Water has long been associated with healing; water soothes the body, calms the mind, nourishes the soul and offers a sense of weightlessness that can be both liberating and transformative. For neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, A.D.H.D., P.T.S.D. and trauma-related conditions, water can provide an essential refuge, one where the pressures of societal expectations and the exhausting demands of masking or emotional regulation can temporarily dissolve. In some countries, hydrotherapy programmes have been specifically designed with this in mind, offering structured yet fluid spaces where individuals can express themselves in ways that might not be possible on land.
My own experiences with water have deepened my understanding of its role as a sanctuary. For a year I worked closely with a neurodiverse ten-year-old boy, swimming together twice a week. Through this practice, I saw first-hand the profound impact water could have. We created an underwater film; role playing, capturing moments of joy, exploration, adventure and freedom. Though I cannot share the film due to safeguarding reasons, the journey itself was transformative.
For the boy, it became clear that water was more than just an environment, it was a space where he could be himself, where trust was built, where the unspoken could be expressed through movement and immersion. This experience reinforced the value of authenticity, the freedom to express oneself without constraint, to be transparent in emotion and to embrace one's natural rhythms without fear of judgement.
Masking is a well-documented phenomenon in autism, referring the covering up, suppressing of natural behaviours in order to fit into neurotypical environments. This can involve mimicking social norms, forcing eye contact and surpressing stimming behaviours, all of which can lead to chronic stress, exhaustion and burnout. Similarly, individuals with P.T.S.D. and A.D.H.D. often experience heightened emotional dys-regulation, making it difficult to process and express emotions in traditional settings.
Water, offers a unique medium in which these societal pressures can lighten. The sensory embrace of warm water can reduce anxiety, provide sensory soothing, can exist as an expansive holding space for deep emotional processing, whilst rhythmic movements in water can soothe tensions, release frustrations, through fluidity and sensory experience, becoming a form of self-regulation, allowing individuals to reconnect with their natural rhythms without judgement; soothing away stress and enabling support through connecting to harmony and purity. In these moments, authenticity flourishes; water becomes a space where individuals can be open, constructive, and true to themselves.
Beyond structured hydrotherapy, I have found deep personal meaning in creating my own water sanctuaries. Springs, rivers and natural pools have provided me with moments of peace, spiritual initiation, respite, and emotional regulation I have travelled to Northern Spain, the Pyrenees, Southern France, Cornwall and Wales. I learned to trust water as a primary need, a way of detoxing, of spiritual guidance, an element that could hold and support me when the world felt overwhelming.
In this country, the United Kingdom, we used to have many spa's that respected natural springs and their healing properties, people would stay for a week or two to reset, detox and purify their systems through drinking mountain fresh water from springs, enabling high functioning and clarity. I find through de-toxing, by drinking water for purification, I can align myself with deep seated understanding, clarity and truth, this process alone can bring a huge amount of positive change to my life and take my intuition to a place of complex, constructive clairvoyance (to see clearly), in which I see clearly beyond all the distortions and corrupting forces that try to manipulate, exploit and side line.
Water, therefore became a preserver of my inner peace, a space where I could breathe, move and exist without expectation. This connection has reinforced my belief that access to water, whether through drinking pure fresh spring water, hydrotherapy or natural immersion, should be protected and encouraged for all those who find solace in it.
In countries such as Australia and the Netherlands, hydrotherapy programmes for neurodivergent individuals have gained recognition. These programmes focus on sensory integration, emotional regulation, motor coordination, often using techniques tailored to the individual’s needs. Aquatic therapists, hydro-therapists guide participants through exercises that encourage self-expression, through floating, rhythmic movement, or simply allowing the water to carry them in a way that feels natural. Some participants find their ability to communicate openly and with their authentic voice; in feeling and understanding, increases in water. Reducing sensory overload creates a more comfortable space for engagement. Others discover that water allows them to stim freely without fear of social repercussions, whether through splashing, repetitive hand movements, or feeling the currents move around them.
For those with P.T.S.D., the immersion in water can act as a resting mechanism, reducing hyper-vigilance, de-escalating high functioning, over achievement and facilitating emotional regulation, enabling stress and emotional release in a controlled environment, there can often be a sense of connecting into universal consciousness which means water provides a fantastic space to process complex and deep emotions associated with trauma.
Despite the growing international recognition of hydrotherapy for autism and other neurodivergent conditions, the U.K. has yet to fully integrate these specialised programmes into mainstream healthcare and education systems. While some private facilities and charities offer aquatic therapy, or hydrotherapy there is a lack of widespread, structured programmes that recognise the therapeutic value of water for individuals with autism, A.D.H.D., P.T.S.D. and trauma-related conditions. Many families turn to local swimming pools or create their own sensory-friendly water experiences, but accessibility remains a barrier, particularly for those without financial resources or access to suitable facilities that put safety, disability needs and support at the heart of activities.
Greater awareness and investment in hydrotherapy programmes in the UK can offer neurodivergent individuals a powerful tool for self-regulation, emotional healing and unmasking. Research into the benefits of water therapy continues to grow, showing that aquatic environments can lower cortisol levels, improve focus and support sensory integration. Advocates for neurodivergent, friendly spaces have begun to call for more hydrotherapy facilities, but without significant governmental or institutional support, these initiatives remain limited in scope.
Historically, the UK was home to many natural spas and water sanctuaries, where people would rest, recover and benefit from mineral-rich waters. Cities such as Bath Spa, Cheltenham, Llandrindod Wells and Buxton were renowned for their healing waters. In Wales, mountain springs provided fresh drinking water believed to restore health. These sanctuaries once played a crucial role in public well being, yet many have been closed or are neglected, particularly due to the decline of public investment and corporate movements of Water companies and old sewage systems that create toxic waste. The loss of these spaces and the loss of the quality of the experiences, highlights the need for renewed focus on water as a source of health; not just for physical conditions but for all the population of emotional and neurological wellbeing, water is a primary survival need after all.
To further explore water as a sanctuary and advocate for its preservation, visit my project: Water Sanctuary. By investing in high-quality water experiences and restoring access to clean, natural water sources, we can support not just neurodivergent individuals but all those who rely on water for emotional regulation, healing and personal transformation.
For many, water is more than just an element, it is a sanctuary. It provides a space where the body feels freer, the mind quieter, and the self more authentically expressed. By embracing and promoting hydrotherapy as a recognised form of support for autistic people and others with neurodivergent conditions in the UK, we can create more opportunities for individuals to experience the relief and freedom that water offers. The development processes, need to continue and action must follow, so that all people can access the profound benefits of clean, pure water as a space for healing, emotional regulation, healthy living and unmasking.
More about the Past and Present -
During the Victorian period, spas were highly regarded for their healing properties, and water therapy played a significant role in medical and social life. People visited spa towns like Bath, Cheltenham, Harrogate, Buxton and Malvern to take the waters, both by bathing and drinking, believing in their power to cleanse, restore and heal the body and mind. Here’s a deeper insight into what would happen at Victorian spas and how water therapy influenced health and well-being:
Reviving Hydrotherapy: The Forgotten Healing Power of Water for Neurodivergence and Well-Being
Water has always been a sanctuary, a place of solace, weightlessness and quietude. For those who struggle with sensory overload, emotional regulation, or trauma, the embrace of water can feel like a return to something deeply essential, something primal. But while the Victorians understood the necessity of healing waters, crafting entire spa towns dedicated to hydrotherapy, modern Britain has largely abandoned this legacy.
Can we reclaim what was lost?
A Legacy of Healing: The Rise and Fall of Victorian Spa Culture
In the 19th century, spa towns like Bath, Buxton, Cheltenham, Malvern and Harrogate were places of retreat for those seeking healing through water. Wealthy patrons, advised by physicians, flocked to drink and bathe in mineral-rich waters, believing in their restorative properties. Hydrotherapy was used to treat nervous exhaustion, rheumatism, and even mental disturbances, ailments we might now recognise as burnout, sensory overload, PTSD, or chronic stress.
Victorian hydropathy wasn’t just about leisure; it was an active treatment. Cold water immersion, steam baths, mineral soaks, and even mud baths were prescribed as essential therapies. There was an understanding, albeit intuitive, that the body and mind could reset when submerged in the right conditions. It was a ritual of restoration, one we have since discarded in favour of pharmaceuticals and quick fixes.
Water as a Sanctuary for Neurodivergence
For autistic individuals, those with ADHD, PTSD, or sensory processing challenges, water is not just refreshing, it is regulating. The rhythmic movement, the resistance, the way sound changes underwater, all of these elements create an environment where the nervous system can settle. In my own experience, working closely with a young autistic boy who swam twice a week, I saw firsthand how water allowed him to move freely, to express himself without words, to exist without the strain of masking.
There is something profoundly authentic about being in water. It strips away expectation. It allows for raw, unfiltered being. For those who find the world overwhelming, who struggle to find spaces of ease, water offers a rare respite. And yet, in the UK, structured hydrotherapy for neurodivergent individuals remains scarce, underfunded, and overlooked.
The Case for Reclaiming Hydrotherapy
While high-end spas still exist, their purpose has shifted. They cater to indulgence rather than deep therapeutic need. But what if we revived water therapy for emotional and sensory well-being? What if we rebuilt hydrotherapy centres, not as exclusive retreats, but as accessible spaces for healing, rest, and emotional regulation?
Some countries have embraced this already, with structured hydrotherapy courses designed specifically for neurodivergent individuals, trauma survivors and those in need of emotional recalibration. The UK, with its rich history of spa towns, has the infrastructure, what it lacks is a serious application of vision.
A Future Rooted in Clean, Accessible Water
This conversation cannot happen without addressing the state of Britain’s waters. Many of the historic springs and spas have been closed, their waters deemed undrinkable due to pollution and neglect. Thames Water and other companies have allowed sewage to infiltrate rivers, making even wild swimming an act of caution. If we are to reclaim hydrotherapy, we must also advocate for water preservation; clean rivers, restored springs, and the protection of natural water sources.
A Call to Action
Imagine a UK where hydrotherapy is an accepted part of mental health care, where sensory-friendly water spaces exist not just in luxury hotels, but in schools, community centres and public health facilities. Where historic spa towns revive their healing waters not for tourism alone, but for genuine, deep well-being. Where the high-functioning mind is met with high-quality experience, in natural and beautiful settings, because we understand that to think and feel at our best, we need spaces that allow us to regulate, reset, and restore.
This is more than nostalgia, It’s a necessity; It’s time we return to the water.
St Nectan, North Cornwall
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