Neurodiversity-Affirming EMDR Therapy with Autism and ADHD

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

About the autistic author marker

Clarke, A. & Darker-Smith, S. M. (2024). Neurodiversity-Affirming EMDR Therapy with Autism and ADHD. In The Oxford Handbook of EMDR Therapy. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780192898357.013.59

Publication date: 19 Mar 2024 Added to AutiHub: 11 Sep 2026 Type: Book chapter Article language: English

This publication is integrated into AutiHub through:

Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)

Abstract

Abstract This chapter integrates principles of the neurodiversity-affirming paradigm with EMDR therapy for children who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (autism) and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A summary of the rapidly evolving literature regarding autism and ADHD is provided, including current estimates of prevalence rates and a brief overview of gender/racial bias in diagnostic criteria. Autistic and ADHD children are at high risk of experiencing adverse life events and subsequent negative mental health outcomes. Social isolation, difficulties managing impulsive behavior, and internalization of societal stigma about being “disordered” place autistic and ADHD children at significant risk of developing negative beliefs about themselves and/or the world. EMDR therapy holds promise for alleviating impacts of negative core beliefs and symptoms of trauma in this population. Adaptations for EMDR therapy with autistic and ADHD children are explored, ensuring that all recommendations are aligned with strengths-based and affirming frameworks for understanding neurocognitive difference.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 12 Sep 2026 18:20.

Cited references
73
With a DOI
59
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
14
4 / 73 (5.5%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
12 / 73 (16.4%)
References with detected author names
61 / 73 (83.6%)
Without detected author names
12
Without a structured title
1
Without a stable identifier
12
References with raw author names still to review
1
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
403
From DOI or external metadata
403
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
1
60 / 403 (14.9%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 343 / 403 (85.1%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
5 / 403 (1.2%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 5 / 60 (8.3%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 4 / 372 (1.1%).
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