By presenting the autism diagnosis through the lens of a disordered nervous system-that is, by applying Polyvagal Theory-this book opens new avenues for intervention and treatment, while challenging age-old assumptions of what autism means and how it presents itself.
Here, Sean Inderbitzen-a therapist as well as someone living with autism-encourages clinicians to conceptualise their autistic clients' difficulties with social interactions and cognitive flexibility through a polyvagal lens. Inderbitzen argues that individuals with autism can be thought of as having deficits in accessing their ventral vagal nervous system-the system which promotes flexibility and connection to others. The book explores strategies to address these challenges through familiar tools such as:
- Motivational interviewing
- Clinical social work pedagogy
- Sensorimotor psychotherapy
- Mindfulness
- Biofeedback
- Cultivating a sense of safety
Autism in Polyvagal Terms is an essential new text for anyone who works with individuals on the autism spectrum.
