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Minimizing Uncertainty: How IFS Helps Autistic Thrive
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Join Sarah Bergenfield, PhD, an autistic psychologist, for a deep dive into how autism affects sensory processing and predictive thinking. Learn to integrate the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model to help autistic clients understand their brain’s responses to sensory inputs, reduce anxiety, and adapt coping strategies to their unique neurodiversity.
Recent neuroscience shows that autistics struggle with unexpected changes and thrive in predictable environments. These challenges stem from how the brain processes sensory information, often leading to heightened emotional responses and difficulty coping with surprises. The IFS model can help mitigate these struggles by supporting clients in understanding and managing their sensory experiences.
In this workshop, you will explore how the autistic brain processes sensory data, often through the amygdala, and how this results in emotional overload. You’ll also discover why the IFS model is particularly effective in helping autistic clients navigate their neurodiversity.
You will learn:
- How autism manifests as an embodied experience with heightened sensory responses
- The impact of autistic perception on behavior
- How to help clients understand their brains and develop strategies to reduce overwhelm
- How to adapt the IFS model to support the unique needs of autistic clients
- The common organization of parts within the autistic system and how to work with them
This session offers essential insights and practical techniques for clinicians supporting autistic clients in managing sensory sensitivities and emotional overload.
Sarah Bergenfield, MA, The Curious Heart
Sarah Bergenfield, PhD, is somatic psychologist and educator specializing in the embodied experience of autism. Holding a master’s degree in embodiment studies, her thesis research is the foundation for a book she’s writing with Martha Sweezy, being published by New Harbinger in 2025. She is a doctoral student in the Somatic Psychology PhD program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She is a Certified Level 3 Internal Systems Practitioner who works with all neurologies, but particularly enjoys working with her fellow autistics.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Sarah Bergenfield maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with the Internal Family Systems Institute. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from 小蝌蚪视频. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Sarah Bergenfield has no relevant non-financial relationships.