Skip to main content

Accommodating Autism with Early Trauma EMDR: The Challenges of Alexithymia, Dissociation and the Window of Tolerance

altAccommodating Autism with Early Trauma EMDR: The Challenges of Alexithymia, Dissociation and the Window of Tolerance

altInstructor: Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D.

alt Approved for 2.0 Hours of CE Credit

altFulfills License Requirements

Paulsen 

Program Description:

For two decades, the Early Trauma approach of EMDR has structured modification to the standard EMDR protocol needed to address and repair very early trauma in the attachment period (O’Shea and Paulsen, 2006; Paulsen, 2017). In the last decade, there has been increasing awareness of modifications needed to administer EMDR to those on the autism spectrum (Sherri Paulson, 2022; Sandra Paulsen, 2024). Only recently has there been a focus on the intersection of those two domains, namely, how can one do early trauma repair with those adults on the autism spectrum without overwhelming their sensitive nervous systems. Additionally, given that autism itself is associated with chronic traumatization beginning in the attachment period for many, and leading through childhood and beyond, the need to distinguish between somatic dissociation, alexithymia, structural dissociation when addressing attachment injuries, bullying, social rejection, victimization due to autistic vulnerability or naivete, and more makes the topic quite complex.

In this workshop, Paulsen will introduce the key elements of the intersection of these areas, including:

  1. An overview of the Early Trauma modifications of EMDR for addressing trauma held in implicit memory from the attachment period (O’Shea and Paulsen, 2006; O’Shea 2009a, 2009b; Lanius, Paulsen, & Corrigan, 2015; Paulsen, 2017)
  2. A brief overview of Neuroaffective Embodied Self Therapy (NEST), which is the integration of affect regulation strategies, somatic and ego state therapies, and the Early Trauma approach) often administered in the intensive format (Paulsen, 2017; 2018).
  3. The challenge of distinguishing autistic alexithymia, somatic dissociation, and structural dissociation (Reuben, 2023, Paulsen, 2024) when doing EMDR and especially Early Trauma EMDR, and mitigating those challenges with somatic therapy and/or low dose naltrexone (Lanius & Corrigan, 2015).
  4. Key phenomena associated with those on the autism spectrum germane to doing clinical work including: alexithymia, chronic traumatization, difficulty with transitions, delayed processing, meltdowns and shutdowns, autistic inertia, and more.
  5. An overview of working in the intensive format and the risks and benefits of doing so.

The intensive format may offer special challenges for those on the autism spectrum, due to central nervous system sensitivities, a narrower window of tolerance and risk of affect overwhelm, delayed processing and more. For each of these subtopics, the workshop will offer suggestions for what clinicians should be alert to beginning at intake and through EMDR work, and how to mitigate the risks of using EMDR and Early Trauma EMDR with those on the autism spectrum.

Want to learn more about this course? Learn why Sanrda Paulsen developed it in this short video.

Goals & Objectives:

At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify six commonly found features of adults on the autism spectrum that can affect Early Trauma EMDR processing and its sequelae.
  2. List three benefits and three hazards of working in the intensive format with those adults on the autism spectrum.
  3. List three similarities and one difference between the alexithymia found in autism and the alexithymia found in somatically dissociative neurotypical individuals.
  4. List four types of trauma commonly found in adults on the autism spectrum.

 

Registration Information
 
  $99.00

 

CE Approval Information

  • EMDRIA Approval #15002-DL99
  • The Steve Frankel Group, LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to sponsor continuing education for Psychologists.
  • This course is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) for its licentiates' CE license renewal requirements.
  • The Steve Frankel Group, LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course meets the qualifications for 2.0 hours of CE credit for Psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, and LPCCs.
  • SFG is an approved EMDRIA International CE Credit Provider, #15002 and maintains responsibility for its EMDR courses’ programs and contents in accordance with EMDRIA Standards.

emdr, paulsen, autism, intermediate, advanced, emdr-135

Copyright Notice 
By Registering for Dr. Paulsen’s webinars, or shopping and/or purchasing an SFG on-demand course presented by her, your acceptance of these copyright terms is implied and acknowledged:
 
©2015-2025, Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D., ALL Rights Reserved, including, but not limited to all course and training intellectual property such as course content materials, including cartoons, charts and illustrations, dramatization videos, anonymized client-consented recordings, and all other writings as defined by Washington State Evidence Code, Rule 1001 (a)-(d), regardless of the manner in which the record was stored.

By your registration, exposure to, or purchase of Sandra Paulsen’s reserved copyright claims, your continued use of the SFG website and/ Zoom account/YouTube/FaceBook/Twitter/Instagram accounts following the posting of this policy will be deemed your acceptance of those changes.