Autistic individuals often experience events that are traumatizing such as abuse, bullying, rejection, humiliation, and loss. These factors highlight the importance of including screening for traumatic experiences in autism evaluations.

Join Drs. Goldstein and Inderbitzen as they introduce an overview of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP), the evidence base for SP in traumatized autistic clients, illustrate applications of somatic resourcing through exercises and video demonstrations, and guide you through Sensorimotor Psychotherapy's PEACE Protocol's five steps to modulate activation and build resilience.

Dr. Baker will guide you through both the science of exposure-based treatment and the art of applying these strategies to autistic clients who can often be resistant to treatment to address their anxiety issues. Strategies for both highly verbal and less verbal autistic individuals will be demonstrated through multiple case studies.

Embracing polyvagal theory as a framework for people allows us to consider the nervous system present in the therapy room. Interpersonal Neurobiology Authors, pioneer Deb Dana LCSW, and Sean Inderbitzen LCSW, DSW, have a dialogue about atypical sensation presentation as a reflection of the nervous system.

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The therapy room can be a space for autistic individuals to explore their needs, how they experience the world, work toward self-discovery, build self-compassion and emerge with confidence to live life in full color with an autistic identity.

In this session, you’ll learn concrete strategies drawn for Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapies to help autistic clients spark a sense of self-compassion. We will begin with a dive into autistic identity and end with techniques that you can integrate into your therapy sessions immediately after.

It is now well accepted that autistic and neurodivergent individuals are at high risk for experiencing trauma. Many factors, such as the physical environment and the behavior of other people and may contribute to highly stressful and traumatic experiences across different settings. Join Dr. Prizant as we consider risk factors that may result in stressful and even traumatic experiences, and preventative strategies based on supporting emotional regulation that support trusting relationships and quality of life.

Dr. Lyons will guide you through innovative strategies and interventions that leverage AI and the Metaverse to enhance social trauma support for autistic clients. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and therapeutic techniques, you’ll learn how to create immersive environments that promote social skills, emotional regulation, and community building, ultimately transforming the therapeutic landscape for individuals on the autism spectrum.

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