Are you or your partner on the autism spectrum?

Are you or your partner on the autism spectrum? Whether you've been officially diagnosed or simply suspect that it may be possible, trying couples therapy will likely be a great way to strengthen your relationship. Relationships are difficult enough, and therapy can help provide you with a secure and non-judgmental environment that can facilitate effective communication.

Most couples have different communication styles, especially when relationships are "neurodiverse", which can make communication even more challenging. Neurodiverse romantic relationships include at least one or more neurodivergent partners. There is a natural variation in neurological differences that occur naturally in all humans, and neurodivergence is most commonly associated with Autism and ADHD, but it also applies to difference in learning and sensory differences, such as Dyslexia, Sensory Processing Difficulties, etc.

Engaging in couples therapy can help both partners express their needs, wants, expectations, dreams, and fears. Couples therapy can be especially beneficial if communication has been a struggle in your relationship. It can help you learn new communication skills and provide an unbiased third-party perspective that cares for both partners and helps them overcome their differences.

Some of the most common conflicts in neurodiverse couples include assumptions about what the other person is thinking (mindreading), premature conclusions (judgments about what a partner's intentions), frequent misunderstandings, loneliness and not feeling cared about, defensiveness, criticism, and pathologizing of differences (viewing differences as "less than", "bad", or "wrong" rather than simply different or even a strength).

If you are considering couples therapy, it is vital to find a therapist who has experience working with autism. ADHD, or any other neurodiversity in your relationship. An expert couples therapist who has experience helping couples navigate neurodiversity can provide the specialized guidance and support you need to build a strong and healthy relationship.

Click on the bottom link to watch our latest video on this full topic in detail, with our Director and Gottman-Trained therapist at Couples Counseling ATL, Stephanie Cook, where she explains more!

Finally, stay tuned these next couple of weeks to learn more about different upcoming topics, and please reach out if there are additional topics you'd like to hear more about!

Click on the bottom link to watch our latest video on this full topic in detail, with our Director and Gottman-Trained therapist at Couples Counseling ATL, Stephanie Cook, where she explains everything in further detail!