MODERN WELLNESS & RESTORATION
  • Home
  • Our Psychotherapy Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Sara
    • Nikita
  • ADHD Coaching
    • Neuropsychological Testing
Affordable Psychotherapy and Sex Therapy in NYC
(347) 903-WELL

Autism and Interpersonal Relationships

2/2/2023

0 Comments

 
Feature by Nikita Fernandes 
Picture
Image via Freepik

Autism spectrum is a neurological developmental difference in the brain. People with autism are characterized as authentic, sensitive, and independent thinkers who might struggle with social convention. People with autism fall under a neurodivergent umbrella along with ADHD. The exact cause of autism is still unknown and theories credit a mixture of genetics and environmental factors. People that are born with autism are diagnosed by professionals using their behavioral & developmental history. Writer and autism activist Suzannah Weiss presented a lecture on "Sex On The Spectrum: Navigating Relationships, Dating, And Sexuality With Autism" through the Modern Sex Therapy Institute and shared that people are impacted by autism to varying degrees and every person with autism is different. Thus, the way that autistic people navigate interpersonal relationships is not a one size fits all model. People with autism might also try to navigate interpersonal relationships by attempting to mask. Austistic masking refers to hiding ones autistic traits in order to fit in. However, this can lead to autistic burnout in which they experience exhaustion of trying to fit in with neurotypical individuals. 
In interpersonal relationships, people with autism allow themselves to feel deeply which is a strength. They can also be honest and direct with their partners which allows for communication and trust building. However, people with autism might also struggle with interpersonal relationship dynamics as they can have a hard time understanding and predicting other people's behavior. The might also have challenges with reading people's nonverbal body language. ​It can be helpful for people with autism to focus on reframing any feelings of insecurity or inadequacy that arise while navigating relationships. By practicing mindfulness, people with autism might be able to ground themselves when they get overwhelmed in social situations. Some questions to ask while grounding themselves might be - What am I seeing right now? or What am I feeling right now?. It is also important to have conversations about how being autistic affects their interpersonal relationships and what their needs are.

Autistic people can also surround themselves with nerodivergent community that can help normalize the challenges faced in interpersonal relationships. Support groups and meet up groups can be a great way to meet more people that might share their experiences of navigating dating and friendships. Dating and friendship apps like Hiki and Uneepi were created for people with neurodiversity to meet each other. It is a great space to celebrate neurodiversity and center neurodiverse voices. Thus, it is important for people with autism to have communities that validate and honor the autism experience. 

Author

Nikita Fernandes is a mental health therapist and sex therapist in New York City. She specializes in working with LGBTQ+, people of color and kink/poly affirming individuals and relationships. You can contact Nikita at nikita@mwr.nyc and read more blog posts at www.mwr.nyc.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Authors


    Sara S. Schapiro LMHC, PhD
    Providing affordable psychotherapy and individual therapy in NYC. Bringing awareness to mental health related issues and advocating for liberal and liberating sex values.

    Nikita Fernandes, M.A., MHC-LP
    Providing affordable couples and individual therapy in NYC. Integrating culturally sensitive, poly & kink-friendly, and gender-affirming therapy while partaking in advocacy work in the therapy room.

    Simran Bharadwaj, M.A., MHC-LP
    Providing affordable couples and individual therapy in NYC. Bringing awareness to minority mental health issues and culturally competent approaches to therapy.

    ​Shira Keller-Ohana, LMHC
    Providing affordable psychotherapy and couples and family therapy in NYC. Taking an integrative positive approach toward mental health and therapy.

      Sign up 

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    August 2019
    June 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    March 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016

    Categories

    All
    Adhd
    BIPOC
    Com
    Compassion
    Couples
    Culture
    Emotions
    Empowerment
    Exploration
    Health
    Healthy Choices
    Human
    Humanism
    Imago
    Jealousy
    Meditation
    Mental Health
    Minority
    Neurodivergent
    Orgasm
    Positive Psychology
    Psychology
    Queer
    Relational
    Relationship Counseling
    Security
    Self Help
    Self Love
    Self-love
    Sex
    Sex Education
    Sex Therapy
    Sex Therapy In Nyc
    Strenghts
    Therapy
    Therapy In Nyc
    Vulva
    Well Being
    Women

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from Frits Ahlefeldt, Hiking.org, wuestenigel, GIALIAT, mikecogh, nudelbach, chripell, spinster, donnierayjones, Free Grunge Textures - www.freestock.ca, Bestpicko, Simeon Berg, torbakhopper, strudelt, Speaker resources, Salvation Army USA West, HockeyholicAZ, CodeHooligans, crowdyke, PersonalCreations.com, cogdogblog, labuero, torbakhopper
  • Home
  • Our Psychotherapy Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Sara
    • Nikita
  • ADHD Coaching
    • Neuropsychological Testing