About this Event
This workshop follows our AGM and both are free of charge to ACPNL members.
The workshop
Following on from his workshop last year where he spoke about his own background and experience of being an autistic therapist, in this talk Leo will delve into some of the common specifics of working with autistic people. Topics covered will include:
- Adapting therapy for autistic clients
- The importance of disclosure with autistic people
- Re-modelling therapeutic models
- Developing the courage to name things explicitly
- Creating a ‘brave space’ as well as a safe space
- The Neurodiversity Paradigm
- Autistic communication styles
- The Double Empathy problem
- Language & terminology
- Your autistic clients' experience of assessment
- Common histories of autistic people
- Masking
- Burn-out vs meltdown
- The therapist's role with autistic clients
- Special Interests (SPINs) and why they're important
- #ActuallyAutistic = nothing about us without us
Biography
After a lifetime of struggling to fit in and feeling indefinably yet profoundly different, I was diagnosed autistic at 55, having suspected as much for years. This came with a bonus ADHD diagnosis which surprised precisely no-one in my personal life. (This common combination is often referred to as AuDHD). Since then my practice has focused and grown around neurodiversity.
“That’s a very ADHD CV” said my psychologist during my assessment. I’ve had careers as a musician, DJ, journalist, graphic designer, project manager, web developer, and digital producer.As an #ActuallyAutistic therapist my practice is now 95% neurodivergent - mostly autistic people. I speak fluent Neurotypical but Neurodivergent is my native tongue.
I served as ACPNL chair for five years until 2022, when I stepped away to devote all of my time to my wider practice of client work, group facilitation, writing, teaching and activism from within the neurodiversity world. I co-host the Autistic Licence podcast with my colleague Siana McGarvey.
I live in north London with my emotional support human Rachel and our dogs Woody and Molly.
Event Venue
Online
GBP 0.00 to GBP 35.00
