Observing Autistic Strengths in Neurodivergence Affirming Therapy

When talking about autism, conversations often tend to focus on the hardships or challenges experienced by autistic folks. These are important conversations to have, especially in the context of existing in and navigating a neuronormative and often ableist society. At the same time, it is also important to shine a light onto the unique strengths autistic people possess. My approach to therapy is “strengths-based,” meaning that I am especially interested in understanding individual’s strengths, and how we can build on these strengths to support people to reach their goals. 

Below I discuss five strengths that are often present in autistic folks, and consider how these strengths can be optimized in the therapeutic process. It’s important to remember we all have unique strengths and challenges, and this diversity also exists within the autistic community. 

1) Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving

Autistic folks often possess a strong capacity for “out of the box” thinking. When it comes to therapy, this kind of thinking can help people to think about challenges from unique perspectives, and to arrive at novel solutions to these challenges. 

2) Pattern Recognition and Attention to Detail

Autistic folks are often gifted with strong pattern recognition skills. In therapy, pattern recognition can support people to identify patterns that may exist between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It can also support the identification of interpersonal patterns that may be showing up in their relationships, maybe even intergenerationally. When we have awareness of such patterns, we have the power to change them if they are out of alignment with our values. 

3) Strong Sense of Justice

Many autistic folks have a strong moral code and sense of justice. This is often reflected in their core values. In therapy, this can help people to understand and contextualize their challenges through a lens which is aligned with these values, and to see the influence of larger social systems in creating/ sustaining some of these challenges. The capacity to see challenges in this larger social context can help people to shift away from self blame, and towards self compassion.

4) Hyper-Systemizing

Many autistic folks have a propensity for sorting information into categories, and creating elaborate systems. This can be very useful in therapy, as it can aid a person to identify and understand the distinct “parts” that comprise the elaborate system operating within each of us. When we can identify the parts that comprise the whole, we can work to bring greater balance and harmony to the ways these parts relate to one another. 

5) Special Interests & Hyperfocus

Autistic folks often have intense special interests, which they may devote much time and energy to. A special interest of my own is human psychology. I love to learn about people’s special interests, and to find ways to engage these interests in therapy. Often this is possible through working together with powerful metaphors, by relating aspects of one’s challenges to elements of their special interest. 

References

1. Craig, J., & Baron-Cohen, S. (1999). Creativity and imagination in autism and Asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29(4), 319–326. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1022163403479

2. Best, C., Arora, S., Porter, F. & Doherty, M. (2015). The relationship between subthreshold autistic traits, ambiguous figure perception and divergent thinking. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45, 4064–4073. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2518-2

3. Koldewyn, K., Jiang, Y. V., Weigelt, S., & Kanwisher, N. (2013). Global/local processing in autism: Not a disability, but a disinclination. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(10), 2329–2340. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1777-z

4. Hu, Y., Pereira, A. M., Gao, X., Campos, B. M., Derrington, E., Corgnet, B., Zhou, X., Cendes, F., & Dreher, J.-C. (2021). Right temporoparietal junction underlies avoidance of moral transgression in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Neuroscience, 41(8), 1699-1715. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1237-20.2020

5. Baron-Cohen, S. (2020). The pattern seekers: how autism drives human invention. First edition. New York, Basic Books.

6. Grove, R., Hoekstra, R. A., Wierda, M., & Begeer, S. (2018). Special interests and subjective wellbeing in autistic adults. Autism Research: Official Journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 11(5), 766–775. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1931

7. Anat, K., Esther, A.-J., & Nira, M. (2020). Verbal and figural creativity in children with autism spectrum disorder and typical development. Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.559238