Autism Stories Autism Stories: Dr. Sean Inderbitzen
Jan 5, 2026
Dr. Sean Inderbitzen, a therapist and author specializing in polyvagal theory and trauma-informed care for autistic individuals, dives into fascinating topics. He shares his journey to discovering his autism and the importance of creating a safe therapeutic space. Dr. Inderbitzen explains how polyvagal theory reframes our understanding of trauma in autism and discusses practical neural exercises that build emotional flexibility. He emphasizes the significance of autonomy in therapy and how running not only serves as a physical practice but also enhances emotional well-being.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Behavior As Nervous-System Responses
- Polyvagal theory frames behavior as nervous-system responses rather than fixed labels like 'autism' or 'PTSD.'
- Sean argues focusing on safety and nervous-system state clarifies overlapping symptoms across diagnoses.
Autism Can Vary With Regulation
- Autism can vary in intensity over a lifetime as nervous-system regulation shifts.
- Sean views 'neural exercises' as practices to increase flexibility and social connection.
Start By Asking What Feels Safe
- Ask people what they need to feel safe before engaging; validate and honor boundaries explicitly.
- Use short feedback questions to check if someone felt heard, respected, and helped during interactions.
