Autism in the Consulting Room
Insights for Psychotherapy
Recorded Saturday 25 April 2026
A live webinar with Dr Mary Donahue, Raun Kaufman, Lisa Morgan, Kate Wilde and Jane Ryan (Chair)
CPD Credits: 4 hours
The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be confusing to non-specialists. It covers a wide range of symptoms, from an incapacitating disability to “being on the spectrum” – the ubiquitous but ill-defined term for people who have challenges with social interaction. Diagnosis of ASD is becoming increasingly common without a clear explanation for this phenomenon.
With the inevitable increase in ASD-diagnosed people coming to therapy, this event examines what such clients most need from the practitioner when seeking help for relational, emotional or trauma-related issues. Traditional approaches have been designed for neurotypical brains, and we will consider how these can unintentionally deepen the client’s sense of alienation and lead to painful miscommunications.
READ MORE...There are, however, therapeutic approaches being developed that offer effective support. This conference, led by both ASD and neurotypical speakers, offers a space for therapists to explore these. We will untangle definitions and discover what it feels like to live inside the autistic mind. The neuro-biological attributes that underly autism at all levels will be elucidated and we will discuss the importance of understanding these in order to offer appropriate psychotherapy.
Access to the Talks On Demand runs for 365 days from the date of purchase.
FULL PROGRAMME
Introductions
Raun K. Kaufman
Integrating the Autistic Nervous System into Your Sessions, Part 1:
Safety and regulation through the provision of a sense of control
The autistic experience – of which the autistic nervous system is a huge part – is very often deeply misunderstood. As a result, even the most compassionate practitioners can unwittingly add to the stress, emotional distress, behavioral reactivity and dysregulation they are seeking to address. This presentation will lay out one of the cornerstones of the autistic nervous system: the autistic client’s heightened need for control. We will explore the reasons for this and, most important, the counterintuitive approach that is needed from the therapist.
Raun will also introduce Taxi Driver Decisional Assistance, a conflict-free, pressure-free method that helps verbally communicative autistic people to explore the emotional or relational issues that are bothering them; to work through and problem-solve challenges without being pushed, contradicted, scolded, or debated. In essence, without having a fight-or-flight response triggered from their nervous system.
Discussion and Q&A
Kate Wilde
Integrating the Autistic Nervous System into Your Sessions, Part 2:
Safety and regulation through timing, sensory care, and interest in their interest
This presentation will offer describe further ways to support the integration of the nervous system and work effectively with autism spectrum disorder clients. Building on our understanding of autism as a state regulation and fragile nervous system challenge, the discussion will detail three key skills that are crucial but rarely understood. The first is timing: the autistic nervous system oscillates between distinct neurological states; these can only be regulated when the therapist matches an appropriate response to that particular state – we will see how. The second is sensory care: specific ways to create a therapeutic environment that helps to regulate the autistic nervous system. And the third is acceptance of the autistic person’s therapeutic goals and the importance of showing ‘interest in their interest’. Adoption of these skills enables autistic patients/clients to regulate, to trust us and thus open the door to deeper therapeutic work.
Discussion and Q&A
Lisa Morgan
Autism in Real Life: Real Life in Autism
Though autism manifests differently in every person, there are common strengths and challenges in nearly all autistic people. Lisa will introduce you to those aspects, show you how they look in daily life, and discuss commonly accepted myths about autism. This session is aimed at helping providers improve potential for a constructive therapeutic alliance while reducing unintentional harm.
Discussion and Q&A
Mary Donahue
Making Safe: the traumatized autistic person’s search for help
In this final session, participants will further consider common issues experienced by autistic people when seeking help in mainstream therapy settings. Specifically, she will talk about the needs of those autistic clients who come to therapy because of trauma, whether the result of abuse, intergenerational issues, complex or acute. Therapeutic strategies for working effectively will be offered.
Discussion and Q&A
End
SPEAKERS
Dr Mary Donahue
Dr. Donahue earned her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York. She is a trauma-informed clinical practitioner, author, lecturer, consultant and advocate for various forms of interpersonal trauma such as childhood and adult sexual assault, interpersonal violence, neglect and other betrayals. Read more >>
Raun K. Kaufman
An international lecturer and graduate of the Ivy League’s Brown University with a degree in Biomedical Ethics, Raun K. Kaufman is the author of the book, Autism Breakthrough, and the co-creator of the Safe to Connect autism approach (centered around the idea that autistic people have to feel safe in order to connect and built upon the 5 Natural Laws of Autism and the 3 Autism Neuro-States) and the ACT (Autism Crisis Turnaround) protocol for meltdowns, anxiety, and extreme/explosive behaviors, which pioneered the concept of the Neuro-Crash. Read more >>
Lisa Morgan
Lisa Morgan is a trauma-informed consultant specializing in crisis supports and suicide prevention for autistic people. Lisa is founder and co-chair of the Autism and Suicide Prevention Workgroup and has led the development of several autism specific resources for communicating and supporting autistic people in crisis. Read more >>
Kate C. Wilde
Kate C. Wilde, co-creator of the Safe to Connect autism approach (centred around the idea that autistic people have to feel safe in order to connect and built upon the 5 Natural Laws of Autism and the 3 Autism Neuro-States) and the ACT (Autism Crisis Turnaround) protocol for meltdowns, anxiety, and extreme/explosive behaviours, which pioneered the concept of the Neuro-Crash, has spent more than 30 years working with children and adults on the autism spectrum and their families, as well as with therapists, educators, and schools. Read more >>