Autism Speak$: Why Autistic People Take Language Very Seriously

This lecture explores the profound relationship between autism and language, emphasizing how autistic individuals often approach language with precision, intentionality, and unique communicative strategies. Drawing insights from autobiographies, research, and personal accounts, the session unpacks why language is not merely a tool for communication but a pivotal element of self-expression and autonomy in autistic lives. Drawing from the Lacanian tradition of psychoanalysis, the lecture reflects on how non-autistic caretakers and practitioners can adapt their listening to foster more inclusive and supportive communication practices, which can significantly benefit autistic individuals. I aim to include some of my own experiences as a practitioner working with autistic patients, as well as share aspects of the history of autism within psychoanalysis.

Bio:

Dr Leon S. Brenner

Dr. Leon S. Brenner (Ph.D.) is a psychoanalyst and psychoanalytic theorist based in Berlin. His work is rooted in the Freudian and Lacanian traditions of psychoanalysis, with a focus on exploring the relationship between culture and psychopathology. His book, The Autistic Subject: On the Threshold of Language, became a bestseller with Springer Nature in 2021 and 2023. He is the founder of Lacanian Affinities Berlin (laLAB) and Unconscious Berlin.

Host or Publisher The Site for Contemporary Psychoanalysis