Therapy question

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What do people think about therapy aimed at making a person more neurotypical?

ABA?

I have the feeling that therapy would not make the person, in actuality, "more neurotypical."

Instead, this therapy would aim at enabling the Spectrumite to adapt better to the neurotypical world, while remaining a Spectrumite.

Not ABA, therapy for an adult to look more neurotypical, act at all times neurotypical.

This is being presented as a good thing.

I am not sure at all. What to think, what to do.

Not talking about ADLs or giving people their space or not being too loud or too quiet. Thinking, speaking, expecting, and acting normal.

I would guess that this is some kind of "cognitive" therapy

If it will ease the transition to independence, away from dependence, I'm all for it.

Spectrumite have lots of talents which can be utilized if given the opportunity. Independence increases those opportunities.

I would hope that this therapy doesn't "smack the autism" out of a person, like ABA might. It makes darn sure that the "essence" of what makes the Spectrumite his/her own individual person remains.

I believe it is important for a Spectrumite to be able to adapt to the neurotypical world. Temple Grandin takes that stance.

There are neurotypicals who only see results obtained, rather than the means used to obtain those results. Even if the results were obtained in an "abnormal" matter, according to these neurotypicals, it's the results that count. Temple Grandin was fortunate to encounter such neurotypicals. They saw that her inventions would ease the pain of farm animals, and would make money to boot. Who cares, according to that viewpoint, HOW the ideas were formulated?

I know what you mean.

If something doesn't come naturally, it takes practice and experience. Don't give up yet.

Truthfully, most neurotypicals are oblivious as well. Not all of them look for the slightest social faux pas.

As for me, I tried therapy once (several sessions). My goal was not to become NT because I am autistic. I am satisfied being autistic. My goal was to try to be better at eye contact and a few other issues that can make my life challenging in the NT world. But in the end, I am me, and it would be very difficult to change that. Difficult? Yes, because I don't want to change. The people in my life know me the way I am. And that I shall remain. What has happened though is that people in my life now understand why I am the way I am. And this understanding has made the big difference.

This video seems kind of relevant. The speaker suggests that he taught himself to behave just like an NT through years of studying and practice, and that this made him happy. I think he sees it as authentic to do so, since he is still communicating his true meaning, but has learned to do it in a way that will be understood by NTs. However, he also says that with some of his closest friends he feels comfortable showing them his "real self", and really enjoys this.

VIDEO LINK

A lot of my therapy focused around better understanding what was going on around me and being able to consciously response in an more NT way if I so desired. It was very insightful - a lot of "ah-ha" moments.

Kind of like a toolkit to help me "pretend to be normal" better. I think the psychologist had called it "mindfulness" or "mindful cognition".

All that being said, I was encouraged to accept who I am and appreciate what my "aspieness" could bring to the equation.

I don't like the idea. I like the idea of treating specific problems (aka symptoms). I don't see how one could become more neurotypical. Is there research that demonstrates autistic people can be made more neurotypical?

I think trying to be NT all the time sounds exhausting. If I had to do that, I'd probably melt down and blow my cover. Practical as the application of this therapy may be, I'm still rather saddened by the fact that, because we are the minority, we have to change ourselves so the majority will understand and accept us. I'm still waiting for the day when we can be exactly who we are and have NTs understand and acknowledge us entirely. It's far simpler to research a mental disorder to get a better understanding of someone than it is to try and pretend like you have a different neurology 24/7. That said, it would be a good idea for autistics to research NTs as well, so that when the time comes, from a theoretical perspective, we understand them as well as they understand us.

Asperger's isn't a problem for me. I have other underlying mental health issues, like really bad panic disorder and and anxiety that I'm going to try to take care of with therapy soon.