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Autism in Polyvagal Terms: New Possibilities and Interventions
A vital new framework for working with clients on the spectrum.
By presenting the autism diagnosis through the lens of a disordered nervous system-that is, by applying Polyvagal Theory-this book opens new avenues for intervention and treatment, while challenging age-old assumptions of what autism means and how it presents itself.
Here, Sean Inderbitzen-a therapist as well as someone living with autism-encourages clinicians to conceptualize their autistic clients' difficulties with social interactions and cognitive flexibility through a polyvagal lens. Inderbitzen argues that individuals with autism can be thought of as having deficits in accessing their ventral vagal nervous system-the system which promotes flexibility and connection to others. The book explores strategies to address these challenges through familiar tools such as motivational interviewing, clinical social work pedagogy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, mindfulness, biofeedback, and cultivating a sense of safety. Autism in Polyvagal Terms is an essential new text for anyone who works with individuals on the autism spectrum.
By presenting the autism diagnosis through the lens of a disordered nervous system-that is, by applying Polyvagal Theory-this book opens new avenues for intervention and treatment, while challenging age-old assumptions of what autism means and how it presents itself.
Here, Sean Inderbitzen-a therapist as well as someone living with autism-encourages clinicians to conceptualize their autistic clients' difficulties with social interactions and cognitive flexibility through a polyvagal lens. Inderbitzen argues that individuals with autism can be thought of as having deficits in accessing their ventral vagal nervous system-the system which promotes flexibility and connection to others. The book explores strategies to address these challenges through familiar tools such as motivational interviewing, clinical social work pedagogy, sensorimotor psychotherapy, mindfulness, biofeedback, and cultivating a sense of safety. Autism in Polyvagal Terms is an essential new text for anyone who works with individuals on the autism spectrum.
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Published September 10, 2024
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January 9, 2025[I won’t “rate” this book, but please be careful/thoughtful if you choose to read it.]
Guess I must have had some underlying basic assumptions when I saw this book was written by an openly autistic author… but maybe I should have listened more carefully to my initial alert signals at the Introduction’s opening sentence:
“My experience with autism started at 18 and has carried with me to now.”
Upon reflection, I only slightly adjusted my expectations when I read this sentence because I thought it was possible that the wording might have been a bit misleading… I assumed that the author must know that autism is inherent to the person (not acquired), and that a person is autistic in utero and across the entire lifespan, whether ever identified or not. I thought the author likely meant that they didn’t learn that they were autistic until age 18, but part of me also knew the wording wasn’t ambiguous enough to be 100% certain that the author did NOT believe they “became” autistic at age 18…
While I did find some interesting information, I often found parts of the analyses and discussions to be baffling (ex. inconsistent or even counterintuitive) to the point that it felt like gaslighting. Highlights the importance of autistic wisdom/insights, then later claims the foundations of ABA were just lovely. (!!!)
The author’s outright rejection of social models of disability and neurodiversity theory were embedded in one of the chapters (near the ABA apologist section) and in the last chapter (Ch. 10). These (clearly very strong) viewpoints had not been disclosed upfront, so I was startled both times at these seemingly out-of-the-blue hard counter-stances. They also felt incongruent with other assertions made in the book that could be viewed as informed by social models and neurodiversity theories.
I think it would be more honest and ethical to openly disclose positionality/biases (ex. anti-neurodiversity) in the introduction and in the book description and/or back cover so that reader can keep that in mind when deciding whether to read it and when interpreting/contextualizing the frameworks, analyses, recommendations, etc.
I’m unsure whether to expect similar standpoints and rhetorics from other polyvagal theorists, but it seems that this may be standard justification for this field specialization and maybe not unique to this author … which is a shame since I do agree that the nervous system is a central factor in fully understanding patterns of autistic experiences of safety and distress, including impacts on daily life as well as outcomes across the lifespan.
I’m not convinced at all that the social model of disability or neurodiversity theory are somehow incompatible with the study of autistic nervous systems. On the contrary, I think they could complement each other to further advance more ethical applied science possibilities (ex. systems-level environmental adaptations to decrease autistic distress and suffering) through methods rooted in care and justice, not forced or coerced assimilation rooted in behaviorist principles and practices.
Based on some of the (seemingly contradictory) statements made throughout this the book, I think the author might have actually come to similar conclusions about more systems-level applications of polyvagal framework concepts… if not for the misrepresentation or misapplication of certain models/theories (ex. oversimplification of social models of disability, whitewashing of documented violent histories behind ABA, etc.). :(
Guess I must have had some underlying basic assumptions when I saw this book was written by an openly autistic author… but maybe I should have listened more carefully to my initial alert signals at the Introduction’s opening sentence:
“My experience with autism started at 18 and has carried with me to now.”
Upon reflection, I only slightly adjusted my expectations when I read this sentence because I thought it was possible that the wording might have been a bit misleading… I assumed that the author must know that autism is inherent to the person (not acquired), and that a person is autistic in utero and across the entire lifespan, whether ever identified or not. I thought the author likely meant that they didn’t learn that they were autistic until age 18, but part of me also knew the wording wasn’t ambiguous enough to be 100% certain that the author did NOT believe they “became” autistic at age 18…
While I did find some interesting information, I often found parts of the analyses and discussions to be baffling (ex. inconsistent or even counterintuitive) to the point that it felt like gaslighting. Highlights the importance of autistic wisdom/insights, then later claims the foundations of ABA were just lovely. (!!!)
The author’s outright rejection of social models of disability and neurodiversity theory were embedded in one of the chapters (near the ABA apologist section) and in the last chapter (Ch. 10). These (clearly very strong) viewpoints had not been disclosed upfront, so I was startled both times at these seemingly out-of-the-blue hard counter-stances. They also felt incongruent with other assertions made in the book that could be viewed as informed by social models and neurodiversity theories.
I think it would be more honest and ethical to openly disclose positionality/biases (ex. anti-neurodiversity) in the introduction and in the book description and/or back cover so that reader can keep that in mind when deciding whether to read it and when interpreting/contextualizing the frameworks, analyses, recommendations, etc.
I’m unsure whether to expect similar standpoints and rhetorics from other polyvagal theorists, but it seems that this may be standard justification for this field specialization and maybe not unique to this author … which is a shame since I do agree that the nervous system is a central factor in fully understanding patterns of autistic experiences of safety and distress, including impacts on daily life as well as outcomes across the lifespan.
I’m not convinced at all that the social model of disability or neurodiversity theory are somehow incompatible with the study of autistic nervous systems. On the contrary, I think they could complement each other to further advance more ethical applied science possibilities (ex. systems-level environmental adaptations to decrease autistic distress and suffering) through methods rooted in care and justice, not forced or coerced assimilation rooted in behaviorist principles and practices.
Based on some of the (seemingly contradictory) statements made throughout this the book, I think the author might have actually come to similar conclusions about more systems-level applications of polyvagal framework concepts… if not for the misrepresentation or misapplication of certain models/theories (ex. oversimplification of social models of disability, whitewashing of documented violent histories behind ABA, etc.). :(
August 17, 2024
This is a refreshing reframing of autism and a shift in the perspective it’s seen through and in ways that it’s managed. It’s a perspective that’s more strengths-focused and hopeful, but also realistic.
I think what I appreciated most was the focus on kindness and creating a sense of safety for clients, both in session and in the person’s body and life. My favorite quote from the book is, “Safety, not demand, is what will lead to change.” Too often the approach to people having difficulties is punitive. If punishment or shame worked, we therapists wouldn’t have jobs.
Therapists who want to learn research-backed ways to support their autistic clients and to craft a more compassionate therapeutic approach will greatly benefit from this book.
Many thanks to the publisher and the author for providing me an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
I think what I appreciated most was the focus on kindness and creating a sense of safety for clients, both in session and in the person’s body and life. My favorite quote from the book is, “Safety, not demand, is what will lead to change.” Too often the approach to people having difficulties is punitive. If punishment or shame worked, we therapists wouldn’t have jobs.
Therapists who want to learn research-backed ways to support their autistic clients and to craft a more compassionate therapeutic approach will greatly benefit from this book.
Many thanks to the publisher and the author for providing me an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
August 10, 2025
As an individual with autism and ADHD, I found that this book offered the potential for treatment interventions that allow the autistic individual to manage their own life and condition being framed in a positive light. It’s not a cure, but a strategy for managing the differences in how Neurodiverse brain process information.
December 8, 2025
I feel like a better version of this book could exist, but I'm only giving it four stars instead of three stars because there are some key ideas here that I found really helpful.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews