Therapists who understand ASD in adults? Do they exist?

I have found a good counselor but through a lgbt+ charity. She did not know anything about autism but she's gone out of her way to learn. Obviously that wouldn't work for everyone but I'm diagnosed so I'm past the point of needing someone to believe me cos I have it in black and white. 

My counselor has her own health issues and occasionally shares just enough and herself to let me know she really does understand. She's also newly qualified and when I started with her she was getting in her hours to pass her course. But she's my age, she's disabled, and she has ADHD adult kids, she's got life experience and she believes me which is the key point for me. 

She is the only counsellor I've seen in 25 years that understands. And I've seen a lot of counselors. I can work with her because she read up on PDA and doesn't treat me like a subservient client, she respects my perspective. It's much more like a working partnership instead of therapist and client. PDA does not like being subservient to anyone. 

So yes it is possible to find a therapist, if you are really lucky. I would suggest looking sideways, not straight at the NHS. Look up local charities which might be relevant to you, look outside the main stream because sadly the NHS keeps autistic support locked behind the diagnosis barrier, and most staff still seem to equate autism with learning disabilities. 

I have found a good counselor but through a lgbt+ charity. She did not know anything about autism but she's gone out of her way to learn. Obviously that wouldn't work for everyone but I'm diagnosed so I'm past the point of needing someone to believe me cos I have it in black and white. 

My counselor has her own health issues and occasionally shares just enough and herself to let me know she really does understand. She's also newly qualified and when I started with her she was getting in her hours to pass her course. But she's my age, she's disabled, and she has ADHD adult kids, she's got life experience and she believes me which is the key point for me. 

She is the only counsellor I've seen in 25 years that understands. And I've seen a lot of counselors. I can work with her because she read up on PDA and doesn't treat me like a subservient client, she respects my perspective. It's much more like a working partnership instead of therapist and client. PDA does not like being subservient to anyone. 

So yes it is possible to find a therapist, if you are really lucky. I would suggest looking sideways, not straight at the NHS. Look up local charities which might be relevant to you, look outside the main stream because sadly the NHS keeps autistic support locked behind the diagnosis barrier, and most staff still seem to equate autism with learning disabilities. 

Max has left the platform (them/they) said:

She did not know anything about autism

Max has left the platform (them/they) said:

She's also newly qualified

There is clearly a deficit in autism education when a newly qualified therapist doesn't know anything. It really should be a standard part of the curriculum given how many of the population are autistic.