Sep 28, 2026 · 30 min · 12 segments
Occupational therapy can empower autistics in our every day lives. Carolyn Gillen, an autistic occupational therapist working with neurodivergent women, breaks down how occupational therapy for…
Carolyn GillenGuestSusanHostOne thing we know is that an autistic person's body awareness or interoception can be affected by autism.
Do you see that in your practice and how do you approach it?
So perhaps they're really immersed in a task and suddenly it's the end of the day and they haven't eaten or they haven't drunk enough water.
So is my heart beating faster? Am I feeling a need to steer more to move? And is my breathing a little bit different as well? So I guess all those things impact on how you show up.
I mean, if you're depleted nutritionally or if you're feeling out of balance, especially out of balance in the nervous system, it can be hard to I show up at work or school.
So really the things that I support clients with is just really gently and delicately starting to notice what's happening internally.
So it might be a weighted item or it might be holding a fidget or I think it can be really hard for many autistics to simply sit there and notice what's within.
In other words, if someone is having a problem recognizing symptoms of dehydration, would you then teach them how to recognize those in their own body and how their body would respond?
So building in some micro check-ins throughout the day and finding the best way to support a client to do that.
So some people might have different, say, water bottles or glasses around the house, or they might prefer like auditory reminders.
So either through their phone, even just sort of at the end of a task and before transitioning into the next one, starting to ask yourself those questions.
One thing we know is that an autistic person's body awareness or interoception can be affected by autism.
Do you see that in your practice and how do you approach it?
So perhaps they're really immersed in a task and suddenly it's the end of the day and they haven't eaten or they haven't drunk enough water.
So is my heart beating faster? Am I feeling a need to steer more to move? And is my breathing a little bit different as well? So I guess all those things impact on how you show up.
I mean, if you're depleted nutritionally or if you're feeling out of balance, especially out of balance in the nervous system, it can be hard to I show up at work or school.
So really the things that I support clients with is just really gently and delicately starting to notice what's happening internally.
So it might be a weighted item or it might be holding a fidget or I think it can be really hard for many autistics to simply sit there and notice what's within.
In other words, if someone is having a problem recognizing symptoms of dehydration, would you then teach them how to recognize those in their own body and how their body would respond?
So building in some micro check-ins throughout the day and finding the best way to support a client to do that.
So some people might have different, say, water bottles or glasses around the house, or they might prefer like auditory reminders.
So either through their phone, even just sort of at the end of a task and before transitioning into the next one, starting to ask yourself those questions.
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