Different. Not Disease.
Autism is not an illness that needs to be cured. It is a difference that needs to be understood so that a person can be their most authentic self and live their fullest life.
While autism can be very challenging, it is not the defining feature of a person, and it’s certainly not the only challenge that an autistic person faces in their life. Autistic people, or neurodivergent people, face the same challenges as neurotypical people. But when challenges do arise, handling them effectively may require a different and informed perspective because of the unique sensitivities or processing styles of each individual.
Does autism affect therapy?
Therapy doesn’t have to focus on the autism. However, if a person is seeking therapy, the therapist should have a basic understanding of autism in order to serve and support effectively. A large portion of my practice is spent supporting and serving neurodivergent individuals and I regularly attend trainings and seek professional & personal development to expand my knowledge and skill in this area.
The world is built for the neurotypical experience, and individuals who are outside that mainstream are asked to adapt to uncomfortable and difficult situations every day of their lives. There’s no reason that they should have to adapt to their therapist as well. Therapy should be the place of respite, where people do not have to spend energy masking and code switching. If people feel safe to be themselves in the therapy room, then they are free to tackle the real reason they are here— be it for a defined mental health issue or for personal growth in any other realm.
