Neurodivergence & Ableism

Alexithymia: Emotional Understanding & Relationships

Alexithymia is a condition where individuals struggle to identify & express their emotions which can be disorienting & unsettling, often requiring a longer period of reflection to understand & resolve. They also touched on the potential impact of alexithymia on interpersonal relationships & how it may vary across different cultures.

Neurodiverse Experiences With IFS Therapy

Sofia and Renee discussed their experiences with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. Both agreed that their experiences were influenced by their neurodiverse wiring, which made traditional IFS methods less effective for them.

Family Constellations for Parts Work Related to Alexithymia

Sofia highlighted the benefits of these modalities for individuals with Alexithymia.

Exploring Alexithymia & Emotional Suppression

They agreed that this condition could be linked to genetic wiring, as well as emotional neglect & abuse - which sets up a trauma respone of learned suppression. Suppressing emotions is a significant energy drain for those affected.

Family constellations is an approach that can help individuals witness their emotions without having to actively work on them.

Effective Session & Movement Discussion

Recently, Sofia facilitated a session for Renee & Renee shared how helpful it was to have her parts represented. She noted that the session felt more powerful & deep than others she had experienced.

Sofia also shared her experience of representing her own part during a family constellations training, highlighting the importance of using the skills of an Ifs practitioner when working with one's own parts.

New Method of Working With Parts

Sofia shared how she had been able to connect with parts that were previously elusive, such as the parts responsible for squashing joy & play, and the parts responsible for blocking sadness. She noted that these parts were not as extreme in their job after being connected with, allowing for more flexibility & awareness of emotions. Sofia also mentioned that the impact of the parts work persisted after the experience.

Sofia's Work with Parts in Family Constellations

Sofia discussed her recent interactions with four parts. Renee emphasized the importance of building relationships with parts of the self, particularly in the context of the healing journey which often involves updating parts, & releasing them energetically from past traumatic experiences through unburdening.

Sofia's Healing Journey Development Plans

Sofia discussed her intention to develop & make her work available to clients who want to have similar work done for them. She plans to start with one-off sessions & then move to weekly cohorts where participants can trade off being clients & witnesses. She shared her vision of having a group of people who keep coming back to work on their own systems and be involved in other people's work. Sofia also hinted at the possibility of creating a membership program for ongoing practices & communication.

OUR GUEST: Sofia Olson is a Level 2 certified IFS practitioner, as well as a Family Constellations Facilitator.

Sofia is ADHD, alexithymic, & aphantasic. She's also the parent, step-parent, wife, daughter, & sister of people with various neurdivergences. She has benefited tremendously from going on an anti-ableism journey with her wife who became chronically ill in 2014 & then began learning about their neurodivergence in 2022.

To satisfy her ADHD brain, she splits her work time between healing work & nonprofit accounting consulting. Find Sofia at:

sofiaolsoncoaching.com

sunrayaccountingsolutions.com

OUR HOST: Renee Fleming of Reset With Renee

www.resetwithrenee.com