Autistic people and trauma
Autistic people are more likely to experience trauma and to have experienced adverse childhood events. Furthermore, autistic people often have challenges with changes in routines, social interactions and stimulating sensory environments. This is because they often have a different style of communication when compared with neurotypical people and can have altered sensory perception.
Consequently, some autistic people may experience some events, which a neurotypical person may consider to be a normal experience or ‘everyday stress’, as traumatic. For example, transitions such as a change in working environment, experiencing sensory overwhelm and social interactions or negative social experiences.
Around a third of autistic people meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder at some point in their lives. Symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder include flashbacks, dissociation, intrusive thoughts, emotional distress and upsetting bodily experiences. A person affected by post-traumatic stress disorder may then avoid triggering situations or places, experience low mood and become dysregulated.
Thankfully there is hope. Clients can experience new possibilities as they grieve what has been lost and re-evaluate what remains.
Re-evaluating the different pieces of our life and using them to build something new can often result in our greatest transformations.
Doctor Divergent, 2025
Self-help techniques
Clients can improve trauma symptoms through self-help techniques. These include:
- Increasing self-awareness
- Committing to the belief that a better future is possible
- Offering themselves kindness and compassion
Autistic people who struggle with self-awareness may benefit from humanistic or other non-directive approaches, creating a safe environment for self-exploration by offering the core conditions, listening to the clients story and reflecting this back to the client.
If these methods are unsuccessful or there is complex trauma such as multiple traumatic events or early childhood trauma, specialist support may be needed.
Specialist support
Trauma-focussed cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing are often used as a psychological intervention. Some people may also benefit from psychotropic medication such as antidepressants or antipsychotics, especially in the short term if they are experiencing severe symptoms.
Autistic people may require adaptations to these psychological interventions. For Example, TF-CBT may require therapists to support autistic people to identify their emotions, use a slower pace and provide clear instructions. Therapists using EMDR may need to help autistic people better regulate their emotions through extending the preparation phase and adapt their bilateral stimulation methods according to individual sensory sensitivities.
This article was written by Dr Jackie on behalf of Doctor Divergent Ltd. If you would like to know more about how Doctor Divergent can help you transform traumatic experiences into growth then please click here to enquire about our individual therapeutic support.