Sarah Bergenfield, MA, is a certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner. Sarah specializes in supporting autistic clients in various stages of their diagnostic journey. A speaker and presenter, Sarah teaches about autism and how IFS can be used to increase understanding and self-acceptance. She lives in New Jersey.

Martha Sweezy, PhD, is an assistant professor in psychiatry part-time at Harvard Medical School, a research and training consultant at the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at the Cambridge Health Alliance, and a psychotherapist in private practice. She teaches IFS therapy nationally and internationally, and has authored, coauthored, and coedited numerous books on various applications of IFS.

Foreword writer Beth Ann Malow, MD, is a neurologist whose clinical and research interests focus on improving health and quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum. Malow has carried out foundation, industry, and federally funded trials of melatonin and behavioral sleep education in autism and other populations, including in community settings.

"This is a groundbreaking and compassionate book, weaving together neuroscience, sensory experience, personal experience, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to shine a powerful new light on autism. With insight and warmth, the authors illuminate the inner landscape of sensory surplus and show how embracing every part of oneself can lead to healing, integration, and self-trust. A must-read for anyone seeking a deeper, kinder understanding of neurodiversity--from the inside out."
--Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love

--Elizabeth Gilbert

"For years I've been asked how IFS works with autistic people. Not being autistic myself and not having a lot of experience with autistic people, I would tell them I don't know. Now I happily refer them to this amazing book. Sarah is autistic and has extensive experience using IFS with autistics. In addition, she conveys her experience and those of her clients in ways that make it clear that while their brains process the world differently, and society's reactions to those differences have been painful and forced parts into protective and exiled roles, they also have unusual strengths and access to Self. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is autistic, or is working with someone who is, or wonders whether they might be."
--Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, founder of Internal Family Systems

--Richard C. Schwartz, PhD

"Wired to Feel invites a much-needed paradigm shift--from pathology to perception, from deficit to surplus. Grounded in neuroscience, IFS, and lived experience, it offers a wise, deeply embodied exploration of autistic reality. Few books have captured the lived texture of autism as vividly and accurately. It's a gift to autistic readers--and a guide for those who wish to meet them not only with understanding, but with true clinical attunement and care."
--Yoav Bartov, MSW, certified therapist and IFS Institute Co-Lead Trainer specializing in autism, ADHD, trauma, and family therapy

--Yoav Bartov, MSW

"A thoughtful take on autistic challenges with failure, prediction errors, the autonomic nervous system, and parts. Readers are challenged to reconsider assumptions about the autistic self."
--Sean M. Inderbitzen, LCSW, member of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), and author of Autism in Polyvagal Terms

--Sean M. Inderbitzen, LCSW

"Wired to Feel offers a deeply personal and compassionate exploration of the autistic experience through Sarah Bergenfield's journey as a late-diagnosed woman. Bergenfield and Sweezy present a groundbreaking reframe of autism--viewing sensory overwhelm not as deficit but as an abundance of connection with the world. This fresh perspective has the potential to transform the field. Essential reading for anyone seeking to better understand autism from the inside out!"
--Jenna Riemersma, LPC, Certified IFS Clinical Consultant and best-selling author of Altogether You

--Jenna Riemersma, LPC

"Wired to Feel is a groundbreaking guide for understanding and embracing autism. Sarah Bergenfield and Martha Sweezy skillfully blend neuroscience with Internal Family Systems to empower autistic individuals to welcome the full experience of who they are. Validating, practical, and deeply compassionate, this book is a lifeline for anyone seeking clarity, calm, and self-leadership in a world that rarely makes room for neurodiversity. A must-read for healing and hope."
--Michelle Garnett, PhD, clinical psychologist and cofounder and director of the autism awareness organization, Attwood & Garnett Events

--Michelle Garnett, PhD

"Wired to Feel shifts the paradigm of what it means to be autistic and what to 'do' about it. Fully neuroaffirming and fully engaging, this book enlightens the reader about how autistic brains and bodies work differently, and how sensory superconnectivity leads to alternative means of existence in the world. It also addresses approaches to the inherent difficulties in being autistic in the face of overwhelming sensory environments and situations that lead to uncertainty, confusion, and mental and physical overload. This is a must-read for autistic people and those who care about them."
--Lindsey Biel, OTR/L, occupational therapist, coauthor of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, and author of Sensory Processing Challenges

--Lindsey Biel, OTR/L,

"This beautifully written, fiercely compassionate book is a must-have for autistic individuals and those who support them. Wired to Feel offers a liberating road map for expanding understanding, fostering connection, and finding ways to live authentically, with vitality, in a constantly changing world. The authors expertly interweave research and neuroaffirmative practices with Sarah's lived experience to support each reader's personal exploration and unique application of the material. A must-read!"
--Evelyn Gould, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist at the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety, and fellow of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS)

--Evelyn Gould, PhD

"This loving, depathologizing work helps autistic individuals recognize themselves and navigate their brains more effectively. The mix of knowledge of autism with expertise in IFS creates rich teaching for better therapists and more understanding family members. Sarah Bergenfield's generous sharing of her personal journey transforms this book into something beautifully human--reading like memoir at times. Essential reading."
--Paul Browde, MD, psychiatrist and relationship guide

--Paul Browde, MD

"This book is a brilliant integration of IFS with the neurology of autism. Sarah and Martha illustrate how IFS is particularly well suited to autistic systems, offering processes that align with the needs of the autistic brain. Sarah's approach honors the reality that suffering may arise not only from parts that need attention and care, but also from autistic neurology and the challenges of navigating a world designed for non-autistics. Game changer."
--Alexia Rothman, PhD, IFS Institute Lead Trainer, speaker, and consultant, and cohost of the IFS Talks and Conversas IFS podcasts

--Alexia Rothman, PhD

"Rather than defining autism as a series of deficits or lack of connections, neurologist Bergenfield and psychotherapist Sweezy make a convincing case for it being a collection of differences and a surplus of connections. Bergenfield, who was diagnosed with autism at age 50, shares amazing firsthand insights into how her mind works. With messages coming from every direction--every sound, taste, smell, touch--the brain, trying very hard to predict what will
happen, can easily become overwhelmed. Routines, repetitive motions, and reruns can all help the autistic person adapt. The authors introduce and adapt the concept of IFS (Internal Family Systems)--that the mind consists of interacting parts--for autistic thinkers. They describe ways that autistic people can function in neurodiverse relationships, including marriage and parenting. Diagnosis is seen as a relief and a pathway to understanding behaviors. While the explanations
are fairly complex, autistic readers and the non-autistic people who interact with them (aka everyone) will be enlightened by this positive approach that includes both the challenges and the bonuses of the condition."
--Booklist

-- "Booklist"

Publisher: New Harbinger Publications

Pub date: 2026-04-02

Length: 168 pages