For two decades, the Early Trauma approach of EMDR has structured modification to the standard EMDR protocol needed to address and repair very early trauma in the attachment period (O’Shea and Paulsen, 2006; Paulsen, 2017). In the last decade, there has been increasing awareness of modifications needed to administer EMDR to those on the autism spectrum (Sherri Paulson, 2022; Sandra Paulsen, 2024).

Only recently has there been a focus on the intersection of those two domains, namely, how can one do early trauma repair with those adults on the autism spectrum without overwhelming their sensitive nervous systems. Additionally, given that autism itself is associated with chronic traumatization beginning in the attachment period for many, and leading through childhood and beyond, the need to distinguish between somatic dissociation, alexithymia, structural dissociation when addressing attachment injuries, bullying, social rejection, victimization due to autistic vulnerability or naivete, and more makes the topic quite complex.

In this workshop, Paulsen will introduce the key elements of the intersection of these areas, including:

An overview of the Early Trauma modifications of EMDR for addressing trauma held in implicit memory from the attachment period (O’Shea and Paulsen, 2006; O’Shea 2009a, 2009b; Lanius, Paulsen, & Corrigan, 2015; Paulsen, 2017)
A brief overview of Neuroaffective Embodied Self Therapy (NEST), which is the integration of affect regulation strategies, somatic and ego state therapies, and the Early Trauma approach) often administered in the intensive format (Paulsen, 2017; 2018)
The challenge of distinguishing autistic alexithymia, somatic dissociation, and structural dissociation (Reuben, 2023, Paulsen, 2024) when doing EMDR and especially Early Trauma EMDR, and mitigating those challenges with somatic therapy and/or low dose naltrexone (Lanius & Corrigan, 2015)
Key phenomena associated with those on the autism spectrum germane to doing clinical work including: alexithymia, chronic traumatization, difficulty with transitions, delayed processing, meltdowns and shutdowns, autistic inertia, and more
An overview of working in the intensive format and the risks and benefits of doing so. The intensive format may offer special challenges for those on the autism spectrum, due to central nervous system sensitivities, a narrower window of tolerance and risk of affect overwhelm, delayed processing and more

For each of these subtopics, the workshop will offer suggestions for what clinicians should be alert to beginning at intake and through EMDR work, and how to mitigate the risks of using EMDR and Early Trauma EMDR with those on the autism spectrum.