Creating Space for Therapeutic Change: Boundary Expansions with Autism Spectrum Clients

ABSTRACT

Boundaries provide safety for both clinicians and clients. Specifically chosen boundary crossings can serve therapeutic progress when proper ethical safeguards are used. Clients with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD) have neurodevelopmental challenges and delays linked to the activation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), and often experience problems socially, emotionally, and adjusting to change. Creating space for therapeutic change by expanding boundaries can help the client with HFASD overcome neurodevelopmental challenges through an expanded relationship with the clinician, who plays many different roles in the helping relationship. Creating this space assists the client with HFASD in overcoming neurodevelopmental challenges, in addition to providing a model of relationship that expands to other people and situations in the client’s life.