Adults with Autism
The neurodivergent brain processes information differently than the neurotypical brain.
It affects your communication and social interactions…
You are a literal thinker. Words mean what they are; they don’t symbolize something else.
You replay social details of interactions in your head repeatedly to dissect what something meant. Reviewing what’s already happened to create new rules so you can behave differently in the future.
One minute you’re having a conversation, and it feels like it’s going okay. Then, it becomes painfully awkward.
What just happened?
Am I talking too much? Too little?
You start second-guessing yourself and feeling pressure to fix or get out of the situation. You’re stuck, and the pressure inside is building.
It affects your relationships…
Socializing can be exhausting and overwhelming, and it feels impossible to keep up in certain settings. There’s so much talking and shifting through topics so quickly, the masking and camouflaging you feel you have to do to fit in is draining all your energy.
Where am I supposed to chime in?
Why am I not even interested in this topic?
The sensory overload (or being under-stimulated) makes the lights, smells, and noises make you feel you can’t breathe.
It affects your emotions…
Overwhelm in the neurotypical world often leads to difficulty making decisions.
To-do lists leave you feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated.
It feels impossible to manage time, sequence steps to complete tasks, and transition between activities without frustration.
Why are daily chores getting the best of me?
Why can’t this turmoil inside me just stop??
Autism puts you at increased risk for other mental health challenges.
You may have been made to feel like your feelings and perceptions are wrong because they’re not immediately understandable to the neurotypical community. This can cause you to question yourself, building anxiety and depression inside.
If you were told or grew up thinking anxiety and depression were just part of Autism, you may not reach out for help when the anxiety or depression feelings are too much.
You don’t have to fit a mold to feel better about yourself and connect with the people you want to spend time with.
Autism does not have to mean living with loneliness, isolation, and extreme anxiety.
And your seeing things differently doesn’t mean you have to change.
If you’ve never been in a therapy session with me before, this is what to expect…
To get started, I will ask you some questions about yourself. These questions will include your likes and dislikes, goals, what your family is like, what you do for fun, your work/school situation, what you value most about yourself, and what you would like to change. We will also identify your strengths and areas where you would like to grow, which will help us meet your goals faster.
If you’ve already been diagnosed, we will talk about how Autism affects your life, what you like about it, what you find difficult, and what your goals are. If you’re uncertain if Autism is the correct fit for you, I’ll help you reach a determination.
We will discuss the role of masking and camouflaging in your life and how to identify what you like and want, aside from other people. This will help build your confidence in your social presence and comfort in social settings.
Depending on your goals, we will walk through different scenarios, exploring various responses and reactions that you and others might experience, and talk about how you can manage draining social situations in the moment.
You’ll gain strategies for managing intense emotions and finding a more relaxed state in difficult situations. For example, if sensory-overload is common for you, you’ll learn grounding techniques and ways to manage your thoughts so that the sensory pressures become more tolerable as they happen. If you become extremely disappointed or agitated when someone or something changes unexpectedly, you’ll learn to handle disappointment more effectively so you can move forward with relief instead of frustration.
I see you and I hear you.
I am neurotypical and recognize I can never fully understand your day-to-day experience. Though I am NT, I have worked with many neurodivergent people throughout my career. I see Autism as a strength, not a deficit, while recognizing the challenges that come from struggling to identify what feelings are, why they’re happening, and then communicate them outwardly.
Autism is part of who you are. It may feel like the most significant, best part, or it may feel like something that complicates your life. It may give you insights and skills that enhance multiple aspects of your life and challenges that make navigating the neurotypical community completely exhausting.
Maybe you’ve been formally diagnosed… or maybe you’ve just sensed that you’re different. I can help you determine if Autism fits for you and, most importantly, what aspects of the spectrum are influencing your life in which ways. Knowing this will help us develop strategies to help you manage difficulties and embrace your strengths.
Being Autistic has incredible strengths, like being honest in interactions, being straightforward, and becoming masterful at your topics of interest. Having your cognitive energy taxed as you’re navigating the neurotypical world can contribute to anxiety and depression. Let’s explore your mental health needs and help make life easier.
If you’re struggling with your mental health and want to deepen your social connections and better manage difficult emotions, please call me, and let’s schedule your free 15-minute consultation: (720) 755-7524.