How To Empower Autistic Women: Practical Tips for Health Care Providers
21 practical tips for a more supportive and effective therapeutic environment for autistic womxn in your clinical practice:
Educate yourself on the specific experiences of female autism: Traditional diagnostic criteria and research have often focused on male autism, potentially overlooking the experiences of female autistic individuals. Female autism manifests differently from male presentations of autism. Seek out resources and training specifically about female autism, such as books, articles, and workshops, to deepen your understanding.
Practice active listening and validation: Autistic individuals, particularly female autistic individuals, may have experienced invalidation and gaslighting from healthcare providers or others. Practice active listening and validate their experiences and emotions to create a safe and supportive space. Many autistic individuals, particularly women, may have experienced invalidation or gaslighting from healthcare providers or others. Women are often more socially aware, which may lead them to mask their true selves more than men. Neurodivergent masking is the process of concealing one's true neurological or psychological traits to conform to societal norms or expectations. Over time, maintaining these complex masking strategies to fit in can be draining, and also become a barrier to early diagnosis. Active listening and validating their experiences and emotions can help create a supportive space.
Understand Masking: Be aware that many female autistic individuals may mask their autistic traits, which can be exhausting and lead to burnout. Create a space where they feel safe to be themselves without the need to mask.
Use clear, direct language: Autistic individuals may struggle with abstract or ambiguous language. Use clear, concrete language and avoid idioms, slang, or ambiguous expressions. Since many neurodivergent individuals interpret language literally, ensure your communication is direct and easy to understand. Likewise, remember that autistic individuals speak literally and directly. They are known to be straightforward, loyal, and honest, with great difficulty lying or engaging in immoral acts. Their bluntness - while sometimes abnormal or interpreted as abrasive between neurotypical folk - can be refreshing. If you are unsure about the meaning or intent behind something they have said, ask before assuming. Transparency is key to understanding one another.
Incorporate sensory considerations into your practice: Many autistic individuals experience sensory sensitivities or differences. Consider factors such as lighting, noise, and texture in your office and adjust accordingly.
Allow for breaks and sensory regulation techniques: Sensory regulation techniques such as deep breathing, sensory toys, or grounding exercises can help autistic individuals regulate their emotions and sensory input. Allow for breaks or incorporate these techniques into your sessions as needed.
Build trust and rapport: Autistic individuals may have difficulty trusting others due to past invalidation or mistreatment. Build trust and rapport over time by being consistent, transparent, and respectful of their boundaries and communication style.
Be mindful of intersectionality: Autistic individuals may also experience discrimination and marginalization based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Incorporate an intersectional lens into your practice to address these experiences and promote social justice.
Respect Their Need for Routine: Understand that many autistic individuals thrive on routine. Try to keep session times, structures, and environments consistent to reduce anxiety.
Acknowledge and Address Social Camouflaging: Recognize that some female autistic clients may have learned to "blend in" socially, often at the cost of their mental health. Offer support in unlearning harmful social camouflaging behaviors.
Provide Written Summaries: After sessions, provide written summaries of key points and action items. This can help autistic clients process information at their own pace and ensure they fully understand what was discussed.
Offer Choices, Not Directives: When working on goals or therapeutic interventions, offer multiple options and let the client choose. This empowers them and respects their autonomy.
Be Patient with Processing Time: Some autistic individuals may need more time to process questions or comments. Allow for pauses and don’t rush responses.
Understand Sensory Overload: Be aware of how sensory overload can affect your client’s ability to participate in sessions. If they appear overwhelmed, offer a break or change the sensory environment.
Use Metaphors and Abstract Language Sparingly: When using metaphors or abstract language, make sure to explain them clearly. Alternatively, use concrete examples that are easy to understand.
Encourage Self-Advocacy: Support your client in developing self-advocacy skills. This can include helping them articulate their needs in various environments, from therapy to daily life.
Recognize the Impact of Gender Expectations: Be mindful of how societal gender expectations may affect your female autistic clients, particularly in relation to traditional gender roles, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy or confusion.
Normalize Stimming: Understand that stimming (repetitive movements or sounds) is a common self-regulation tool for many autistic individuals. Encourage and normalize this behavior in sessions rather than discouraging it.
Offer Transition Support: Transitions, even within a session, can be challenging for autistic clients. Provide clear, gentle cues before moving on to a new topic or ending the session to help ease the process.
Create a Non-Judgmental Space: Ensure your practice is a non-judgmental zone where your client feels comfortable discussing any topic without fear of being misunderstood or judged. This is especially important for building trust and encouraging open communication.
Pay attention to the language you use: The autistic community no longer uses the phrasing “high functioning” to describe level 1 autism, or “low functioning” to describe level 3 autism. Rather, level 1, level 2, and level 3 autism are defined by their low to high support needs. See more, here.