Autistic* Children
Autism sure comes with some serious cultural baggage. . .
Unless we are actively unlearning what society has taught us about autism, we’re going to have some confused ideas about it. Garbage ideas like “Autistic people don’t have empathy.” It’s not our fault: ableism and misinformation are absolutely everywhere! When it comes to autistic folks, our larger culture is unaccommodating at best, abusive at worst. In fact, it can be nearly impossible to find healthcare providers (even therapists!) who don’t buy into negative, outdated, cringe-worthy stereotypes.
I have worked hard on my unlearning, and I will continue to do so, relying on trainings, blogs, books, and podcasts from actually autistic adults. The Autistic community is creating an exciting paradigm shift in our culture right now, and I want you and your family to be a part of it! We can build a better world for our autistic children!
Here’s what I promote in my practice:
Neurodiversity is natural and beautiful; our world desperately, desperately needs ALL types of brains
Our society disables neurodivergent kids by catering to and enabling only one type of brain (this is called the “social model of disability”)
Autistic children don’t need to be “cured” or “fixed”; instead, our society needs to grow, to allow children of every neurotype to share their gifts, fall in love with life, and thrive
Every child needs and deserves a warm, supportive community of friends, mentors, teachers, and caregivers that embrace them exactly as they are
Like all human beings, autistic children can live lives of great meaning, fulfillment, joy, and purpose
How can therapy help autistic children and their families?
I help children, parents, and caregivers:
Identify and unlearn harmful stereotypes about autism in order to protect and nurture your child’s self-identity
Understand your child’s sensory, social, academic, and emotional experiences through a fresh new lens
Easily notice your child’s early cues of dysregulation
Respond in helpful ways to your child’s distress, so that they can experience more regulation, peace, and contentment each day
Reduce the frequency, duration, and intensity of your child’s meltdowns and shutdowns
Protect and strengthen your parent-child attachment(s) in the face of an often harsh and ableist culture
Bolster your child’s self-esteem, assertiveness, and self-advocacy skills
Cultivate a neurodiverse and neurodiversity-affirming community around your family in order to foster positive self-identity, social support, and joy
Build healthy, lifelong habits that reduce autistic burnout and stress and promote self-love in your child
Advocate confidently and effectively for your child’s needs across settings, including at school
