.webp)
Biography
Hannah Jones is a licensed clinical psychologist based in Virginia and provides services to clients in 40+ states via telehealth. Jones values the uniqueness of intersecting identities and honors her patients as the experts of their experience.
Jones sees neurodiversity as an important aspect of diversity overall. "Each of our brains are uniquely special, and our strengths lie in that uniqueness." says Jones. She believes it's essential to affirm that neurodivergent brainpower is not going to be found in anyone else, and is just as necessary as everyone else's for humanity to be its best.
Education
PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Regent University
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Regent University
Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Howard University
Certifications
Area of Expertise
Jones specializes in neurodiversity, child and adolescent development, cultural responsiveness, and trauma-informed care. She recognizes the need for well-informed, client-centered approaches to assessment, intervention, and support for all kinds of neurodevelopmental needs.
Modalities
Affiliations
Research and Publications
Embracing Autism Acceptance Month: Moving Beyond Awareness to Inclusion and Understanding
April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to champion autistic voices and to embrace the strengths and diversity of the autistic community.
Originally, Autism Acceptance Month was known as Autism Awareness Month. It was first conceived by psychologist Dr. Bernard Rimland in 1970, and then officially designated as a national awareness month in April, 1988.
In 2011, however, the Autism Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN), in collaboration with the autistic community, began commemorating Autism Acceptance Month instead of Autism Awareness Month. Autism Awareness Month focused more on the condition’s deficits, or even as something to be “fixed,” but Autism Acceptance Month proudly emphasized autism as an identity.
As someone with an autistic daughter, I’ve seen the benefits of an “acceptance” approach firsthand, rather than approaches that minimize her neurodivergent traits. She thrives in inclusive environments where her self-stimulatory behavior (or “stimming”) is welcomed.
“Acceptance shifts the default from ‘the autistic person should adapt’ to ‘the people and systems around them share the work of making life accessible,’” explains Marie Masse, who identifies as autistic.
This article will cover what Autism Acceptance Month is and provide clarity around why it was changed from Autism Awareness Month. We’ll also delve into, with the help of several autistic voices, what acceptance actually means in daily life, and how to embrace and encourage real inclusion every month of the year.
All About Interoception: How You Sense Your Body From the Inside
Noticing internal body signals, like hunger, thirst, or pain, is something many adults don't think twice about. But for people with interoception differences, staying on top of these cues can be a daily challenge.
Lucy*, who identifies as a “late-diagnosed AuDHD-er” shares that anytime she hyperfixates on a task, paying attention to her body’s cues is almost impossible. She even had to set goals for herself in therapy to ensure she stayed hydrated and used the bathroom regularly.
If Lucy’s experiences sound familiar (perhaps you don’t always remember to grab a drink or something to eat until you’re ravenous!) then your body might also experience interoception differently from others.
This is a common trait in neurodivergent people, and the more it’s understood, the better equipped you’ll be to support yourself and others.
In this article, we’re going to explore what exactly interoception is, how it works in the brain, how it shows up differently in autistic adults, and how to increase awareness of interoception differences.
Social Anxiety vs. Autism: Understanding the Differences and Overlap
Like many undiagnosed autistic people, Chelsey Flood spent most of her life feeling “different” and not knowing why. Other people picked up on it, too. She developed terrible social anxiety, constantly questioning whether or not she was coming across as “normal.”
When Flood received a late autism diagnosis, the pieces started coming together. “I began to better understand why social interactions sometimes felt so challenging,” she says.
Flood’s experience is a common one that pops up often in the discussion of social anxiety vs autism. Many autistic people have social anxiety disorder at some point, notes Dr. Jacqueline Shinall, PsyD, a clinical psychologist with Prosper Health.
With that said, not everyone who has one of these conditions necessarily has the other. The signs of autism and social anxiety can look similar on the surface, but they have different causes. Social anxiety is driven by fear of negative judgment or perception from others, while autism involves innate differences in behavior and communication.
Some people are misdiagnosed with one condition, when really, they have the other. Knowing whether you have social anxiety, autism, neither, or both is crucial to getting the support you need. Only a licensed mental health professional can help you determine which is the case for you.
In the meantime, we’ll explore the difference between social anxiety and autism, the overlap between the two, how clinicians tell them apart, and the supports available for both.
