A fellow autism psychiatrist and brother of a young man on the spectrum, Dr. Jared Reichenberg, shares with Todd how life in autism started in childhood and extended into a career. They discuss how feelings of helplessness can generate hope when relating to families affected by autism for s1. E8. N8. of the Otherness Podcast titled Boulders and Mirrors in Autism. Examining the reflections.

Todd reflects on how the path to a career in autism can begin with a brother on the spectrum, but is also influenced by good mentorship and some stark reality checks with fellow autism psychiatrist, Dr. Jared Reichenberg.

Todd and Jared met on a crisp fall day in Providence, Rhode Island when Todd was giving a lecture on autism to Jared and his fellow psychiatry trainees. Jared introduced himself to Todd after the lecture was over. Todd can’t remember exactly what Jared said, but he definitely felt the presence of a colleague who shared his life experience of having a sibling with autism, as well as his passion for autism.

That common ground started a connection that built over the next 5 years and culminated with Jared taking over care of many of Todd’s patients when Todd moved to Phoenix. On this episode, they describe how, no matter how long they do this work, they still struggle with similar feelings of helplessness and worries of failure, especially when faced with extremely challenging patients. They also speak about how their lives as brothers of someone on the spectrum tumble into the world of caring for families affected by autism in sometimes obvious and sometimes mysterious ways. They share the power of good mentorship, interesting gifts given by patients, and the delivery of sincere and imperfect care in their work.

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The Otherness Podcast is exploring and engaging autism through experienced stories with Dr. Todd Peter Levine and is available on most places and sites where you like to listen to podcasts.

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Opening Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Intro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing/Nick Burling (ASCAP)
Administered by Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Closing Theme Song Music Credits
“Otherness Podcast Outro Theme Song and Music” by Nicholas Burling
Copyright 2021 Late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
Administered by late Leopard Publishing (ASCAP)
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Boulders and Mirrors in Autism. Examining the reflections.