Author: Sue Gregory (2020)
Published in: British Gestalt Journal, 29(2), 27–32
🔍 Rethinking Autism in Therapy
Gregory invites therapists to shift from a medicalised view of autism to one that:
- Embraces neurodivergent experience as valid and whole
- Moves away from “normalising” or fixing behaviour
- Focuses on building trust and genuine relationship
🌿 Sensory and Relational Experience
Autistic people often experience the world in intensely sensory and relational ways:
- Their way of processing can differ greatly from neurotypical patterns
- Sensory overwhelm, shutdowns, and nonlinear expression are often misunderstood
- These are not dysfunctions, but different ways of engaging with the world
🧘♀️ The Role of the Therapist
Therapists are encouraged to:
- Slow down and attune to the client’s rhythm
- Honour silence, pacing, and sensory needs
- Avoid pushing for verbal or behavioural responses that conform to neurotypical norms
- Stay present and co-regulate rather than interpret or fix
🤝 Gestalt Principles in Practice
Gregory draws on key Gestalt therapy principles to support neurodivergent clients:
- Phenomenological attitude – meet the client without preconception
- Present-moment contact – explore what is emerging in the now
- Relational field – acknowledge the co-created dynamic between therapist and client
- Support over change – change happens when we become more of who we are, not less
💬 Key Message
Therapists must create space for authenticity, not adaptation.
Autistic people deserve support that:
- Validates their lived experience
- Respects their sensory and relational world
- Meets them where they are, not where society expects them to be
📌 Why It Matters
This article is a valuable read for any therapist or support professional who:
- Works with autistic or neurodivergent clients
- Wants to move beyond behavioural models
- Believes in inclusive, respectful, and embodied therapeutic practice
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