EMDR and somatic therapy with a therapist who gets it — because healing shouldn’t require masking.
Many autistic adults carry years of unprocessed trauma — not because they haven’t tried therapy before, but because the therapy they received wasn’t built for the way they think, feel, and experience the world.
An autism-informed therapist understands the nuances that a traditional therapist might miss:
Different negative beliefs. In EMDR, we work with the core beliefs that form around traumatic experiences. For autistic people, these beliefs often look different. Rather than “I’m not safe” or “I’m powerless,” the beliefs that take root may be more like “Something is fundamentally wrong with me,” “I don’t belong anywhere,” or “I will never be understood.” These beliefs are shaped by a lifetime of feeling out of step with a world that wasn’t designed for you — and they require a therapist who recognizes where they come from.
Different traumatic experiences. Autistic people are more likely to have experienced certain kinds of trauma that often go unrecognized: the confusion of not understanding why everyday things feel so much harder for you than they seem to be for everyone else. The invalidation — sometimes subtle, sometimes overt — from parents, teachers, and peers who didn’t understand your needs. The exhaustion of social difficulties and the pain of being misunderstood, excluded, or punished for being yourself. These experiences leave real marks, even when they don’t fit the conventional picture of “trauma.”
Less support after difficult experiences. Research shows that social support after a traumatic event is one of the strongest protective factors against developing lasting trauma symptoms. Autistic people — especially autistic children — are less likely to receive that support. They may not communicate their distress in ways that others recognize, or their reactions may be dismissed as “behavioral issues” rather than understood as a response to something painful. Without that buffering, difficult experiences are more likely to become embedded as trauma.
Symptoms that overlap and get misread. Some features of autism — black-and-white thinking, difficulty with emotional regulation, executive functioning challenges, heightened sensory responses — can look remarkably similar to trauma responses. A therapist who isn’t autism-informed may misattribute these patterns entirely to trauma, leading to interventions that miss the mark. Conversely, real trauma responses in autistic people can be dismissed as “just part of autism.” Getting this right matters enormously for effective treatment.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is one of the most effective, evidence-based treatments for trauma — and it has particular strengths for autistic adults:
It leverages a logical mind. EMDR uses a structured, phased protocol. If you’re someone who appreciates understanding why things work and what will happen next, EMDR’s clear framework can feel more comfortable than open-ended talk therapy. You don’t have to narrate your trauma in detail — the processing happens through guided bilateral stimulation while your brain does the integrative work it already knows how to do.
It builds body awareness. Many autistic people have a complex relationship with interoception — the ability to sense and interpret signals from your own body. Trauma often compounds this by creating disconnection or hypervigilance in the body. EMDR’s focus on noticing physical sensations during processing gently strengthens this mind-body connection, helping you develop a more grounded relationship with your own internal experience.
It doesn’t require “performing” emotions. Unlike some therapeutic approaches that ask you to verbally process feelings in real time, EMDR allows for a more internal processing style. You don’t need to find the “right” words for your emotions during a session. The bilateral stimulation supports your brain’s natural healing process, which can be especially freeing if you’ve ever felt pressure to emote in a way that doesn’t come naturally.
It respects your pace. EMDR includes built-in preparation and stabilization phases before any trauma processing begins. This means we build your capacity for regulation and establish a sense of safety first — which is especially important if your nervous system has been in overdrive for years.
Working with me, you can expect:
A sensory-considerate space. I pay attention to lighting, sound, and the overall environment to make our sessions as comfortable as possible.
Clear communication. I say what I mean, explain what I’m doing and why, and welcome your questions at any point. No guessing games.
No pressure to mask. You can stim, avoid eye contact, take breaks, or communicate in whatever way works for you. Therapy should be a space where you can actually be yourself.
Flexibility in approach. I draw from EMDR, Gestalt therapy, and somatic methods, and I adapt my approach to what works for your brain and body — not the other way around.
I offer in-person sessions at my office on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and for many autistic adults doing trauma work, being in the room together can make a meaningful difference.
EMDR is more effective in person. The bilateral stimulation at the heart of EMDR — whether through eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones — works best when your therapist can read your full range of physical cues in real time. Subtle shifts in posture, breathing, skin color, and muscle tension tell me where you are in the processing and when to adjust the pace. On a screen, much of this information is lost. In person, I can also offer tactile bilateral stimulation, which many people find more grounding than visual or auditory alternatives.
In-person therapy reduces the cognitive load of a screen. For many autistic people, video calls add a layer of sensory and social processing that can be exhausting — managing the awkwardness of eye contact with a camera, the slight audio lag that disrupts conversational rhythm, the flattened body language that makes it harder to read your therapist’s responses. In a physical space, these barriers disappear. You can look where you want, move how you need to, and let the conversation flow more naturally.
The physical space itself becomes part of the therapy. A consistent, sensory-considerate environment — the same room, the same chair, the same lighting — can be deeply regulating for an autistic nervous system. Over time, your body learns that this is a place where it’s safe to process difficult material. That kind of felt safety is hard to replicate through a screen, and it’s one of the most powerful tools in trauma work.
Virtual sessions are also available for those who prefer them or live outside of Manhattan. Both formats are effective — the best therapy is the one you’ll actually show up for.
Autism-informed therapy means your therapist understands how autism shapes your experience of the world — from sensory processing to communication styles to emotional regulation. Rather than forcing you into neurotypical frameworks, the therapy is adapted to work with your neurology, not against it.
No. Many adults are self-diagnosed or in the process of seeking assessment. If you identify as autistic or suspect you may be autistic, you are welcome here. Your lived experience is what matters most.
Yes. EMDR can be highly effective for autistic adults, especially when the therapist understands how to adapt the process. In-person EMDR offers the added benefit of tactile bilateral stimulation and reduces the cognitive load of a screen — both of which many autistic clients find more comfortable.
Yes. While in-person sessions are available at the Upper East Side office, virtual therapy is offered throughout New York State. Many clients alternate between in-person and virtual depending on their needs.
Please visit the Fees & Insurance page for current rates. A free 15-minute consultation is available to discuss whether we might be a good fit before you commit.
If you’ve been looking for trauma therapy that actually fits the way you experience the world, I’d love to talk. The initial 15-minute consultation is free, and there’s no pressure to commit.
