What is Autism?
First, let's talk about what Autism is not. (This is not to say that autistic people don't often have a very hard time living in a non-autistic world, we're gonna talk about that. If you're already familiar with this topic, feel free to scroll down a bit.)
Autism:
Autism:
- is not a disease and does not need to be cured, we are not trying to un-autism anyone.
- is not caused by bad parenting, trauma, or vaccines.
- is not "just a behavior problem."
- is not just being quirky.
- is not always visible.
- is not an Intellectual Disability or being Gifted, although some autistic people can be ID and/or Gifted (often referred to as 2e or Twice Exceptional).
- is not a mental illness, it is a neurological difference.
- is not just a childhood condition, it is not something you outgrow.
- is not the same for every autistic person, if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person.
- is not something you can have more or less of, everyone does not have a "little bit of autism".
- is not a tragedy, being autistic is a valid way of experiencing the world.
- is not "fixed" (and doesn't need to be fixed) by trying harder or masking to look "more normal".
So... What Is Autism?
Autism:
- is a neurodevelopmental difference in how some brains think, sense, and experience the world.
- is lifelong, it's not something you outgrow.
- is a spectrum, there is no one-size-fits-all profile that describes autistic people.
- it is more like a color map or prism, where a constellation of strengths and challenges shape how you interact with and experience the world, and less like a linear spectrum of "more" or "less" autistic. These might include:
- sensory differences, in how intensely you experience the physical world, how and what you notice about the world, and what those things mean to you personally.
- communication preferences, such as preferring direct and literal communication, over sarcasm and subtleties; preferring less eye contact, not out of disinterest, but because it is easier to listen and stay engaged; preferring written or text communication, because it gives you time to think and is less ambiguous.
- passionate interests, or hobbies, that you might know a lot about and really enjoy talking about.
- social processing differences, such as preferring deeper, more meaningful conversation, over small talk.
- executive functioning differences, such as struggling with task initiation, planning, transitions, and task-switching; especially if the task or project is not particularly interesting to you.
- preferences for consistency and routine, this might mean you prefer to have a consistent routine, activities, to be punctual, and for your environment to be predictable.
- is a valid identity, not just a diagnosis.
- is often misunderstood, especially when someone masks or doesn't "look autistic."
So, What now?
What do we do?
We start by making space. Space to unmask. To breathe. To not have to “perform” neurotypical. What that looks like for each person might be different, that might mean you stop forcing yourself to make eye-contact or you let yourself stim or rock in-session. Maybe we talk about your life and what you want, from the perspective of your favorite movie, book, anime, or TV show. Maybe we play video games and chat at first, or we go for a walk.
We want our office to become a place where you don’t have to translate yourself for someone else’s comfort.
From there, we explore what life can look like when it actually fits you. That might mean untangling burnout, working through trauma, processing identity, or helping your family understand you better. It could mean finding sensory strategies that actually help, figuring out communication preferences, or just... learning what real rest feels like when you're not always on guard.
Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we try other things, like EMDR, Flash, neurofeedback, sandtray, or just sitting quietly until your nervous system feels safe again.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. We co-create something that works for you.
We want our office to become a place where you don’t have to translate yourself for someone else’s comfort.
From there, we explore what life can look like when it actually fits you. That might mean untangling burnout, working through trauma, processing identity, or helping your family understand you better. It could mean finding sensory strategies that actually help, figuring out communication preferences, or just... learning what real rest feels like when you're not always on guard.
Sometimes we talk. Sometimes we try other things, like EMDR, Flash, neurofeedback, sandtray, or just sitting quietly until your nervous system feels safe again.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. We co-create something that works for you.
