An Autistic’s Vision for Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy

• By: Sam Farmer Neurodiversity Community Self-Advocate, Writer, Author, and Public Speaker
• October 2nd, 2023
• acceptance, actually autistic, clinical community, communication, emotional distress, Fall 2023 Issue, identity-first language, neurodivergence, neurodiversity community, reform, self-advocacy, self-esteem, societal expectations, therapy, unmasking
• 1242    4

As a neurodiversity community self-advocate, I have come across far too many stories of emotional distress and trauma in connection with neurodivergent individuals' lived behavioral therapy experiences. I understand where they're coming from and I empathize. As a late-identified autistic, I, like...

Late-Diagnosed Autism and Camouflaging in People Assigned Female at Birth

• By: Britt Boylan (They/Them) Naropa University Student Pursuing an MA in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling
• April 9th, 2023
• adult diagnosis, camouflaging, diagnosis, diagnostic barriers, gender, inclusive diagnostic criteria, living authentically, masking, societal expectations, Spring 2023 Issue
• 1957    0

It is becoming increasingly understood that there are marked differences in autism between genders. This has led to people assigned female at birth (AFAB) to being diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood at a higher rate compared to people assigned male at birth (AMAB) (Wood-Downie et al., 2020). I...