Your comfort and safety
I care about your emotional safety and I will do my best to make the therapeutic environment comfortable and our relationship as predictable and clear as possible.
Sensory comfort
It is common for Autistic adults to have what is referred to as sensory over- or under-responsiveness and these neurological differences can cause a variety of difficulties in perceiving and interpreting the social world. My clients have taught me the importance of sensory experience on their ability to regulate their emotional state, as well as their ability to feel safe, learn and integrate new information.
I believe that there are many sensory soothing strategies we can co-develop that will influence your experience of traveling to and from my office, and your experience of being with me in my office. You will also be able to use these sensory soothing strategies in your everyday life.
Together, we will develop a "sensory soothing kit" to promote sensory regulation. This kit will be individualized and specific to your sensory needs. Often a sensory soothing kit involves calming scents such as lavender or rose water, gum, fidget items or stress ball, noise reduction earphones, ear buds, or listening to music. This is a tool kit that you can carry with you and use as needed.
In my efforts to respect sensory differences, my office is a sensory friendly space. I ask that clients and staff do not wear perfume or other strong smelling scents. The lightening in my office is visually friendly (no fluorescent lighting!) and depending on your preference I have a noise machine we can us during session to block out auditory stimuli. I also have several other sensory soothing items in my office you can use during our sessions.
Social and emotional safety
Social interactions have been described by many of those whom I have worked with as draining, physical taxing, and exhausting. Some Autistic adults have described having a "talking hangover" after even short periods of social interaction, so both getting to my office and interacting with me for are potentially tiring - especially when we are first getting to know one another.
I address this difficulty by offering flexibility in the length of your sessions. Some clients prefer to meet for shorter times more frequently, while others choose longer sessions less frequently in order to minimize the impact of traveling to and from the office.
What you can expect about our relationship
- I will be clear and direct about my emotional and social experiences of you.
- I will be very transparent and honest with you - you won't have to guess what I am thinking
- I will do my best to help you and those who are important in your life.
- I will be honest and act with integrity and clinical expertise.
- I will be clear and direct about the ethical and legal guidelines that govern our therapeutic relationship.