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Autistic individuals are often subjected to trauma when their neurodivergent needs and behaviors are invalidated or misunderstood. This session introduces the Neurodivergent Survival Cycle to help clinicians recognize and respond to these patterns.
Tasha Oswald, PhD, (she/her) is a neurodiversity-affirming licensed psychologist and clinical consultant, IFS Level 3 trained and polyvagal-informed. She identifies as a neurodivergent, Caucasian, cisgender female. Dr. Oswald is passionate about addressing the gap in mental health services for autistic adults and youth. For this reason, she founded the adult autism specialty practice, Open Doors Therapy, based in California. She specializes in working with autistic women, autistic working professionals, gifted and neurodivergent individuals, emerging adults on the spectrum, and adults receiving a later life ASD diagnosis. Seeing the transformative power of group therapy for autistic adults, group work is a cornerstone of her practice. Being in the field for nearly 20 years, Dr. Oswald has received extensive training in autism. After completing her PhD in psychology with an autism emphasis, she was awarded an NIH-Funded Autism Research Training Program (ARTP) post-doctoral fellowship. Through this fellowship program, she engaged in interdisciplinary training and research at the world-renowned UC Davis MIND Institute. While at the MIND Institute, she developed and established a therapy group program for young adults on the autism spectrum called the ACCESS Program. She has published autism research in preeminent research journals. Currently, Dr. Oswald is known for her widely read neurodiversity blog and her regular contributions to international media platforms as an authority on autism. A sought-after speaker and advocate, she has delivered presentations at numerous research conferences, autism-focused events, universities, community gatherings, and corporate settings, aiming to increase awareness of mental health issues faced by autistic adults.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Tasha Oswald is the founder and director of Neuro Affirm Institute and Open Doors Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Tasha Oswald has no relevant non-financial relationships.
Cynthia “Cindy” Brown is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor at Open Doors Therapy, where she specializes in supporting Autistic and ADHD adults, particularly those at the intersection of neurodivergence and LGBTQI+ identities. Cindy also provides consultation and clinical training in neuroaffirming, trauma-informed care through the Neurodiversity Training Center.
Identifying as neuroqueer, Cindy brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to her work. She is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity-affirming care and is committed to challenging the widespread misinformation about the Autistic community.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Cynthia Brown has an employment relationship with Open Doors Therapy. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Cynthia Brown is a member of the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors.
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Neurodivergent Trauma
Neurodivergent Survival Cycle
Integrate Trauma-Informed and Neuro-Affirming Approaches
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