Intimacy Intensive

Intimacy Intensive: Course Description

The course is self-paced and can be completed in 6 hours. Course materials include video presentations, interviews, and explorations about intimacy vignettes by professionals, written personal accounts, interactive quizzes, and discussion questions.

Intimacy Intensive: Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to answer the learning objectives for each of the lessons:

Viewing Intimacy Disconnections through a DUCK/BUNNY lens – GRACE MYHILL, MSW
Describe 3 intimacy needs of Autistic partners.
Describe 3 intimacy needs of neurotypical partners.
Explain what it means to view intimacy disconnections through a DUCK/BUNNY lens.

Factors that Influence Intimacy with Lindsay Averbook
List 2 ways sensory processing impacts physical intimacy in neurodiverse relationships.
Describe how past experiences of trauma may impact intimacy in neurodiverse
relationships.
Outline how self-esteem can impact intimacy in neurodiverse relationships.
Identify 3 strategies for supporting neurodiverse couples navigating challenges with
intimacy.

Complexities Of Intimacy, Q And A with Leslie Sickels, LCSW
Identify 3 ways that neurodiversity impacts sex and intimacy.
List 3 techniques for improving couple communication.
Describe 3 ways to facilitate discussions of sex and intimacy.

Excessive Screen Usage, Q And A with Michael Glenn, LICSW
List 3 reasons why partners with an Asperger/autism profile are more likely to experience
excessive screen usage.
List at least 3 impacts of this behavior on the relationship.
Explain 2 approaches for addressing this issue.

Affairs And Affair Recovery, Q And A With Sarah Ruggera, LMFT
Describe 2 ways that neurodiverse couples dynamics can manifest in an affair.
Explain 3 possible outcomes for resolving an affair.
List 2 questions that can be used during a couples’ weekly inventory check-in.

Intimacy Vignettes: Grace Myhill, MSW, Leslie Sickels, LCSW, Michael Glenn, LICSW, and
Sarah Ruggera, LMFT
List 3 concrete incremental techniques to help a couple reconnect sexually.
List 2 ways to prevent a relapse after porn use.
Identify 3 ways a therapist can combat burnout in a neurotypical partner.
Describe 2 successful outcomes in intimacy work.

Lindsay Averbook, LMHC

Lindsay Averbook is a mental health and drug and alcohol counselor in private practice in Massachusetts, with more than 15 years of experience. She specializes in relationship issues for both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. As an Autistic person, Lindsay brings a distinctive perspective to her practice, offering valuable insights into the factors that influence intimacy in neurodiverse couples.

Michael Glenn, LICSW

Michael is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts. Since 1984 he has maintained a private practice which has evolved from a more general practice of working with families and couples to his current practice which focuses on Autistic individuals and neurodiverse couples. Because of his training in sex therapy and sex education, his work frequently involves issues related to sexuality among the autism population. 

Grace Myhill, MSW

Grace Myhill, MSW, is a pioneer and leader in the field of neurodiverse couples therapy. Since 2004, she has worked with over one thousand neurodiverse couples together and separately in her private practice and through the AANE neurodiverse couples coaching program. She trains professional clinicians about understanding and treating neurodiverse couples through individual and group consultations. She is the former Director of the Neurodiverse Couples Institute at AANE.  

Sarah Ruggera, LMFT

Sarah Ruggera, M.A., is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist based in San Diego, California. With over 25 years in a neurodiverse marriage, she specializes in counseling neurodiverse couples, helping them improve communication, emotional intimacy, and navigate relationship challenges. Sarah also provides individual and family therapy, facilitates workshops for women in management, and promotes personal growth for healthier relationships. She is the author of The Happy Neurodiverse Marriage: Six Tools For Effective Communication And Emotional Connection With Your Asperger Husband and Happy Me Happy We: Six Steps to Know Yourself So You Know What You Want in a Relationship.

Leslie Sickels, LCSW

Leslie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker based in midtown Manhattan. Much of her work focuses on gender and sexuality as they relate to the unique concerns of individuals on the spectrum. She will be sharing with us some of her knowledge and experience about how she works with neurodiverse couples on their issues of emotional and physical intimacy. 

Those who complete the course and meet the requirements can be awarded 6 APA or ASWB ACE approved CEs.

Learn more about CE credits and cost in the FAQs below.

How to apply for APA CE credits:

To get APA CEs, email your course completion certificate to [email protected] with the subject Request for APA CEs. You will be sent the link to pay a $50 processing fee per course directly to our APA co-sponsor.

ASWB ACE Approved CE credits
Licensed Clinical Social Workers can earn 6 Continuing Education (CE) credits for Intimacy Intensive

ACE Approval Statement: Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE), #1705, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE) maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 02/27/2026 – 02/27/2029. Social workers participating in this course will receive 6 continuing education credits.

ASWB ACE approved courses are recognized and accepted for CE credit for Licensed Clinical Social Workers in most US states and Canadian provinces. We recommend checking recognized states and provinces before purchasing the class: https://www.aswb.org/ace/ace-jurisdiction-map/

How to apply for ASWB ACE APPROVED CE credits:

• Purchase Intimacy Intensive + ADD-ON: ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS

• Upon successful completion and a score of 80% or higher on the final test, ASWB ACE approved CEs are available to those who register for the ADD-ON course.

•  Complete the ASWB Course Evaluation Survey from the link in your ADD-ON ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS course welcome email. Keep a copy of your Survey responses.

• Apply for the ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS through AANE by emailing your Intimacy Intensive Certificate of Completion to [email protected], with the subject line: Applying for ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS for Intimacy Intensive. You will receive a questionnaire to complete. The CE certificate will be sent within 2 -3 weeks of receiving the completed questionnaire.

If you have any questions about ASWB ACE APPROVED CE CREDITS, email [email protected].

Group rates available for groups of 3 or more clinicians. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Please email [email protected] to request special accommodations.

To read the Refund / Grievance policy, click here: /refund-grievance-policy/