Hey everyone. Kelly Mahler, occupational therapist, and I just wanted to take the time to talk about interoception and Gestalt Language Processing. Now, if this term Gestalt Language Processing or GLP is new to you, never fear. This was new terminology to me a few years ago. I am still learning about this from amazing professionals out there like Marge Blanc and Alexandra Zachos from Meaningful Speech. I'm not here to talk about exactly what is Gestalt Language Processing. I just want to bring up three tips that are guiding me on this learning journey.

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Tip 1. Understand key differences between Analytic and Gestalt Language Processing
Tip number one is really to learn about the fact that we have different language processing styles. There are two main types of processing or language processing.

We have the analytical processing style, and that is where a person acquires or starts to learn language in single words and slowly builds to being able to put those words together into phrases and eventually sentences.

But then we also have the Gestalt language processing style. And for GLPs, they learn language in chunks. They start out with chunks of words strung together, and that chunk or that unit has a single meaning. Over time, many GLPs begin to process and learn language and get to single units. So, it's a different way of learning language. Something I am, again, learning more about.

So, tip number one is really just knowing there's different language processing styles, and learning as much as you can from experts that understand these topics far more than me, to eventually then be able to enhance your interoception work.

Tip 2. Modify the Interoception Curriculum for Gestalt Language Processors
Once we learn more about different language processing styles, then we need to know about our client and what processing style they need or use. Then we can use that information to modify our interoception work.

We talk about this all the time: interoception work has to be highly unique and individualized.

It has to meet each person's learning needs, language processing styles, regulation level, et cetera. And so we really need to understand how to modify things like The Interoception Curriculum if we are supporting a client who might be a Gestalt Language Processor.

We have an amazing course coming out in just a few weeks. It's taught by Caroline Gaddy and Rachel Dorsey, both of whom are autistic speech and language therapists, and they are going to be giving us so many practical strategies about how to adapt The Interoception Curriculum for Gestalt language processors. I cannot wait to take this course and learn along with all of you.

Tip 3. Be Mindful of Role Trauma and Mental Health can Play in Expression of Internal Feelings for Gestalt Language Processors
My final tip is to just really keep in mind the potential trauma and the mental health needs of Gestalt Language Processors.

Potentially, they could be living in a world where other people are not aware of their unique language processing style. They potentially could have had their unique expression of how they are sharing about the way their body is feeling. They might be sharing it through echolalia or through what we might call a script. And if people don't understand Gestalt Language Processing, these young people or even adults, adult GLPs, are at high risk of having their internal experiences invalidated. We know from so many people that is very traumatizing and can lead to a lot of mental health issues and a lot of confusion about the way your body feels.

So, we really need to hold that in mind and continue learning, growing, and being better in the supports that we're offering, including interoception supports.

I cannot wait to continue learning about this topic along with all of you. Stay tuned for this amazing course taught by Caroline and Rachel.

Until next time.

#interoception #gestalttherapy #glp