Traditional therapy is dependent on a person being able to talk about their thoughts, feelings and being aware of their body sensations. If you are autistic, these things aren’t always reliably accessible. It might also mean you’re incredibly good at analyzing your feelings and intellectualizing, so much so that other therapists can’t figure out how to help you.

Working with a therapist that understands how difficult it may be for you to describe internal experiences like your thoughts and emotions or to recognize and describe your bodily sensations is vital. For these clients, working with someone who can facilitate building actionable structures and adaptations to achieve their desired goals and change.

Creating an environment that provides clear explanations about what to expect from the therapist and what your role is helps you be yourself, without fear.

Combining cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness based practices, internal family systems, and incorporating play, your therapist will help reduce your anxiety, improve your ability to communicate your needs and boundaries,  and grow the relationships you want.

A Neurodivergent Affirming approach incorporates building self-acceptance and compassion, releasing of shame for having different needs, factors in somatics, bottom-up processing, high-context communication, and the interwoven aspects of disability and trauma for a more-supportive, informed approach.