Ep. 108 Why Trauma-Informed Therapy is a Non-Negotiable for Autistic Kids

Trauma doesn’t always look like abuse - it can be subtle, ongoing, and systemic. And for autistic kids, many “traditional” or compliance-based therapy approaches can actually retraumatize the very children we’re trying to support.

In this episode, we'll break down how familiar methods like suppressing stims, forcing eye contact, withholding AAC, or correcting natural autistic communication can trigger the nervous system into protection mode.

We’ll talk about what it truly means to follow a trauma-informed approach. And why this shift is a non-negotiable one.

On this episode, you'll learn:

• What trauma-informed therapy actually means and why it’s essential for autistic kids.
• How trauma shows up in the nervous system, communication, and behavior.
• Why traditional compliance-based methods can be traumatizing for autistic kids
• Practical strategies to support regulation, learning, and connection without relying on compliance.

Want access to our Trauma & Regulation Lens Packet? It's available in our NeuroAffirm Academy: www.neuraffirmacademy.com