolism in areas of higher and lower socio-economic deprivation in the North of Ireland.  

Claire is a HCPC registered art psychotherapist and NCS counsellor who is passionate about promoting greater acceptance of behavioural differences within the neurodiversity paradigm and improving authenticity and quality of life for all. Claire is autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) and is a mother to three children.

With over 7 years of experience, Claire is an expert in providing therapeutic intervention via creative expression and talking therapies to adults and children at risk of suicide and self-harm. While mainly working within community and private practice Claire also writes and delivers Neurodiversity training to counsellors and therapists at further education colleges and universities.

Claire is currently employed as a children's therapist in the community and is predominately focused on interventions to support those in a neurominority group (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia etc) or exploring the possibility that they may be.

Claire’s ambition is to advocate for those who consider themselves neurodivergent. She is enthusiastic about affirmative support and societal conversations that value differences in thinking and are informed and communicated by those who identify as being in a neurominority group (autism, ADHD dyslexia, dyscalculia etc) and current research.