Conclusion

Every now and again we come across something that takes our breath away, both by its simplicity and by the fact that somewhere buried deep in us, we have always known it to be true.

I still remember my first day at Kindergarten. My twin sister took one look at the playground full of children and ran to them with a whoop of delight. I just stood there thinking, ‘What am I supposed to do with that?’ Interacting with strangers, large (or small) groups of people, did not come naturally. While the other kids were off playing, I was painting white elephants on white paper. As I got older I got better at hiding it, and playing to my strengths. I was also smart and pretty, so people would often think me cold, aloof (or boring), rather than suspect that I was shut down with an unnamed fear. I was more than shy.

While I have never been diagnosed with autism, I have certainly had some of the struggles and insights that people ‘on the spectrum’ invariably get to know and so the subject fascinates me both personally and professionally.

The work of Stephen Porges delighted me when I read it; it was as if the sun had come out – suddenly all sorts of things made sense. Porges’ theory has bridged the gap between the mind and the body. Stephen Porges has made scientifically explainable what we understand intuitively about ourselves. He has made a huge contribution to our understanding of not only autists, but how we all interact with our world, and just how much our bodies are involved in our psychology.

This idea of body psychology has been implicit in all the personal work that I have done to gain better control over my mind–body connection. It has always been very natural to me to see this shut down as a body issue because, when it happens, you know that your body is shutting down.

Professionally, since my university days, I have been riveted by this subject. It has been the focus of all my work and thinking. I have researched a lot over the years, but Dr Porges’ work has brought it all to a new playing field for me. The more I talked about this theory to autist friends, the more it was clear that it resonated for them too, and they all said, ‘That just makes so much sense!’

Once I had read Dr Porges’ work I had to write this book. It is important that psychology is available to the lay person. It matters that we can be empowered to make changes in our lives. It is important, too, that we keep an open mind and constantly challenge the prevailing ideology. Science is always changing, and so it never knows everything; and with autism, we do not seem to know very much at all.

The work of Dr Stephen Porges can change what we know about autism and can allow a significant shift in our understanding, yet not many people are aware of it – many professionals included.

The work of Anat Baniel is inspiring and I suggest you look at her work via YouTube. She is not working miracles, but you could be forgiven for thinking so. What she is doing is applying the best of neuroplasticity, with an extensive understanding of the body, to manifest wondrous healing for people. She is also extending this knowledge worldwide, showing us just how easy it is, how it is possible.

It is easy. When I discovered her ‘Nine Essentials’, I realized I already knew them intrinsically. I have always approached myself, my children and my clients in this manner; it is natural for me. What was wonderful was to hear it said with such clarity and strength. Anat Baniel’s ability to articulate the subtleties of human learning, with special needs in particular, is both remarkable and wonderful. Her Nine Essentials allow us to conceptualize working at this subtle level, and I do recommend you peruse her book for a deeper level of understanding.

This book provides a beautiful and wide consideration of autism. While the Polyvagal Theory looks more at the why, the Anat Baniel Method is more focused on the how. Apart they are fascinating, but lovingly pieced together with the basis of neuroplasticity, they make an extraordinary picture for us.

These theories allow us to envision a whole new way of approaching and understanding autism. I hope that in the future autism is, for us all, a little easier to fathom, a little easier to play with, a little easier to embrace.