Autism

This is a frequent starting point of therapy for adults who are wondering if they are autistic or those who know that they are autistic but have never received neurodiversity-affirming therapy. Being autistic is a unique and wonderful way to be, but our autistic clients have often been made to feel like there is something wrong with them that needs to be fixed. The truth is, of course, that autism actually needs to be better understood and embraced. Our mission in therapy is to help our autistic clients develop greater self-acceptance and work toward building a more fulfilling life, taking into consideration the strengths and challenges that go along with their neurotype.

Thinking of autism as a linear spectrum is an outdated concept. Autism is actually a constellation of different characteristics (social, communication, and sensory differences, to name a few) and there is great variability within autistic individuals in terms of which of these characteristics they experience and how they manifest. A major focus in therapy early on for late-diagnosed autistic adults is getting to know themselves and understand what autism looks like for them. They may yearn for more social interaction but struggle to develop fulfilling relationships. They may experience challenges at work because a traditional desk job does not fit well with their unique thinking style and sensory needs. The onus has historically been put on autistic people to fit into the neurotypical world, which is an unfair and damaging approach. At 1A Wellness, we focus on helping our autistic clients identify ways that their environment could become a more inclusive space for them and advocate for themselves.

We do, however, recognize that our autistic clients still have to navigate a world that is built for neurotypical people, and this can lead them to experience significant challenges. Many of our autistic clients were bullied growing up or deemed “behavioral problems” in school simply for exhibiting autistic characteristics (e.g. stimming, sensory overwhelm) that were poorly understood. As adults, they often experience pressure to conform to neurotypical social standards — to make small talk, a lot of eye contact — instead of socializing in the way that comes naturally to them. It can seem like the only way to be socially successful is to mask their autistic traits and act as neurotypical as possible, but we know how harmful masking is. It does not lead to developing satisfying relationships because it’s important to be able to be your authentic self in your relationships. We have heard countless stories from autistic adults about how much masking leads to increased loneliness and burn out.

At 1A Wellness, we want to serve not only as therapists, but also as allies to our autistic clients. We want to help create the change that is starting to happen in our society to make it more inclusive of autistic individuals. In therapy, we want to help our autistic clients develop a sense of pride in their identity. It’s exciting to be living in a time when people are talking about what they like about being autistic: the ability to hyperfocus, to be honest, loyal, creative, passionate, and accepting of differences. We listen to the voices of autistic adults as the experts on their own experience, and together we think outside of the box and find a pathway forward to having the kinds of relationships, jobs, and life experiences that bring joy and fulfillment.