Autistic Adults & Adult ADHD

Personal therapy and counselling for Autistic Adults is the same as personal therapy for Neurotypical people with a few extra considerations. 

Some people may find the session length too long and overwhelming, and this can be adapted. 

Some people have difficulty in transferring thought to the spoken word or need extra time to process what they have heard, and this can be factored into your tailor-made longer sessions.

Some autistic adults find social based conversations difficult and find object-based conversations easier.

For people with Alexithymia (which is the inability to recognize or describe one's own emotions) the sessions and conversations can be adapted to consider and develop this area.

I can also offer pre-diagnosis support for adults awaiting assessment for both autism and ADHD and post-diagnostic support to help you navigate your diagnosis and process your feelings around it. We can look at self-disclosure, masking and help you identify what you are comfortable disclosing and to whom. 

Many of my clients have been diagnosed in adulthood and for some it brings answers and a sense of validation, for others a resentment towards caregivers and education providers that this wasn't diagnosed earlier, and the appropriate support and adaptations provided. Some feel their lives may have been easier and don't know what to do with these feelings. Together we can work through these feelings and to help you understand and process them in a safe and nurturing environment.

A range of fidget and sensory gadgets are provided each session as previous clients have found using these whilst talking, allows for better processing and more free talking. 

So, if you are an autistic adult who would like to start your counselling journey, consider starting with me, a counsellor with 13 years' experience and knowledge of autism. I have both experience of counselling autistic adults and adults with ADHD, both men and women, some of whom were diagnosed on childhood, others who were diagnosed as adults.

I have also completed several autism training courses including 'Working Psychologically with Autistic Adults' through the British Psychological Society and Understanding ADHD with The Open University.  Please get in contact to discuss your needs further and how the sessions can be adapted to meet your needs.