Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopment diagnosis that one of several mental health diagnosis under the neurodivergent umbrella.

Autism has historically been studied and understood primarily through the lens of cisgender men, leading to diagnoostic criteria and assessment tools that may not capture the diverse ways in which autism can manifest in women and gender diverse people. The current diagnostic criteria for Autism under the DSM is as follows.

The DSM criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (DSM-5) include the following:

A.Persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, as manifested by the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):

• Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity, ranging, for example, from abnormal social approach and failure of normal back-and-forth conversation; to reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect; to failure to initiate or respond to social interactions.

• Deficits in nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, ranging, for example, from poorly integrated verbal and nonverbal communication; to abnormalities in eye contact and body language or deficits in understanding and use of gestures; to a total lack of facial expressions and nonverbal communication.

• Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships, ranging, for example, from difficulties adjusting behavior to suit various social contexts; to difficulties in sharing imaginative play or in making friends; to absence of interest in peers.

B. Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, as manifested by at least two of the following, currently or by history (examples are illustrative, not exhaustive; see text):

• Stereotyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech (e.g., simple motor stereotypies, lining up toys or flipping objects, echolalia, idiosyncratic phrases).

• Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualized patterns of verbal or nonverbal behavior (e.g., extreme distress at small changes, difficulties with transitions, rigid thinking patterns, greeting rituals, need to take the same route or eat the same food every day).

• Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus (e.g., strong attachment to or preoccupation with unusual objects, excessively circumscribed or perseverative interests).

• Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in sensory aspects of the environment (e.g., apparent indifference to pain/temperature, adverse response to specific sounds or textures, excessive smelling or touching of objects, visual fascination with lights or movement).

Viewing autism from a neurodivergent affirming lens means recognizing and valuing neurodiversity as a natural and valid variation of the human experience. Instead of framing autism as a disorder or deficit, rainbowcounselling values the diverse ways individuals process information, experience the world, and engage with others.

As a 2SLGBTQ+ & neurodivergent affirming clinic, we recognize that this diagnostic criteria does not fit for everyone, and has historically made it extremely inaccessible for many Autistic folks to obtain a diagnosis (if seeking one).

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by a range of challenges and strengths in social communication, behavior, and sensory processing. The term "spectrum" reflects the wide variation in symptoms and severity that individuals with autism may experience. Autism affects how individuals perceive and interact with the world, and its manifestations can be unique to each person.

Some common features of autism include:

• Social Communication Challenges: Folks with autism may struggle with social interactions, such as making eye contact, understanding social cues, and engaging in reciprocal conversations.

How Therapy Can support?

A therapist may be able to work with autistic folks to support parts of themselves that have been shamed/ misunderstood because of the challenges with communication. Your therapist may take a trauma-informed approach to supporting you work through this & think about accommodating self in relationships, work & day-to-day life around communication challenges.

• Special Interests: Many Autistic folks may engage in repetitive behaviours, such as hand-flapping, rocking, or repeating certain words or phrases. This is often referred to as ‘stimming’ They may also have intense and narrow interests, focusing extensively on specific topics.

How Therapy Can support?

A therapist may be able to work with autistic folks to support parts of themselves that have been shamed/ misunderstood because stimming hasn’t been supported in their day-to-day lives. Your therapist may take a trauma-informed approach to supporting you work through this & think about re-exploring your relationship to stimming & support your connection to body & support stimming.

• Sensory Sensitivities: Sensory sensitivities are common for autistic folks. Individuals may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sensory stimuli such as light, sound, touch, taste, or smell. This can lead to either aversions or seeking out certain sensory experiences.

How Therapy Can support?

A therapist may be able to work with autistic folks to support parts of themselves that have been shamed/ misunderstood because of reactions around sensory overwhelm and/or sensory underwhelm. They may work with you to think about skills to support identifying sensory overwhelm and/or sensory underwhelm. This may look like strengthening the relationship to body, building your toolbox for sensory soothing & supports & working on leaning into obtaining support from others when experiencing these sensitivities.

• Difficulty with Changes and Transitions: Autistic folks often prefer routines and may find it challenging to adapt to changes in their environment or routine. Predictability and structure can be important for many autistic folks.

How Therapy Can support?

A therapist may be able to work with autistic folks to support parts of themselves that have been shamed/ misunderstood because of reactions around changes in routine. They may work with you to think about skills to support identifying meltdowns as a result of scheduling/routine changes. This may look like supporting processing emotions that come up as a result of change in routine. Your therapist may also work on building your toolbox for sensory soothing & supports & working on leaning into obtaining support from others when experiencing strong reactions to change in routines.

• Strengths and Special Talents: Autistic folks often possess unique strengths and talents. Some may excel in areas such as mathematics, music, art, or other specialized fields.

How Therapy Can support?

A therapist may be able to work with autistic folks to support parts of themselves that have been shamed/ misunderstood because of their unique interests and talents. They may take a strengths-based approach to think about your relationship to these talents & interests are and explore ways to strengthen your relationship to these interests.

Autism is a spectrum, meaning that the manifestation and severity of symptoms vary widely among folks. Every therapist may take a different approach to supporting Autistic folks. At rainbowcounselling, we affirm Autism & Neurodivergent, rather than “treating” it. We embrace neurodivergence, and recognize the value of diverse ways of thinking and experiencing the world.

Therapy can still support those with suspected Autism diagnosis, even if you don’t have or don’t want to obtain a formal diagnosis. Our team of psychotherapists offer neurodivergent affirming therapy regardless of formal diagnoses.

If you are looking to obtain a formal diagnosis, unfortunately at this time rainbowcounselling does not offer Autism assessments, however we can refer you to external clinics who may be able to support!