Episode 105 : The Beauty and Burden of Autism with Dr. Sandra Paulsen

One Thing with Dr. Adam Rinde

In episode 105 of the One Thing Podcast, Dr. Adam Rinde interviews Dr. Sandra Paulsen, a renowned psychologist and author, about her professional journey and expertise in psychotherapy, focusing on her work with autism and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Dr. Paulsen discusses her own experiences with autism, her approach to treating trauma in autistic patients, and the need for gentle, tailored interventions due to their sensitive nervous systems. She also touches on the complexities and gifts of autism, the importance of recognizing emotional and physical sensations in therapy, and her use of visual aids and cartoons. Throughout the episode, Dr.Paulsen addresses controversial topics in the autism field, talks about her newest book, 'The Beauty and Burden of Autism,' and shares insights on the unterconnectedness of autism with other conditions like anxiety, PTSD, and OCD. Dr. Rinde and Dr. Paulsen reflect on the challenges and future prospects for those on the autism spectrum, emphasizing the importance of support and tailored therapeutic approaches.

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

04:31 Dr. Sandra Paulson's Professional Journey

07:36 Discovering and Embracing Autism

09:42 The Beauty and Burden of Autism

17:27 Controversies and Misconceptions in Autism

31:35 Exploring Autism in Women

32:09 Challenges in Relationships

34:20 Masking and Camouflage

37:44 Spoon Theory and Terminology

39:36 Overlap of Conditions

42:31 Managing Sensory Overload

44:03 Therapeutic Approaches

46:45 Understanding Alexithymia

51:56 Diet and Environmental Factors

53:51 Future Hopes and Insights

01:00:09 Conclusion and Resources

About our Guest

Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D., is an international instructor, author and illustrator of principles and procedures for using EMDR with complex trauma including structural and somatic dissociation and trauma held in implicit memory. Her books include coediting The Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation: Toward an Embodied Self. She wrote and illustrated Looking Through the Eyes of Trauma: An Illustrated Guide for EMDR Therapists and Clients; and When There Are No Words: EMDR for Very Early Trauma in Implicit Memory, and coauthored We’re Listening Body: Integrating EMDR, Somatic and Ego State Therapies.

2024 publications will include: The Beauty and Burden of Autism: An Illustrated Guide and Workbook, and Indigenous Trauma and Dissociation: Healers, Psychotherapies and the Drum, with Shelley Spear Chief. She also coauthored and illustrated a children's book that is also useful for dissociative adults called All the Colors of Me: My First Book on Dissociation. Sandra is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.

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