Clinically Approaching Autism Differently.

A common question I receive

from fellow therapists is “How do you clinically approach autism when you are an autism affirming therapist?” The answer is simple. You stop treating the autism. When a client comes to me and says: “I’m autistic, anxious, depressed, and I have trouble finding things in life that make me feel fulfilled.” The treatment for this autistic person is the exact same as any other client who is “anxious, depressed, and having trouble finding things in life that makes them feel fulfilled.” 

An autism affirming therapist will recognize that autistic traits are not those that need “curing”, but neurotypes that have distinctive strengths, necessities, and challenges. A brain that is not “neurotypical” is not conclusively “disordered.”

In short, autism affirmative therapy should focus on challenges in your life, not perceived challenges with your brain.