Relationships and Sexuality

Friendships, Relationships and
Sexuality
Michelle S. Alkon DDS Training

Adult Services, AANE
January 29 2016
michelle.alkon@aane.org
617.393.3824 ext. 25
Agenda: Friendships,
Relationships and Sexuality
• Friendship
• How ASD Impacts Friendship
• Friendship Strategies
• Relationships
• How ASD Impacts Relationships
• Relationship Strategies
©Asperger/Autism Network 2
The Friendship Algorithm
3
How ASD Impacts Friendship
• Aspects of
Communication
– Non-verbal
Communication
– Verbal
Communication
• Socialization Pattern
Mode of Socialization
Environment Frequency
Socialization Platform
• Home • Phone • Facebook • Rarely
• College • Email • Twitter • Randomly
• Workplace • Texting/Messaging • Instagram • Regularly
• Social Media • In person/Face-to- • Snapchat • Annually
face • Video Games • Monthly
• Movies/Video • Biweekly
• Internet Forum • Once a week
• Online Chat • Daily
Groups
Areas of Difficulty
• Figures of
speech/proverbs
• Humor
• Sarcasm
• Hidden Curriculum
• Socializing
• Social interactions
• Social anxiety
• Processing speed
Friendship Strategies
• Expectations
• Social rules in various
environments
• Define a friend
• How to make friends
• Friend or acquaintance
• Maintaining friendship
• Boundaries
• Content and context of
speech
• Example: scheduling social interactions
Teaching Tools
• Observe in various situations
• List specific issues
• List perceived issues
• Provide conversation starters
• Topics for small talk
• Watch videos/film clips
• Schedules, scripts, etc.
• Role-play
• Real life situation practice
• Comprehend generalized
situations
Amy Seducing Sheldon
Romantic and Sexual Relationships
“Not only are

friendship and
closeness valuable in
and of themselves,
but they are also
prerequisites for
healthy romantic and
sexual relationships in
adulthood.” (Bolick)
How ASD Impacts Relationships
AS Characteristics Developmental Profile Experience
• Social skills: • Socio-sexual • Interpretation of

• Communication development: self- emotions:
abilities: stimulation, exploring • Black & white
• verbal and non sexuality, lack of thinking
verbal experience and • Interpersonal
guidance relationships: couples,
• Theory of Mind:
• Frustrations and empathy, intimacy
• Emotions:
inappropriate • Confusion & anxiety
• Detecting behaviours
• Reading • Less experience
• Gender identity, fluidity
• Expressing • Fear of rejection
& role definition
• Sensory issues • Sexual drive, desire,
• Sexual Orientation
curiosity
• Social imitation:
context, consent
• Influential Factors
Limitations of
Information Intimacy Medication
the environment
• Basic • Gender • Interests and • Secondary
knowledge segregation limits: steps in effects
• Experiences • Social network a relationship • Synergic effects
• Social support • Rules • Private and
• Sex education public setting
• Quality time
Safety
• Recognition of dangerous
or abusive/unfriendly
relationship
• Online dating skills
• Reading people’s intention
• Qualities of a healthy
relationship
• Sharing
• Communication
• Pleasure, interest
• Respect, communication
and much more…
• Late developer in
social/emotional maturity
• Not sexist, ageist or
culturally biased
• Wants to be a friend/lover
but little intuitive knowledge
or experience
• Women with AS may prefer
a relationship with a man
with AS*
• Extreme NTs more likely to
fall in love with an Aspie*
*Goldsworthy & Stokes, 2011
Relationship Strategies
Safety Issues Emotions Social Behaviors
• The first date • Reading facial emotions, • Support groups
• Maintaining the Mind-Reading • Various activities and
relationship • Expressing emotions interests
• Emotion management
(intensity, anger, rigidity, • Neuro-typical friends,
empathy) group, family
• CBT
Pleasure List
• Quality time: for
individual and couple
• Relaxing activities Communications
• Physical activities Skills
• Social activities
• On a weekly schedule:
make it happen!
Relationship Strategies
Marriage with Asperger's Syndrome: 14 Practical Strategies*
• Pursuing a diagnosis
• Accepting the diagnosis
• Staying motivated
• Understanding how AS impacts the individual
• Managing depression, anxiety, OCD, and ADHD
• Self-exploration and self-awareness
• Creating a Relationship Schedule
• Meeting each other's sexual needs
• Bridging parallel play
• Coping with sensory overload and meltdowns
• Expanding Theory of Mind
• Improving communication
• Co-parenting strategies
• Managing expectations and suspending judgment
Eva Mendes, M.A., Psychotherapist & Couple's Counselor
Resources: Articles, Webinars, Websites
Articles
• General information about relationships
http://www.aane.org/about_asperger_syndrome/living_asperger_syndrome_partne
rs.html
• Eva Mendes’ Marriage with Asperger's Syndrome: 14 Practical Strategies
• Dania Jekel and Grace Myhill's article, Asperger Marriage: Viewing Partnerships
Through a Different Lens
• Elsa Abele's article Tips for Couples to Improve Social Interaction
Webinars:
• Puberty, Dating and Healthy Sexuality for Individuals with ASD and Asperger’s
Syndrome by Dr. Isabelle Hénault: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/31531/119915502
• Viewing Marriage and Long-Term Relationships through an Aspergers Lens by Grace
Myhill and Eva Mendes: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/22898/108290855
Websites for social skills and connections:
• www.succeedsocially.com
• www.meetup.com
• www.toastmasters.org
• wrongplanet.net
Resources: Books
• Marriage and Lasting Relationships with Asperger's Syndrome by
Eva Mendes
• The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger
Syndrome, and One Man's Quest to Be a Better Husband by David
Finch
• Love, Sex and Long-Term Relationships: What People With
Asperger Syndrome Really Really Want by Sarah Hendrickx
• Socially Curious, Curiously Social
A Social Thinking Guidebook for Bright Teens & Young Adults by
Michelle Garcia Winner, Pamela Crooke
• Safety Skills for Asperger Women: How to Save a Perfectly Good
Female Life by Liane Holliday Willey
• Social Skills Picture Book for High School and Beyond by Jed Baker
• Look at the Recommended Reading List at:
http://aane.org/asperger_resources/recommended_reading_spou
ses.html
About AANE
The Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) works with individuals, families,
and professionals to help people with Asperger Syndrome and similar
autism spectrum profiles build meaningful, connected lives. We do this
by providing information, education, community, support, and advocacy,
all in an atmosphere of validation and respect.
AANE provides support and • Diverse leadership includes

community to: adults, family members and
• Adults and their families professionals
• Families of children and teens • Advocate for appropriate
• Educators and professionals quality services for people with
AS profiles.
20

Relationships and Sexuality

Încărcat de

Informații document

Titlu original

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Relationships and Sexuality

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Friendships, Relationships and

Michelle S. Alkon DDS Training

• Example: scheduling social interactions

“Not only are

• Social skills: • Socio-sexual • Interpretation of

AANE provides support and • Diverse leadership includes

S-ar putea să vă placă și