"Why Would Someone like Me with DLD Want to Sit in a Room and Talk? How Would that Make Me Feel Better?!" Developmental Language Disorder and the Language Demands of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

This article addresses two crucial questions: what are the language demands of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and how can CBT be more accessible to people with language difficulties? These questions are examined through a case study of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). With approximately 7% of children living with DLD, mental health practitioners have inevitably encountered someone with this condition. Many children with behavioural and emotional problems have unidentified language difficulties, increasing their risk of mental health problems. Language is the medium through which CBT is delivered, so exploring its language-based accessibility is of critical concern. This paper (i) describes a language framework, (ii) identifies the language skills required for CBT engagement, and (iii) outlines strategies to improve language-based accessibility. These considerations are conceptualised in the context of DLD, yet they apply to any neurodivergent population with language needs who may benefit from CBT. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41811-025-00254-3.