Gestalt Therapy and ASD

🔑 Key Points from

“A Challenging, Unpredictable World for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder”

(Marie Gomot & Bruno Wicker, 2011)

• Unpredictability is stressful – Many autistic individuals feel anxious in environments that are fast-paced or constantly changing.

• Sensitivity to sensory input – Sounds, lights, textures, or even changes in routine can be overwhelming.

• Neurological differences in processing change – Autistic brains tend to react more intensely to unexpected events and take longer to adapt.

• Detail-oriented thinking – People with ASD often focus strongly on details, which can be a strength, but may make it harder to see the “big picture.”

• Struggles with generalisation – Learning in one context may not easily transfer to another unless it’s made explicit.

  
  

💡 Strengths of Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Deep focus and persistence – Many autistic individuals can engage deeply in subjects they care about, often becoming highly skilled.

• Strong sense of justice and honesty – There is often a clear inner compass that values truth and fairness.

• Creative problem-solving – Thinking differently means solutions others may not consider can emerge naturally.

• Unique sensory connection to the world – Some autistic people experience vivid, textured, or detailed sensory worlds, which can be rich and expressive.

• Direct communication – Often communicates without hidden meanings, offering clarity and sincerity.

🧭 How Gestalt Therapy Can Help – Grounded, Real-Life Support

• Builds present-moment awareness

  
  

  • Helps clients notice and describe what they feel in the here and now without judgment.

  • Useful for grounding during sensory overload or emotional overwhelm.

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• Validates sensory and emotional experiences

  
  

  • Gestalt therapists treat experiences—no matter how intense or different—as meaningful, not pathological.

  • This invites self-acceptance, especially for those who have been told to “mask” or hide their differences.

    
    

• Works with strengths, not deficits

  
  

  • Deep focus and detailed observation are welcomed, not discouraged.

  • These can be used in therapy to bring rich insights into patterns, relationships, and bodily awareness.

  
  

• Supports integration and flexibility

  
  

  • Gestalt experiments (e.g. role play, movement, drawing) help gently expand the ability to tolerate and explore new experiences.

  • This is done collaboratively, with consent and at the client’s pace.

  
  

• Encourages co-regulation and connection

  
  

  • The therapist’s presence, attunement, and consistency provide safety, which can make relational work possible—even when past experiences of connection have been difficult.

✅ Summary Table

🌱 Final Thought

Gestalt therapy meets neurodivergent clients where they are—with presence, respect, and flexibility. It supports autistic individuals not by trying to change who they are, but by strengthening awareness, offering tools for regulation, and creating space for their natural strengths to be seen, honoured, and integrated.

At Terra Soul Therapies, I offer a neurodiversity-affirming approach where you can come as you are, and explore what healing looks like for you.