Talking to Clients When You’re Neurodivergent

Here’s the thing about grooming: the dogs are usually the easy part. It’s the people that can make you want to crawl under the grooming table.

If you’re neurodivergent, client conversations can feel like playing a game where everyone knows the rules except you.

Small talk? Weird.

Eye contact? Overrated.

And don’t even get me started on the panic of a client asking for “just a trim.” (Trim… where? Trim… how much? Trim… compared to what?!)

The Common Struggles

• Script Panic. You rehearse what you’re going to say… and then the client doesn’t stick to the script. Cue internal buffering.

• Info-Dumping. Suddenly you’re three tangents deep explaining the history of poodle topknots, and the client just wanted to know pick-up time.

• Masking Overload. Putting on the “professional friendly voice” feels like wearing a costume that gets itchy after ten minutes.

• Processing Lag. The client says one thing, your brain is still on the last thing, and now you’re nodding like you understood when you absolutely did not.

  
  

Things That Help (Really)

• Scripts Are Your Friend. Having a checklist, a form, or even a few canned phrases (“Let me write that down to be sure I have it right”) keeps you from freezing.

• Visual Aids. Pictures, diagrams, or even pointing at your own bangs if you have to. Sometimes showing is easier than saying.

• Give Yourself Time. If your brain needs a beat to process, build that in: “I’ll go grab a form and then we’ll go over details together.” Boom—processing break.

• Roleplay Practice. Sounds silly, but practicing with someone safe (or, let’s be honest, your dog) helps your words come out smoother when it’s for real.

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Why This Isn’t Just About Communication

Client conversations are where trust gets built—or lost. When you set clear expectations, you’re not just making your own life easier. You’re also making sure the dog isn’t stuck in the middle of a “this isn’t what I wanted” showdown later.

And here’s the real secret: you don’t have to be the chattiest, smiliest, most neurotypical-sounding person in the room. You just have to be clear.