Counselling

Counselling provides 1:1 support in a confidential and non-judgemental setting for individuals with Asperger's Syndrome and high-functioning autism.
The aim of counselling is to provide an opportunity for the individual to work towards living in a more satisfying and resourceful way.

Counselling can only help, however, when the individual decides when to attend, and agrees the goals of the counselling session. The relationship between counsellor and client is based on trust, confidentiality and agreed rules, rather than friendship. It is a working relationship with an agreement where the client presents a need and the counsellor uses his/her expertise to facilitate understanding, change or improvement.

Learning new skills, changing behaviour and developing strengths can take some time because it may be difficult for the individual to transfer these to new situations or environments. So counselling is frequently linked to outreach work or social skills groups, with practical support and/or training provided in real situations out in the community.

When mental health conditions such as psychosis, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder co-exist with Asperger syndrome, counselling will adopt an interdisciplinary approach and link therapeutic goals with medical treatment. Therapy may need to be stopped while the drug treatment takes effect.

Counselling is provided by qualified and trainee counselling psychologists. All our psychologists have experience of and an interest in autistic spectrum disorders.

We also provide counselling for friends or family of people on the autistic spectrum. Please click here for more details.