18 | Candice Christiansen - On The Spectrum

Do you understand what it means to be on the Autism spectrum? Do you (or someone you know) wonder if you might be on that spectrum? The Autism spectrum is widely misunderstood as being a severe diagnosis, but there are so many subtleties in that diagnosis that many people don't even know if they are on it themselves. The Autism spectrum includes experiences such as: Consistently missing or misinterpreting social cues, Having difficulty making eye-contact, Feeling socially awkward without knowing how to participate in conversations, and Having a high sensitivity to noises, lights, and touch. In this episode we explore what it means to be on the Autism spectrum as well as how to apply the most amount of self-care to yourself or others with this diagnosis. Our interview with Candice Christiansen teaches us: 1) How to self-assess for the Autism spectrum, 2) How to best interact with others on the spectrum for the benefit of everyone involved, and 3) What resources are available to help those on the spectrum. 

Candice Christiansen, M.Ed., LCMHC, is passionate about treating all human beings
with dignity and respect. As an autistic woman, a child sexual abuse survivor, licensed
clinician, and an intimacy and trauma expert, Candice has dedicated the last 20 years
working with individuals with attachment based disorders stemming from overt and
covert developmental trauma.Her programs, Namasté Center for Healing and The
Global Prevention Project are internationally known for treating cisgender, transgender,
nonbinary individuals as well as those on the autism spectrum who have a variety of
intimacy issues, and complex trauma. Candice is the author of the internationally known
workbook Mastering The Trauma Wound: A Mindful Approach to Healing Trauma and
Creating Healthier Relationships(©2016). Candice and her husband Chris will be
launching the Autism and Intimacy Podcast later this year. She enjoys traveling to Maui
multiple times a year and snorkeling, hiking, and playing on the beach.