Moving Toward Neurodiversity-Affirming Integrated Psychotherapy With Autistic Clients

Pliskin, Ariel E.
Crehan, Eileen T.

Relationship and Sex Therapy Program, Advance Psychotherapy Practice, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University
Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, Tufts University

Andre Marquis served as action editor.

Ariel E. Pliskin served as lead for conceptualization, project administration, visualization, writing–original draft, and writing–review and editing. Eileen T. Crehan served in a supporting role for writing–original draft and writing–review and editing.

Ariel E. Pliskin, Relationship and Sex Therapy Program, Advance Psychotherapy Practice, 48 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01002, United States [email protected]

Received September 6, 2023

revised May 6, 2024

Accepted May 24, 2024

Journal of Psychotherapy Integration 34(3):p 338-350, September 2024. | DOI: 10.1037/int0000340

As mental health providers often do not know how to work with autistic clients in a way that respects autistic experience, many autistic adults are left with unmet mental health needs. Developing neurocultural competence and humility involves questioning antiautistic bias and innovating affirming methods. This article explores how therapy sessions may look when informed by Henriques’ character adaptation systems theory. The suggested approach can inform treatment stages and provide mental health professionals with ways to improve their practice.