I am particularly drawn to working with clients who identify as autistic.
I identify as autistic myself. This has both pros and cons – its easy to understand certain tings but it might be easy to make assumptions. I try to bracket this by checking in with myself and my clients.
There’s a well-known phrase in the autism community, often attributed to Dr Stephen Shore: “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” I really like that statement. It reminds us that autism is not a single, tidy category. It’s a spectrum of very different people, personalities, histories, and nervous systems. https://www.healisautism.com/post/when-you-meet-one-person-with-autism
Unfortunately, there are still many stereotypes about what an autistic person is supposed to look like or behave like. These stereotypes can be harmful and shaming. They can also be used to box people in, minimise their struggles, or even “weaponise” autism as a label rather than understanding it as a lived human experience.
Beginning Therapy Together
If you decide to work with me, the first thing I assume is that something important has already happened: you believe I might be able to help you.
From our initial consultation, we will have had a chance to get a feel for each other. In non-counselling language, we will have seen whether we “vibe.” That sense of fit really matters. Research – and my own experience – tells me that the relationship between therapist and client is one of the most important parts of any successful therapy.
Sometimes trust grows slowly. I try to generate this by empowering my clients to assert boundaries with me. I assure them that only they are experts in their lives, not me.
Clarifying What You Want from Counselling
In the first session – and sometimes across the first couple of sessions – we focus on establishing what you would actually like to get from counselling.
This sounds simple, but it often isn’t.
Many autistic people have spent years in situations where their needs were misunderstood, minimised, or never clearly put into words. Because of that, it can be surprisingly difficult to answer questions like:
- What do I want to change?
- What feels hard in my life right now?
- What would “feeling better” even look like?
Part of my role is to help you clarify these things.
Being explicit can be incredibly helpful. Therapy comes with a lot of unspoken assumptions – about emotions, communication, relationships, and even what “progress” means. I aim to slow all of that down and make it clear, collaborative, and practical.
And sometimes I misunderstand something or make an assumption – when I do this, I acknowledge it. This helps to address the power imbalance inherent in the relationship and makes it clear that my clients are the captains of their lives, not me!
How I Work
I work with autistic clients both in person and online. Many of my clients prefer online therapy because it removes travel stress, sensory overload, and the pressure of unfamiliar environments. It allows us to focus on the conversation itself.
I’m also particularly interested in working with individuals who identify as male. But am open to workig with anyone as long as we both think it would be helpful.
To speak in broad terms, many men in our society are not given much support in learning how to recognise or articulate emotions. When autism is part of the picture, this can become even more complex. Words for internal experiences can feel vague, confusing, or simply unavailable.
In our work together, we create a language that actually fits you – not one borrowed from neurotypical expectations. Although I’m based in Edinburgh, UK, I work exclusively online with autistic clients. Offering counselling remotely means you can access support without the stress of travel, unfamiliar environments, or sensory overload. Many autistic people find online therapy easier, calmer, and more flexible, and it allows us to focus on our work.
Autism-Friendly Counselling
My approach is grounded in a few core beliefs:
- Autistic ways of experiencing the world are valid.
- There is no single “right” way to communicate or process feelings.
- Therapy should adapt to the client – not the other way around.
- Practical tools and self-understanding matter just as much as emotional insight.
Whether you are newly exploring the possibility that you might be autistic, or you’ve known for years, my aim is the same: to help you understand yourself better and to build a life that genuinely fits who you are.
