August 7th, 14th, 21st. 2023. Purchase Recording.

Working with Neurodivergent Clients Using ADA®. The Autism Dialogue Approach® is a unique framework to interacting and communicating across neurotypes, especially among autistic and non-autistic people, in a range of support settings. It examines the relational aspects, rather than the technical applications of therapy. Client-therapist neurodivergent and intersectional encounters can be greatly enhanced and enriched with integration of a set of practices based on robust social-cognition sciences and the strengths and uniqueness of autism and interaction processes, rather than guided by deficit and behavioural views. ADA draws on new studies in autism and communication, Gestalt, Existential and Relational therapy, Bohmian Dialogue and Enaction theory, and offers an alternative new paradigm for therapy, coaching and holistic support. It is a holistic-relational method, which provides both autistic and non-autistic people with the skills and confidence to achieve mutual understanding and work towards overcoming what is described by Damian Milton as the Double Empathy Problem (2012).

Part One: Monday, August 7th. 6:00pm-8:00pm

Introduction to the practices, principles and background of ADA, some major themes in Autism (such as communication preferences, the Double Empathy problem (Milton), Monotropism (Murray & Lawson) and Alexythemia) and challenges therapists are currently facing. We will hold a Dialogic enquiry into Autism, how it is socially constructed as a deficit and how the Autism paradigm influences therapists and coaches and their professions.

Part Two: Monday, August 14th. 6:00pm-8:00pm

Using knowledge from embodied communication (De Jaegher), interaction processes and enaction theory, we will explore safe silences and active listening in the contexts of authenticity, masking and camouflaging as a developmental trauma response, and learn how to avoid professional gaslighting.

Part Three: Monday, August 21st. 6:00pm-8:00pm

We will conclude the series with a review and a 90-minute generative dialogue using the Autism Dialogue Approach and consider how we might bring our learnings into therapy spaces.

Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event

• Introduction to the basic ADA practices for application in therapy and other cross-neurotype situations.
• Understand and experiment with a wide range of communication styles, differences and preferences.
• Gain confidence and insight in cross-neurotype support.

Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?

• Counsellors, therapists, coaches and health professionals.

How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?

• ADA will place you and your practice at the cutting edge of emerging autistic, social and cognitive science.