Autism Identity Workshop Phase 1: Autism Discovery
Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY, ethnography project led by Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes) is delighted to welcome Mark Dooley, MA, MES, LMHC, CMHS on Thursday, March 19, 5-6 p.m. EDT (4-5 p.m. CDT, 2-3 p.m. PDT, 9-10 p.m. GMT, 10-11 p.m. CET). There is no cost to attend, and international participants are welcome. RSVP https://tinyurl.com/4d8pjw7f | https://tinyurl.com/4yrj5ybu
DESCRIPTION: Autism Discovery. Mark will be facilitating this Autism identity workshop on discovery, phase one of his DAIE model. Expect an interactive, free-form group conversation about individual experiences and shared phenomena of learning our Autism, from which we may illuminate common and unique themes of Autistic identity for sake of CASY’s ethnography. Mark’s future workshops will follow with the phases of acceptance, integration, and expression. For Mark’s previous CASY workshops and presentations visit https://tinyurl.com/3n2e4s2e
BRIEF BIO: Mark Dooley is an autistic psychotherapist. He received his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Seattle in 2002, and earned a Master’s in Environmental Studies from The Evergreen State College in 1993. Mark is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Child Mental Health Specialist, WA State Approved Clinical Supervisor, WA State Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs Provider, and a Neurodivergent Affirming Clinician. In 2026, he surpassed 32,000 hours of direct psychotherapy https://markdooley68.com including psychiatric inpatient, intensive outpatient, integrated healthcare, wilderness, in-home, and private practice settings.
Since 1986, Mark Dooley has worked and studied in the fields of advocacy, social justice, ecology, and mental health. Along with his clinical training and experience, Mark’s therapy utilizes graduate research on mutually healing relationships with nature, and is informed by mindfulness, travel, friendship, and family. To learn more about his work, please visit him at https://www.consultautism.com/
ABOUT Cultural Autism Studies at Yale (CASY): An 'ethnography' is an exploration of how a group of people express themselves in a cultural way. Autistic people have a growing kind of culture, and each autistic experience is a vital part of it. Dr. Dawn Prince-Hughes is an anthropologist, ethnographer, primatologist, and author who is autistic. Join her for an exploration of the importance of autistic self-expression and the culture that grows from it. Those who wish to share their content are free to do so on our private Facebook groups, organically contributing to a growing autistic culture: CASY Cultural Autism Studies at Yale http://tinyurl.com/4ckbyut7 (recommended for autistic adults) and SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY FOR AUTISM http://tinyurl.com/mrxnxmnc (recommended for allies, professionals, and family members).
CREDITS: The preparation of this material was financed under an agreement with the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities (CTCDD). CASY Sparks membership and events are free. CASY Sparks is sponsored in part by The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation Adult Autism Research Fund, and Dr. Roger Jou https://www.youtube.com/c/DrRogerJou
𝑷𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒙 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒀𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑴𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒆 https://tinyurl.com/supportcasy
Participating in the Autism Identity Workshop's first phase, Autism Discovery, offers a unique chance to connect deeply with your autism journey through shared stories and insights. Having attended similar workshops, I can personally attest to how enlightening it is to explore the DAIE model's discovery stage — it helps uncover both commonalities and individual differences in autism experiences that often go unspoken. What truly stood out in Mark Dooley’s facilitation approach is the emphasis on free-form group conversation, providing a safe space to share and listen without judgment. This nurtures a sense of community and belonging among participants, which is invaluable on the path to embracing autistic identity. Mark's extensive background as a neurodivergent-affirming clinician and his over 32,000 hours of psychotherapy experience bring credibility and empathy to the workshop, making it accessible and deeply relatable. His approach, blending mindfulness, ecological awareness, and mental health expertise, enriches the conversation, encouraging participants to view their autism through diverse lenses. Moreover, this workshop is more than an individual experience—it's a collaborative ethnographic project by Cultural Autism Studies at Yale that helps foster a growing autistic culture. As someone engaged in similar communities, I’ve found that contributing to such ethnographies by sharing your authentic experience can be empowering and helps shape a collective understanding and celebration of autism. This workshop also serves as a foundation for further phases — acceptance, integration, and expression — making it an essential first step for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with their autism identity. For those interested in joining but unable to attend live, the provided resources and prior workshops are excellent supplementary materials. Overall, attending workshops like this can be transformative, enhancing self-awareness and offering community connections that resonate beyond the session itself. It’s these authentic engagements that support the flourishing of autistic identity and culture in meaningful, lasting ways.