Neurodiverse Love & Emotional Intimacy

Name: Neurodiverse Love & Emotional Intimacy
Start: 2026-03-11T01:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-03-11T03:30:00.000Z
Location: Zoom

Zoom
Oakland
Wednesday, Mar 11th
1 AM - 3:30 AM
Organized by TurnON.love

Do you ever feel stuck in cycles of miscommunication, emotional overwhelm, or shutdown when trying to connect? Do you find it difficult to share your own feelings or know how to respond when someone shares theirs? Many of these challenges are common in neurodivergent relationships and can be especially difficult when catastrophizing, shame spirals, or rejection sensitivity take over.

In this experiential workshop, TurnON.love intimacy coaches Dr. Alison Ash and Sebastian Clarke will share practical tools for navigating these dynamics with clarity, compassion, and collaboration to support autistic and ADHD individuals and their partners in building more resilient, fulfilling relationships.

We’ll explore:

Ways core neurodivergent experiences, including alexithymia, decision fatigue, sensory overload, burnout, and masking can affect intimacy and trust
How to recognize and interrupt patterns like catastrophizing, shame spirals, and rejection sensitivity before they escalate
Practical skills to feel rather than overanalyze emotions in an embodied way, moving through them without getting stuck
Strategies to initiate and engage in challenging conversations without avoidance or overwhelm
Tools to support one another’s regulation while maintaining connection to your own authentic feelings

Whether you’re currently partnered or preparing for future relationships, you’ll leave with actionable tools to reduce conflict, deepen trust, and honor the unique ways your brains work best together.

Note: This workshop is part of a three-part series. We also invite you to join Neurodiverse Relating & Executive Function on March 3rd and Neurodiverse Pleasure & Sexual Intimacy on March 24th — recommended (but not required) companions to this workshop.

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Reviews

"As someone who has struggled with shame spiraling for as long as I can remember, I found this content extremely helpful. Dr. Aly and Seb seemed like they were speaking specifically to me and what my experience has been like when my partners are upset with me. I better understood what I'm experiencing and what I can start to do differently in a way that I know will make a big difference." -A.C.

"My partner who is autistic has been trying to get me to understand why she struggles to let me in on her feelings for so long and this workshop and the exercises and handouts finally bridged the gap in our struggles. It’s not that she doesn’t care it’s just that her brain works differently and there are tools and strategies to be able to better connect with each other. This was a game changer for us." - L.R.

“The discussion about capacity and boundaries was so practical. We learned how to support each other without burning out or feeling guilty. It gave us a roadmap for handling overwhelm while staying connected and I think we'll get into less conflict as a result.” -V.E.

“I learned to slow down and actually be present when my partner shares feelings. I always wanted to fix things, but now I see how listening and empathizing first makes a huge difference. I can feel the shift in our connection already.” -P.T.

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Instructor Bio

Dr. Alison Ash, aka Dr. Aly, is a trauma-informed sex and intimacy coach and educator, Stanford University Lecturer, author, and founder of TurnON.love. As a sociologist with a PhD from Stanford, she has a comprehensive understanding of the complex societal challenges that often lead to unsatisfying and disempowering sexual experiences. She designs workshops, courses, and retreats and offers individuals and couples coaching to give others the tools to discover their desires and confidently pursue them.

Dr. Aly is teaming up with her husband and intimacy coach, Sebastian Clarke. He has more than a decade of experience working with neurodivergent folks, supporting them to increase their capacity for healthy relating. Sebastian has developed a wide range of specialized skills to support neurodivergent clients to feel more confident and comfortable navigating intimacy, including helping them to feel and express emotion and self-regulate in meaningful ways, enhance their communication skills, and explore embodied sex-positive pleasure.

They invite you to TurnON pleasure, intimacy and love at www.TurnON.love and on Instagram and Facebook.

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Important Information

* Tickets are not refundable. They may be transferred to another individual but not to a future event.

* I offer one volunteer ticket per event, and while I appreciate those that love to be of service, I ask that you save this opportunity for those who require financial assistance to be able to attend. You may also apply for a sliding scale ticket.

* I welcome folks of all genders, sexual orientations, relationship structures, ages, body types, abilities, races, and ethnicities.

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Upcoming Events

The Secrets of Passion, Romance, and Dominance

February 24th in Oakland

Discover how to use both words and touch to create passionate, romantic, and dominant sexual encounters! Master romantic affirmations, passionate dirty talk, and dominant commands. Explore how to seduce with a wide array of tantalizing and exhilarating touch techniques, including romantic feather touch and passionate grabs. Learn how to make your lover surrender by spanking, hair pulling, and pinning them against the wall. You'll leave feeling confident in creating more variety in your sex life and making your lovers fantasies come true!

Neurodiverse Relating & Executive Function

March 3rd on Zoom, replay available to folks who purchase tickets

Many neurodivergent individuals and mixed neurotype couples struggle with executive function differences, including how to plan, prioritize, and manage the never-ending to-do list. These difficulties can create stress, leading to miscommunication and conflict, challenges with initiation and completion, and friction around different ways of doing things. We reframe these challenges as predictable patterns rather than personal shortcomings, offering practical strategies to work with neurological differences instead of against them. This workshop is designed for autistic and ADHD adults, single or partnered, and their loved ones.

Neurodiverse Love & Emotional Intimacy

March 10th, replay available to folks who purchase tickets

Do you ever get stuck in cycles of miscommunication, overwhelm, or shutdown when trying to connect? These challenges are common in neurodivergent relationships, and often exacerbated by catastrophizing, shame spirals, or rejection sensitivity. Learn how core neurodivergent experiences, including alexithymia, decision fatigue, sensory overload, burnout, and masking impact intimacy and trust. You’ll learn strategies to interrupt reactive patterns, feel emotions without overanalyzing, communicate through conflict, and support regulation while staying authentic. Leave with tools to reduce conflict and deepen trust. Ideal for autistic and ADHD individuals and their partners.

Neurodiverse Pleasure & Sexual Intimacy

March 24th, replay available to folks who purchase tickets

Do you ever feel anxious about intimacy because it might lead to frustration, disappointment, or overwhelm? Many neurodivergent people struggle with attention, arousal, and sensory regulation during dating and s*x, which can make moments meant to feel pleasurable feel stressful instead. Get practical tools to navigate intimacy with more confidence, compassion, and collaboration. You’ll explore how to communicate sensory needs, manage distraction, regulate arousal, and create novelty while maintaining connection. Leave with a personalized intimacy user manual, plus communication and regulation strategies to feel grounded, connected, and empowered

How to Eat Pussy like a Champ

March 29th in Oakland, also available as an on-demand rental

Givers will learn how to discover what turns their lover(s) on and explore a wide range of techniques for maximizing pleasure. Receivers will learn how to surrender into sensation while also taking a more active role in cultivating their own pleasure. Discover all the nerve pathways involved so you can understand the different kinds of orgasms possible as well as science-based techniques for how to explore them. Plus, there's a thorough live demo so you can see all the skills put into action. Both individuals and couples are welcome!

Couples Retreat - Sustainable Intimacy: Fuel Passion for Lasting Love

April 23rd-26th in Sonoma, also available as an on-demand rental

Navigating mismatched libidos, feeling stuck in routines, or just craving more playfulness and pleasure are natural parts of growing together over time. In long-term relationships, it’s common to feel desire ebb and flow, to relate to sex like it’s a chore, or to quietly build up feelings of rejection or resentment. Even loving, connected couples can struggle with differences in desires, changing needs, or the pressures of daily life crowding out time for intimacy. Whether you're looking to rekindle passion or simply carve out meaningful time to nourish your relationship, this 3-night, 4-day retreat offers a spacious and supportive container to expand your erotic potential and strengthen the emotional and physical bonds between you.

You'll:

Break Free from Stagnant Patterns: Learn how to move beyond the anxious-avoidant dynamic, cohabitator-coparent roles, and the pressure-rejection cycle that can stifle intimacy.
Uncover & Overcome Libido Blockers: Identify what’s getting in the way of your desire, pleasure, and connection—and learn how to dissolve those barriers.
Master the Art of Intimacy Bids: Explore how to make verbal, physical, and romantic invitations that genuinely woo your partner and spark connection.
Create Fun & Exciting Intimacy Dates: Receive a curated menu of ways to connect authentically—without pressure or performance.
Rediscover Your Turn-On & Pleasure: Engage in practices that will expand your capacity to both give and receive pleasure in ways that feel deeply fulfilling.
Sustainable Intimacy Toolkit: Take home a 35-page Sustainable Intimacy booklet filled with reflection exercises and personalized practices to continue nurturing your intimacy.
Indulge in Rejuvenating Experiences: Enjoy delicious meals, a heated pool and hot tub, scenic trails, a movement and mindfulness class, a couples massage class, group coaching, a bonus workshop on passionate, romantic, and dominant touch, a sensual soirée, and more
Choose from a Variety of Accommodation Options: Choose from camping and glamping for an immersive nature experience to gorgeous private rooms, including one with a private sauna and soaking tub overlooking the woods.