A Neurodivergent Brain in a Neurotypical World: Neurology and Trauma in the Autistic Experience

Presented by Phyllis C. Solon, PsyD, LP

The development of a neurodiverse brain is complex and multifactored. Advances in neuro-imaging in the last 20 years has given us a window into this wiring and the interplay between internal elements, such as temperament, genetics, and brain structures and connections, and external factors, like family, environmental stimuli, socio-cultural systems, and oppression.

While each person is unique, there are patterns of experiences and factors that come together to create neurodiverse brains. The neural systems most involved in autism are particularly tuned to social interaction, emotional reception and expression, and sensory and arousal systems. Understanding brain and developmental basics can help to contextualize a person’s reading of and interactions in the world. Having this information can also shed light on how the world as it is currently designed can be perplexing, overwhelming and/or frightening for neurodiverse people.

Environments and relationships that are most often attuned to neurotypical brains can have a traumatic impact on neurodiverse people throughout childhood and emerging adulthood. Furthermore, others’ responses, usually driven by a neurotypical and tacit understanding of the world, can result in people being unheard, misunderstood, and often disbelieved about their own experiences. Repeated exposure to these mis-attunements and misalignments can increase anxiety, feed a sense of loneliness and isolation, and deepen depression or hopelessness.

During this presentation, participants will review neurological information underpinning social, emotional, and relational development from childhood through emerging adulthood. In that context, people’s responses to a neurotypical world can be understood as being adaptive to overwhelming situations. This knowledge can help neurodiverse individuals understand themselves and their responses in context and assist them in creating environments and relationships that most support them to continue to be all of who they are meant to be in the world. Parents, partners, friends, and families will be better equipped to understand and appreciate their neurodiverse people and teachers, coaches, and therapists will be more able to see and serve their needs.

Dr. Solon grew up in an Irish and Polish, Catholic family on the Southside of Chicago in a large extended family. She has been conscious of racism and sexism since the 70s and has been on a journey of dismantling both, internally and in external systems, since then. Professionally, Dr. Solon has trained and consulted in mental health, education and religious organizations on a range of topics concerning culture, diversity, inclusion, privilege, and intersectionality since the mid 1990s and has taught courses on multiculturalism in counseling and supervision to doctoral students for the last 20 years.

Areas of clinical competency and specialization include work with clients with profound trauma and dissociation, families who have adopted trans-racially and/or trans-nationally, neurodiversity and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and all of the overlapping spaces amongst them. She has worked as a therapist, supervisor, and clinical director in a variety of multidisciplinary and multicultural clinical settings serving the needs of children, adolescents, and families. Well versed in the neurology of attunement, attachment, development, and trauma and the use of interpersonal neurobiology
in providing therapy across the life span, Dr. Solon has conducted individual, couples, family, and group therapy. In addition, she provides clinical consultation on trauma, multiculturalism, autism, and many other topics to professionals and organizations and has designed and taught a wide variety of psychology courses both in the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Solon sees teaching and learning as taking place within the context of relationships and believes that the highest good is to love, honor, and protect others, particularly children and those who cannot protect themselves. She understands therapy as the practice of deep listening for each person’s dignity to clear a space so that they can free themselves from all of the bindings that have been placed upon them. She has learned over a long period of time that there is no such thing as self-sufficiency: we are all intensely and intrinsically interdependent. Dr. Solon teaches and practices from the perspective that every interaction has the potential to hurt or to heal and tries to fall as much on the healing side as possible.

The Interplay Between Sensory, Trauma, and Autism

Presented by Jen Bluske, OTR

In this presentation, we will look at the bi-directional relationship between trauma and the sensory regulation system as it impacts those with a diagnosis of autism. We will explore how a trauma response could be created in individual with sensory differences and/or autism and how we can mitigate this.  Finally, we will explore fundamental strategies to help individuals with autism work through trauma responses and feel a sense of empowerment through safety and connection.

Now Is Not Then: Identifying and Treating Trauma with Autistic Clients

Presented by Sara Lahti, MA, CCTP

This unprecedented time of pandemic has the ability to trigger past trauma for many people on the autism spectrum. Learn how past trauma can affect current and ongoing trauma for autistic clients. Understand how to recognize trauma in autistic clients and how to use their strengths in healing, and learn common techniques used in treating trauma and how they can be adapted to benefit autistic clients.

EMDR and ASD: Barriers and Successes

Presented by Beth Pitchford, MA, LPCC

Discuss perceived and real barriers to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy with clients on the spectrum. Learn creative solutions to navigating those barriers as you explore successful cases. Challenges discussed will include clients with PTSD symptoms who do not meet the DSM 5 criteria for PTSD, difficulties with joint attention, and sensory sensitivities that present as a barrier to EMDR. Celebrate the creativity of autistic clients and their approach to trauma therapy.

Choosing Acceptance and Appreciation: Supporting Autistic Individuals in Non-Autistic Environments

Presented by Barb Luskin, PhD, LP

The non-autistic environment fails to support individuals by assuming verbal capacity equals thinking capacity, lack of consideration for sensory differences, reluctance to socially interact with those seen as different, and generally discounting the capacity of those who appear different. These characteristics include sensory differences, literal understanding of language, differing use of nonverbal information, difficulty imagining alternative behaviors, processing delays, and communication differences. Apply the concepts presented throughout the day to better support individuals who have experienced trauma, acknowledge the validity of their experience, and how to modify evidence-based practices to increase effective coping techniques.

Understand how a supportive, flexible neuro-majority can positively impact neurodiverse lives. This includes honoring others’ experience and truth-asking for information with honesty and true curiosity; being willing to adapt rather than demand that the autistic person always be the one to change – not assuming you have all the answers; not assuming that behavior you dislike is deliberately intended to upset you and/or that the individual knows how to do something else; and incorporating alternative communication and sensory strategies (i.e., universal design).

This session will conclude with a mindfulness exercise to process, center, and relax.