On the Autism Spectrum

You feel, smell, taste, touch, and hear the world more sensitively than others.

Going to the ATM is very difficult. And maybe so are a lot of other things, like the right clothes, riding public transportation, going to any large event.

It may be a challenge for people to understand what you’re trying to communicate and it’s definitely a challenge to figure out what other people are saying. You may feel like you miss a lot. Especially non-verbal language.

Humor and sarcasm may be difficult to understand. So it’s hard to make friends, let alone keep them.

Routine feels safe and predictable.

Some things bother you all the time. Some things only some of the time. And some things or some people only under certain conditions. Maybe you are a pro at masking and no one ever knows the drain on you. But you know. You are exhausted and overwhelmed by trying to figure out the world - or just navigate it - every day.

And also, your brain can do some amazing things. You know a lot about whatever it is you are interested in: a time period, a country, a certain category of vehicles, an occupation, it could be anything. You are an expert.

You can find patterns where no one else can. You might remember everything in detail.

You may feel strongly about unfairness.

You may have a perspective that feels like it is different from everyone else’s.

Because everyone on the spectrum is different, some of this or none of this may be your lived experience.

Perhaps you already know if you are on the spectrum, perhaps you are wondering if you are. You might be familiar with the autism spectrum or it may be something new.

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong condition that shows up differently in each person (this is why it is called a spectrum). It impacts how people communicate, interact with others, and learn. Each person on the spectrum has their own challenges and strengths.
It is not an illness.

Some of the challenges of being on the spectrum might be: difficulty understanding non-verbal communication, understanding humor and sarcasm, interruption in routine,
managing feelings, and forming relationships.

Some of the super powers of being on the autism spectrum might be: highly knowledgeable about interests, exceptional memory, strong analytic skills, sense of fairness,
and unique perspective.

But again, autism shows up differently in each person, so no one person on the spectrum will have the same strengths and challenges as another.

I Can Assist You With:

  • communication skills

  • social interactions

  • managing feelings

  • managing sensory input

  • self-care

  • decreasing anxiety

  • adult diagnosis

  • navigating university life

  • forming relationships

  • connecting with a provider to get tested for ASD

  • coping with stress

  • talking to family about diagnosis

  • I got my start in the mental health world working with kids on the spectrum at the Esther B. Clark school in Palo Alto, California. I helped kids manage sensory input, figure out social interactions, manage transitions, and a whole lot more.

    In Denver, Colorado I trained at the Child and Adolescent Unit at the Denver Children’s Hospital. I worked with kids and teens on the spectrum and their families on life skills. This means helping families help their kids to shower, fix themselves something to eat, get their shoes on, and a lot of daily life stuff.

    In my 16 years of working at two counseling centers, I worked with many college students on the spectrum. Much of this work was centered on adjusting to university life, understanding social norms, and finding ways to cope with a lot of sensory input.

  • Because Autism Spectrum Disorder can look like other diagnoses (ADHD, anxiety, Down Syndrome, etc.), it is helpful and important to seek out an evaluation. This means that the person goes through a few tests and that helps narrow down diagnosis with more certainty.

    There is no one certain test for Autism Spectrum Disorder, but there a few tests that taken together, can give the provider a good understanding of whether the person meets criteria for the diagnosis.

    If you are seeking formal evaluation, please take care to find someone who is well trained to administer such tests.

    I recommend that you see someone with doctorate level training, which would be a psychologist. I am happy to help you find someone if you need help with that!

  • Not yet. I am completing training to refresh my skills on providing testing, and then I will offer evaluations.