How Daily Experiences Affect Neurosensitives
Can You See Their Superpowers ?
HIGHLIGHTS FROM AMHCA ’ S 2023 ANNUAL CONFERENCE continued from page 21
• Draining the Receptacle : Once clients realize that they have been collecting gunk , they are ready to empty what has already accumulated . Encourage them to use their imagination to put in one or more drains ( principles of gravity are not required ). I have also had some folks describe the imagery of a sieve or colander to let it go . Remind them it is never necessary to carry the information any longer than necessary . As new emotions and energy enter , address them , and then let them pass through .
How Daily Experiences Affect Neurosensitives
Many common aspects of our daily lives can affect clients who are neurosensitives in many ways — including medical conditions , social situations , family dynamics , transitions , and frustrations . Each of these can be understood and addressed . Here are brief comments on each :
• Medical : Since surprises are perceived by the nervous system of neurosensitives as cues of danger , anyone interacting with a neurosensitive should first clearly communicate what is going to occur before any type of touch or approach .
• Communication / Social Situations : Every interaction is made up of unstated rules . Neurosensitives typically have not received explicit instruction for these scenarios , they don ’ t know how to generalize , and so they are often at a loss in social situations . Unwritten “ rules ” can be explained , and neurosensitives can be guided to see the similarities among different interactions ,
DEEP-DIVE BREAKOUT SESSION Working With ‘ Neurosensitives ’
Optimizing the Client-Therapist Relationship
We all know that a hallmark of a successful therapeutic alliance is the relationship . You create a safe space for your clients verbally , visually , and energetically . When you are calm and connected ( in your own ventral state ), then your client unconsciously recognizes the invitation to join you . I call it “ holding the bowl .” Here are some suggestions to help make this happen .
• Be Your Authentic Self : Neurosensitives need to know that they can trust you since you will be encouraging them to expand their comfort bubble . They have a very strong “ BS radar ” so it is important that you be seen as honest , thus trustworthy . This is easiest when you show your integrity and your real self in every interaction .
• Develop Your Own Intuition and Access to Higher Wisdom : You have a large storehouse of information accessible to you when you bring all your senses together in conjunction with everything that you know about your client and your craft .
• Reduce Your Sensory Output : When your clients are highly aroused , calm your own nervous system and slow your movements , breath , and speech . This in turn invites them to calm .
• Provide a Sensory Space : This might include soft music , the sounds of bubbling water , weighted blankets / vests , fidgets ,
dim lighting , and the opportunity for movement .
which can then help them to be able to generalize from one interaction to another similar type of interaction .
• Family : Parents of neurosensitives experience grief , guilt , and stress , which frequently take their toll on the parents individually , as well as on the marriage . Siblings of neurosensitives often feel as though they receive less of their parents ’ attention and / or find themselves relied on to care for their sibling .
• Difficult Transitions : Since they already struggle with multiple daily “ surprises ” from their nervous systems , many neurosensitives experience unexpected events in their daily routines as extremely problematic . LCMHCs who work with neurosensitive clients can be helpful to them by providing social stories ( in pictures or words ) to help them process what is happening , what is familiar , and to trust that they are okay .
• Meltdowns vs Tantrums : It may look like willful behavior because when a neurosensitive doesn ’ t get what they want they throw a tantrum , but if you look at the antecedents of the tantrum ( everything that came before ) you are likely to see that the neurosensitive is reacting to sensory overload , and their nervous system has reached its capacity ( meltdown ).
Can You See Their Superpowers ?
It ’ s easy for us LCMHCs to focus only on the challenges that come with having neurosensitive clients . But this approach leads to pathologizing neurosensitivity as well as assuming that people who are neurosensitive require a cure . However , most of their challenges arise because our social structure and institutions do not adequately support neurosensitives in schools and workplaces . And too many — family , professionals , peers — see a disorder
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22 The Advocate Magazine 2023 , Issue # 2 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org