An Awkward Autistic Therapist

The only way I can survive being an Autistic therapist and marketing my practice is by being brutally honest about who I am and what I offer. I offer awkwardness. So much awkwardness. I don't start sessions off smoothly, like at all, I know the words but it's with an Autistic delivery every time. But I do offer integrity, honestly, a joy in deep diving about Autism or really anything in the DSM. But I will never be less awkward. I have come to terms with this. Perhaps it also gives my clients permission to be their awkward, Autistic selves too.

Safety is something that is especially important in my work with clients and something that I explore on a personal level as well. What is safe and what feels safe? How can a space be safe enough for Autistic folks to feel comfortable enough to talk about what matters and solve difficult problems or be vulnerable? I ask myself this question as well since this is something very hard to find as an Autistic person. 

What I have learned through my work as an Autistic therapist is that safety starts with my own authenticity. I show up as myself, an Autistic person in the fullest sense of the word. I am overwhelmed, extremely sensitive, and have obvious Autistic traits. I have limited eye contact, I move around a lot, I have awkward ways of talking. But what is clearly visible also is that I deeply care, that I am committed to my clients, and that I am heavily invested in my specialty of Autism. I am constantly learning and growing and expanding my own acceptance of what Autism is and how we can build lives that meet our needs and help us heal.