Mental health support - therapy

In the area I lived in there was no specialist provision for autistic individuals. Only CBT through the NHS (which also didn’t work for me at all). I had therapy several times both outside the UK and through NHS and none of it helped and some of it was very damaging. My university recently funded a few sessions privately with a counsellor who is autistic himself and has a lot of experience working with neurodiverse people so I thought I would give therapy one more try and I have kept seeing this counsellor privately. I think it is essential you have a therapist who has a good understanding of neurodiversity (and is not viewing it as a deficit) - i don’t necessarily think they have to be neurodiverse themselves though I do think it helps: I actually specifically looked for an autistic therapist when I was looking for the therapist I am seeing now. It really helps actually and of course all autistic individuals are different but I think communication is much easier and there is a lot more understanding and personal insight. I think it has to be a good fit. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t continue- therapy can cause damage too- I wish I had listened to my instincts in the past- the biggest damage for me was caused by being misdiagnosed with anorexia nervosa (when in fact the cause of issues around food were digestive issues (which run in my family) and autism related issues- sensory, need for routine, fear of change, bad at recognising hunger/ fullness cues)- being treated as having an eating disorder I did not have caused so much damage- I tried to convince myself they were right as I desperately wanted an answer and solution to not being well, but this really harmed me. Years later the NHS eating disorder team actually realised their mistake too and admitted the diagnosis is incorrect… but the damage is done. The problem is that if someone doesn’t fit neatly into one of the known/common categories, it is very tempting for professionals to make it fit into one of these anyways. It is so important for people to be open minded and to listen- these are qualities i think are essential in a good therapist. I am not sure this is helpful- I really hope you manage to get some support. I found my therapist by going through a website where neurodiverse therapists could advertise their services - I tried to find it just now but didn’t manage to- but I am sure I can locate it again if you want?

In the area I lived in there was no specialist provision for autistic individuals. Only CBT through the NHS (which also didn’t work for me at all). I had therapy several times both outside the UK and through NHS and none of it helped and some of it was very damaging. My university recently funded a few sessions privately with a counsellor who is autistic himself and has a lot of experience working with neurodiverse people so I thought I would give therapy one more try and I have kept seeing this counsellor privately. I think it is essential you have a therapist who has a good understanding of neurodiversity (and is not viewing it as a deficit) - i don’t necessarily think they have to be neurodiverse themselves though I do think it helps: I actually specifically looked for an autistic therapist when I was looking for the therapist I am seeing now. It really helps actually and of course all autistic individuals are different but I think communication is much easier and there is a lot more understanding and personal insight. I think it has to be a good fit. If it doesn’t feel right, don’t continue- therapy can cause damage too- I wish I had listened to my instincts in the past- the biggest damage for me was caused by being misdiagnosed with anorexia nervosa (when in fact the cause of issues around food were digestive issues (which run in my family) and autism related issues- sensory, need for routine, fear of change, bad at recognising hunger/ fullness cues)- being treated as having an eating disorder I did not have caused so much damage- I tried to convince myself they were right as I desperately wanted an answer and solution to not being well, but this really harmed me. Years later the NHS eating disorder team actually realised their mistake too and admitted the diagnosis is incorrect… but the damage is done. The problem is that if someone doesn’t fit neatly into one of the known/common categories, it is very tempting for professionals to make it fit into one of these anyways. It is so important for people to be open minded and to listen- these are qualities i think are essential in a good therapist. I am not sure this is helpful- I really hope you manage to get some support. I found my therapist by going through a website where neurodiverse therapists could advertise their services - I tried to find it just now but didn’t manage to- but I am sure I can locate it again if you want?