we are
Our goal is for individuals to be self aware, understood, accommodated, supported to achieve their potential, and appreciated for their diversity
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How we help
We provide workshops and programmes for individuals, families and professionals to develop the skills to manage and express emotions helpfully, connect to self and others.
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What is interoception
Sometimes called the 8th sense, interoception is the sense of our internal body signals. Interoceptive awareness is the noticing of internal body signals, interoceptive accuracy is the correct interpretation of those body signals and together these enable people to notice, recognise and respond helpfully to their feelings and emotions.
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How we make a difference
Through our work supporting the development of interoception, improving people’s connection to themselves and others, we aim to support people to manage their emotions and feelings in way that support their families, schools, communities and workplaces. The work, the future and benefits to individuals and community in general including whanau/aiga/kainga
How We Help
We can help everyone to improve their interoception, including neurodiverse individuals of all ages. As our interoception improves, we will be more connected to ourselves and others.
You will be able to manage your feelings and emotions better and our mental health and wellbeing will also improve. People who currently have anxiety, depression or other mental health conditions will find it easier to manage the symptoms of these as their wellbeing improves.
We can apply cultural lenses to our workshops and programmes to support individuals and families to improve their interoception. We understand how cultural diversity and experiences related to our cultures can cause trauma and intergenerational trauma, both of which decrease our interoception.
Our workshops and programmes use proven research insights and neuroscience evidence to deliver real change and individual empowerment to help connect to self, others and manage emotions.
Our workshops and programmes not only empower individuals from all spectrums in life but their families, schools, workplaces and the wider communities.
Fielau he na’e ‘olunga he kali loa
A good child has learned well from his/her mother’s bedtime chat
Want to know what interoception can do for you?
What Is Interoception
Interoception has a growing evidence base in relation to managing emotions and connecting to self and others, as well as a solid history of being used as a therapeutic tool.
Psychology, occupational therapy and counselling fields all highlight the improved life outcomes for a wide range of people developing their interoception.
Sometimes called the 8th sense, interoception is the sense of our internal body signals. Interoceptive awareness is the noticing of internal body signals, interoceptive accuracy is the correct interpretation of those body signals and together these enable people to notice, recognise and respond helpfully to their feelings and emotions. Interoception is also described as mindful body awareness, or our body’s biofeedback. With good interoception, we are connected to ourselves and others and able to look after our bodies well and manage our emotions and feelings. Slightly changing everyday activities can make them interoception activities, e.g. stretching, mindful body awareness activities and meditation done using the interoception method.
Without good interoception, we may struggle to connect to ourselves or others and often find it impossible to get through the day without ‘losing it’.
Many people struggle with interoception, for example; neurodiverse people, such as autistics or people with ADHD, those who have experienced trauma, or intergenerational trauma. That trauma could be physical, emotional, spiritual, or cultural.
Interoception is understanding what’s going on inside our bodies. Having that understanding helps us to keep control over ourselves, for example; if you’re hungry, having good interoception means you understand what’s going on with your body that indicates that you’re hungry. That understanding comes from recognising the internal body signals, like an empty feeling or butterflies in your tummy, an uncomfortable sensation in the throat. Having that level of interoception allows us to act on our situation, such as eating a snack or meal. Not having that interoception could mean we get irritable or tired.
Similarly, if we’re getting angry, having good interoception will enable us to recognise our clenched jaw, our tense forehead, our racing heartbeat or rising body temperature, as signs of our rising anger. The better we are at noticing those signs will allow us to control our anger before we flip our lid.
How We Make a Difference
Our workshops and programmes focus on evidence-based, easy to implement activities and tools/resources. Research on our activities and resources highlighted the positive and life changing effects for individuals, families and schools. Workplaces and service providers have commented that their staff and clients are able to recognise and manage their emotions.
A much loved quote from both children and adults is: “anger used to be in control of me, thanks to interoception, now I am in control of my anger.” We improve not just the quality of people’s lives, but also the quality of their relationships with those around them.
Our tailored programmes are highly cost-effective and are based on a solid scientific understanding arising from research conducted by Dr Emma Goodall, a world-leading expert in interoception. Interoception activities designed and researched by Dr Goodall have been, and continue to be, extensively used for adults in a coaching model and within schools in Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australia as positive behaviour support.
When people are learning interoception skills they need explicit teaching, which is enhanced by being mindful, actively noticing aspects of their internal body states, and then expressing what they have noticed. Our programmes are easily adapted to suit neurodivergent individuals and cultural diversity.
We empower individuals to develop their self-regulation, enabling people to be connected to themselves and others. We value everyone, no matter your age, background, culture, language or neurodiversity and Atype aims to support everyone to be a positively valued and productive individual.
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What is Neurodiversity and Neurodivergence
Neurodiversity is a term used to describe neurological differences in the human brain. Simply put, we are all wired differently and these differences can have a direct impact on how we experience the world, think, learn and respond. Individuals can be described as being neurodivergent or part of a neurodiverse group.
Brain differences can sometimes make the way we communicate, express ourselves and interact with others challenging. However, everyone has support needs and strengths. These strengths and support needs will change over time and in different contexts. An estimated 15-20 percent of the world’s population exhibits some form of neurodivergence.
Neurological differences can vary greatly and include; Autism Spectrum, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, Tourette Syndrome along with mental health conditions, trauma and intergenerational trauma.
Some of the world’s most creative minds were neurodivergent, including; Alan Turing, Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Satoshi Tajiri. Atype is made up of both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals and we celebrate both. Atype is about bringing everyone on a journey of empowerment. We are about changing lives, creating value for and within our homes, schools and workplaces.
Want to know what interoception can do for you?
Characteristics of Neurodiversity
Characteristics of neurodiverse people
Neurodivergent individuals experience, interpret and respond to the world around them and their internal body signals atypically. Many neurodivergent individuals struggle to notice, recognise and manage their emotions and feelings helpfully. In other words, they may get overwhelmed and ‘lose it’ more easily than other people. They may do this because they are more impacted by sensory input and communication challenges than other people.
Social communication issues
Autistic individuals are diagnosed according to criteria that includes difficulties with social communication, experiencing repetitive behaviours and sensory sensitivities. Social communication includes; understanding non-verbal communication, such as body language, understanding when and how to appropriately respond in social interactions, developing, understanding and maintaining relationships with others, expressing and comprehending information.
Repetitive patterns of behavior
Repetitive patterns of behaviour include repetitive use of movement, speech or objects, intense focus on limited, specialised areas of interest. These can result in a need for predictability and control over our environment. Sensory sensitivities are atypical interpretations and responses to both internal and external sensory input, for example, finding particular sounds overwhelming or getting great joy from certain colours. Autism occurs in all cultures, countries and age groups.
