The autistic experience is as unique to each and every person as their DNA. There are no typical autistic people just as there are no typical neurotypicals.

I see individuals who identify as autistic,  individuals who have received a diagnosis, those that feel they might be autistic and those that have felt, often for many years, that they are different to those around them but unsure why and suspect it may be related to being autistic.

Although I have lots of experience and understanding about autism both personally and professionally, I also know there is still lots to learn about how being autistic affects you personally. Together with our combined knowledge and skill set we can explore both your current and previous day to day experiences of how being autistic impacts on your life and we can work together to help you understand what you need to live a confident, happy and successful life, to make sense of the world you are living in!

There is lots of evidence emerging that being autistic can also be traumatic when living in a mainly neurotypical world – I can help with PTSD symptoms that arise from the stresses of living in a world which can be unkind, unpredictable and overwhelming.

In addition to being autistic there are often conditions which are more likely to affect you if you are autistic such as anxiety, depression,  PTSD (including school trauma and invalidation trauma), difficulties around food and eating, sensory integration sensitivities and understanding both interoception and alexithymia. Difficulties around sleep  and attention and planning and memory can be experienced too. I can explore with you the impact these may have had on your life so far and what we can work on the reduce the distress these may cause to you.

We can explore whether any of the above are experiences you have had or whether they are perceived as a difficulty by others.

I am also aware that intersectionality impacts the lives of the autistic people I meet. I work with my clients to explore how intersectionality impacts them and their lived experience.

Autism and Puberty can bring with it many more challenges and you may find yourself needing additional support to help you and your family through this time, especially if you have or believe you (or a loved one) may be autistic.  Often it is  a time of developing self awareness and a time to notice differences about yourself. This can be difficult, especially if the last thing you want is to be different. We can explore these new and sometimes difficult experience using a range of tools, visual and media and learn about different emotions and work together to understand how this  impacts you and help you to learn strategies to support yourself once counselling is finished.