What does therapy for autistic people look like from a neuro-affirming perspective?

In recent years, we have begun to hear much more about neurodivergence: a way of describing people with different neurotypes, including autism. This has brought an important shift in perspective, allowing us to understand autism as a condition and a different way of seeing and experiencing the world, rather than viewing it solely as a disorder.

More and more autistic people feel proud of who they are, see autism as part of their identity, and are working to change a view based only on deficits. Autism is so much more than that. It is another way of perceiving the world, of feeling and of relating to others. That way of experiencing the world deserves to be respected, rather than changed. This is at the heart of a neuro-affirming perspective.

In therapy, my aim is not to help an autistic person become more like everyone else, but to help them understand themselves. I accompany them as they reconnect with who they are and begin to see what may be preventing them from living a fulfilling life. Many autistic people find it difficult to hear themselves or recognise their own needs because they devote so much energy to trying to fit into the world around them. I help them change direction and find their way back to themselves.

Being autistic can bring many challenges in our society, including different ways of interacting, communicating or perceiving. But these characteristics are also valuable and deserve understanding and support.