Techniques and Tips

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LEAP stands for:
 

• Listen
  Practice reflective listening to truly understand the person’s perspective. Avoid arguing or trying to prove them wrong. The Chinese symbol for listen includes the ear but also the eye, the attention, and the heart. Listen with a desire to understand, to learn.
   

• Empathize
  Acknowledge the person's feelings and share empathy for their challenges. This step reinforces your commitment to their well-being without judgment. It allows the person to feel understood. Maybe you can't relate to there being "aliens who are parked in the car across the street watching your every move," but you can empathize with the fear and invasiveness that this situation would create.
   

• Agree
  Focus on areas where you both align rather than highlighting differences. This might include shared goals like improved well-being, reduced stress, or worldview. Maybe you don't agree that "the neighbors are from a different dimension and are watching you through the air vents," but you might agree that having your own private space is important, and that nosy neighbors can make home not feel like a safe space.
   

• Partner
  Collaborate on their goals. What are the next steps they can take, and how can you brainstorm solutions that respect their autonomy. This can involve small steps toward progress or shared activities that enhance trust. Maybe you have an ideal plan mapped out for them and yet they're focussed on becoming a celebrity influencer. How can you come alongside them in their goal of being an influencer and let life be the one to teach them the hard way. It can be amazing how both of your visions of the possibilities and the path shift. 
   

Why Use LEAP?
 

Many family members, friends, and professionals struggle to communicate effectively with Neurodiverse people, seeming to speak different languages. Confrontation or insistence on treatment often leads to resistance and makes things worse. "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction," right? LEAP offers a proven alternative by fostering a relationship rooted in empathy and mutual respect. And the relationship, the rapport, is the goal. It has been found to be one of the biggest predictors of therapeutic success. Your LEAP model is a superpower you can use to establish this!
 

By using the LEAP approach, you can:

• Strengthen trust with your loved one.

• Reduce conflict and frustration.

• Open pathways for voluntary "treatment" and support.