Autism is not a mental health condition. However, it is – sadly - more likely that people with Autism will suffer from mental health issues. This is often as a result of having to make difficult adjustments to environments that are not designed with their needs in mind. This can result in overwhelm, overstimulation, difficulties with relationships and sometimes isolation. I offer:

​

Counselling for adults with autism (or suspected autism)

I specialize in offering counselling services for adults aged 18 and older dealing with autism.

​

Counselling for family members to better understand autism

I also provide counselling to family members who are seeking a better understanding of autism and guidance on creating a supportive environment for their family member.
 

How counselling can help

I will support you to express yourself in your own way, where you can hopefully feel relaxed and release yourself from the worry and masking that often comes from trying to fit into the neurotypical world.

 

I will listen carefully to you to find out exactly how I can best help you with the things you are looking to improve or change. Together we can make sense of the things that are  affecting you and come up with strategies that support your mental health and make life easier for you to navigate in your daily life. 

I will share with you books, podcasts and other learning resources that I have come across in my learning and training. I am continually learning new ways to support clients with autism.

Some of the issues that come up in counselling include:

Interpersonal relationships and social skills
Understanding and improving communication and understanding with both close relationships and acquaintances.

Anxiety
Managing change, dealing with environments that are overstimulating and interacting with people who think differently can create an anxiety in daily life that can become intrusive. We can work on identifying, understanding and reducing your anxiety.

Social life and alone time
Finding a balance between time alone and time with others. Looking at socialising from a different perspective, really understanding the types of socialising that you enjoy (and which you don’t!) and finding a model of interaction that works for you. 

Understanding overwhelm. 
Identifying how it starts, what the triggers are and working on strategies to reduce the overwhelm before it becomes a shutdown. 

Masking
Considering what masking is for you (i.e. hiding who you are in order to “fit in”). If you have masked for many years, finding out more about yourself and your preferences, getting to know your needs and likes and becoming more comfortable about advocating for yourself. 

Sensory Considerations 
Becoming more mindful of sensory sensitivities. Creating a sensory-friendly environment in your private spaces. Working on sensory improvements to environments that need to be tolerated (e.g. work, an essential social commitment etc).

 

Adjustments in the counselling room and online

I follow the good practice guidelines provided by the National Autistic Society on helpful adjustments in the counselling room.

 

Some of the practical adjustments that I have used with autistic clients include the following:

​

In the therapy room

• Keeping the lights not too bright

• No strong perfumes

• Mimimise background noises

• Adapting communication to fit the client’s style

• Using more specific and direct language

• Allowing for extra processing time where necessary

• Structuring the sessions, planning session topics

• Offering 5 and 10 minute notifications before the end of the session.

• ​Supporting with visual ideas and visual aids where useful.

• Checking in about the distance of the chairs

 

Online

• Using headphones to minimise background noise.

• Checking out the distance from the screen.

• Supporting clients in turning off their screen if they wish to or turning off mine.

​

Get in touch (I'd love to hear from you)

Feel free to reach out to schedule a session or inquire about how counselling for autism can support you via my telephone number 07471 213 413 or via email at silvacounselling@outlook.com.

​

Training

Understanding Autism (Open University) 

24 hour in-depth course on Autism

Accredited by the CPD Standards Office.

 

Autism in the Counselling Room

Understanding how Autism may present

in the counselling room and different

approaches to make counselling more accessible.

​