Feb 2022 – Autism

Hi and Welcome to Feb 2022’s Blog,

Already, I can see signs of Spring, baby lambs, tulips starting to sprout and the snowdrops are out already.  It’s so nice to have the evenings drawing out and getting a bit lighter every day, we are getting about 15 minutes a week, not that I’m counting !!! Yes I’m excited for Spring on 20th March.

Its been a busy month and I’m seeing a variety of clients, young and old with many different issues and conditions that solution focused hypnotherapy can help with.

I thought this month I’d write about autism and how hypnotherapy can help.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world. Autism is a neuro-developmental condition, which means an individual’s brain processes, thinks, and responds to people, information, and the world around them slightly differently.  One in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and there are around 700,000 autistic adults and children in the UK. It is more prevalent in males than females with 1 out of every 88 children being diagnosed. Whilst the associated difficulties are well documented, it also brings with it many strengths, which is why I promote a strength-based, solution focused.

Here are some difficulties autistic people may share.

  • Social communication and social interaction challenges
  • High levels of anxiety
  • Shutdowns and meltdowns
  • Repetitive and restrictive behaviours
  • Highly focussed hobbies/interests
  • Sensory sensitivity – smell, touch, light, sound or taste

The characteristics of autism vary from one person to another.  Autistic people do not have any visible disabilities, its hidden and people who do not understand autism or recognise the signs may say, for example, that a child is simply being naughty when it is expressing frustration etc. The majority of people both adults and children with autism often have communication and anxiety issues to some degree.
Autism is not an illness or a disease and cannot be ‘cured.’ Despite that there are many interventions that effectively help autistic people with their lives.

Hypnotherapy is one of these and involves guided relaxation and stress reduction which helps reduce and manage anxiety allowing the mind to be open to suggestions, to create new thinking patterns and habits allowing new positive progress at a pace that suits the client.

Hypnotherapy can help build self esteem, confidence to cope better with every day living and deal more calmly with the ups and downs of every day life. We promote and encourage self regulation, provide tools for managing and controlling the symptoms that autism has enabling a person to function better in society.

I often help and advise parents of children with autism how they can assist their children. A parent who is calm and relaxed, rather than frustrated and stressed can better encourage their child with autism to modify behaviour and encourage self-regulation. A parent may identify their child’s signs of stress and when this happens can help practise what has been learnt i.e. to practice the breathing exercises we did in session.

 

If you are interested in finding out more or booking a free initial consultation please do get in contact with me on 07516 962361.

Best wishes,
Louise

Useful Information links.

National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk)

Help and support (autism.org.uk)

Babcock LDP – COVID-19 resources from the communication and interaction team

Autism Education Trust