When Your Partner is on the Autism Spectrum: Individual Therapy for the Neurotypical Partner
Presented by Sarah Swenson, LMHC on 02-21-2020 at 9 a.m. Pacific (noon Eastern) to 11 a.m. Pacific (2 p.m. Eastern)
In couples where one partner is on the autism spectrum, a sometimes underserved and misdiagnosed person is the neurotypical partner. In therapy, the neurotypical partner may describe depression, anxiety, debilitating loneliness, exhaustion, and no sex life. They may describe living with their partner like they are roommates or feeling like their partner's parent. Their friends, family, or previous therapists may have misunderstood their relationship experiences, and the client may blame themselves.
In this 2-hour continuing education web conference, Sarah Swenson, LMHC will discuss how mental health clinicians can make sense of the neurotypical partner’s story in individual therapy. Sarah will also discuss strategies for supporting the neurotypical partner as they unpack relationship challenges they may be experiencing and face difficult decisions in their life.
This intermediate instructional level web conference is designed to help clinicians:
- Discuss seldom considered aspects of autism in undiagnosed adults.
- Compare views of the intimate relationship from both sides of the neurodiverse couple, with emphasis on the experience of the neurotypical partner who is seeking treatment.
- Explain the complexity of issues and long-term impact that may be unique to a neurodiverse partnership.
- Discuss the role of complex posttraumatic stress (CPTSD) in a neurotypical partner.
- Assess possibilities for the client including what cannot be changed and how they can be supported to move forward.
Statement of program material's accuracy, utility, and risks: None indicated by the presenter.
Declaration of conflicts of interest and commercial support: None.
If you have questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us here.
Continuing Education (CE) Information
2 CE contact hours will be provided by GoodTherapy for attending this web conference in its entirety.
To receive CE credit hours for a recorded event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Recorded CE events are generally considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.
GoodTherapy is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within Counseling Services.
GoodTherapy is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.
GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2022 – 3/30/2025. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.
GoodTherapy is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395.
GoodTherapy, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.
To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.
Registration Information
Premium and Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no additional cost. Not yet a member? Sign up for a Premium or Pro Membership, here.
Mental health professionals who are not members can attend this live web conference for $30.95 or access the homestudy recording for $15.50. Sign up here to purchase this CE course and earn a CE certificate.
If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded
If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.
Meet the Presenter
Sarah Swenson, LMHC
Sarah Swenson, LMHC is a psychotherapist in private practice in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, home of some of the world's largest information technology companies. Because of the high occurrence of autism among members of the IT workforce, she specializes in working with couples in which one partner is on the autism spectrum and the other is neurotypical.
Sarah is a former dean of students, museum educator, and surgical photographer who returned to graduate school when her own children went off to college. Her lifelong interest in high intelligence, coupled with personal experience of adults with undiagnosed ASD, led to her working with couples struggling with misdiagnosed or undiagnosed autism.
Sarah is fluent in four languages and provides coaching services for clients around the world. She also offers consultation services to therapists about working with neurodiverse couples.
Sarah is currently working on her first book with the working title Twenty Questions and Twenty Answers for Couples Facing Autism Spectrum – and for the Therapists who Support Them. Sarah is also an autism spectrum Topic Expert for GoodTherapy.
For more information about Sarah and her work, please visit www.swensoncounseling.com and www.swensoncoaching.com.
Continuing Education Provider Approvals
GoodTherapy.org is Approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
GoodTherapy.org has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6380. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. GoodTherapy.org is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 03/30/2019 - 03/30/2022.- GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0395.
- GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.
Earn CE Credit Hours
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