Finding Autism - Counselling and Therapy

27/06/2025

Many Autistic people are not lacking in social skills. Get a bunch of Autistic friends together and watch the magic happen.

Many of us are not lacking in humour or sarcasm. The funniest people I know are Autistic. Our humour may be different to yours.

Many of us have so much empathy that the feelings try to crush us. We might express that empathy differently to you.

We communicate. Our communication style is probably different to yours.

It’s not that we don’t have these skills.
It’s that we do them differently. They look different.

And they’re often unrecognisable to neurotypical folk.

But they are there.

Em ☺️🌈✌️

02/06/2025

Today, we revisit a guest blog from AuDHD Counsellor and Founder of Finding Autism - Counselling and Therapy, Amy Adams, in which she shares that, despite the challenges of the 'Double Empathy Problem' that exists between Autistic and non-autistic individuals, a 'sweet spot’ can be found when partners of different neurotypes meet each other halfway: "If both sides work their way up the wall through compromise and acceptance, they can meet at the top – the halfway point – where true connection, understanding, and even love, can arise."

🔗 Read her blog here: https://reframingautism.org.au/love-across-neurotypes-the-beauty-in-meeting-halfway/



[ID: An aubergine background featuring the Reframing Autism logo at the top and rainbow logo knotwork at the bottom left. A quote from Amy Adams in white text reads, “He is not Autistic, yet I am. Despite our differences, our relationship is thriving. The wall is gone, and we are deeply connected. Why has this relationship gone so differently? I know exactly why: We meet each other halfway with compromise and unconditional acceptance." Below the quote is a close-up photo of two people holding hands against a blurred, nature background.]

21/05/2025

A great affirmation for self compassion... "I am doing my best and that is enough." 🫶

24/10/2024

⭐ SESSIONS AVAILABLE - MINIMAL WAIT TIMES ⭐

Lead counsellor at Finding Autism - Counselling & Therapy, Amy Adams, takes a neurodiversity affirming, holistic, and solution focused approach to therapy. During sessions, she draws from the following evidence-based therapies:

🦋 Strengths-based Therapy - By focusing on abilities rather than deficits, this approach to therapy promotes self-esteem, resilience, and a more positive identity, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for autistic individuals.

🦋 Dialectical Behaviour Therapy - This therapy incorporates mindfulness, distress tolerance skills, and a range of effective emotion regulation techniques. Studies suggest DBT can reduce anxiety, depression, and improve emotion regulation in autistic individuals, as it provides practical tools for managing intense emotions.

🦋 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Adapted for autistic individuals, CBT can effectively support the management of anxiety, enhance coping skills, and promote self-advocacy.

🦋 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: This approach encourages acceptance of thoughts and feelings while committing to values-based actions, fostering a sense of autonomy and personal growth. Research suggests that ACT is an effective therapeutic approach for autistic individuals, particularly in managing anxiety, improving emotional regulation, enhancing quality of life, and fostering social connections.

🦋 Mindfulness-Based Interventions: This approach focuses on cultivating mindfulness—being present and fully engaged in the moment without judgment. It involves practices that help individuals develop greater awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. As research grows, MBIs appear to be a valuable therapeutic option for Autistic individuals to enhance self awareness and mental resilience.

🦋 Expressive therapies: Expressive therapies offered include journaling and play therapy. Studies indicate that expressive therapies can help improve meaningful communication and emotional expression in Autistic individuals. It provides a non-verbal outlet for expression when traditional talk therapy is not suitable.

Learn more and book a free consultation session here:

Finding Autism offers neurodiversity-affirming counselling and therapy for Autistic people or their loved ones.

16/07/2024

Loving this guide to boundary setting from https://www.instagram.com/positivelypresent/ . Boundary setting is an important part of maintaining healthy relationships with friends, partners, family members, professionals, and other people in our lives. It can also increase feelings of empowerment and self-efficacy.

09/07/2024

🌻 TESTIMONIAL 15 🌻

An old client emailed me to let me know how our sessions impacted their life journey. This client committed to weekly sessions for 3 months, after discontinuing due to meeting their therapeutic goals. (I was given permission to share their feedback anonymously here, in testimonial form). 💐

01/07/2024

🌻 TESTIMONIAL 14 🌻

This feedback is from a long-term counselling client that completed a feedback survey. I feel so grateful to be in a position to support Autistic peers from a place of lived experience and empathy. 🫶

28/05/2024

Let’s talk hyperfocus! Some days, you might feel like it’s a weakness and other days, you might feel more like it’s a phenomenal strength. However you experience it, hyperfocus is commonly experienced by those who are Autistic, as well as those who have ADHD.

Hyperfocus is highly focused attention that lasts a long time. You concentrate on something so hard that you lose track of everything else going on around you. You might also refer to this as “flow”, where time seems to stop around you and you find it difficult to break out of that state of interest.

: Autistic people often report that it’s hard to start a task unless they enter a state of hyperfocus – do you find that this applies to you?

Whilst hyperfocus means that you can be a great finisher of projects (because you don’t stop until it’s done), it can also mean that you miss important details, dates or other daily tasks (like remembering to break for mealtimes) because you were so “in the zone”.

That’s why it’s important to learn how hyperfocus manifests in your life and how to manage it – that way, you can reap the benefits and hopefully limit any adverse consequences.

Our tips:

✅ Figure out what kinds of things you hyperfocus on.
✅ Don’t start anything you can get hyperfocused on close to bedtime or before you start something you’re likely to try to put off.
✅ Practise being fully present. Use mindfulness exercises to stay in the here and now.
✅ Set timers and alarms to so you know how long it’s been since you started an activity.
✅ Once you realise you’re in hyperfocus, move around. A change in position can help you get out of it if you need to.
✅ Give yourself opportunities to channel your hyperfocus into a passion, on occasions when you have the liberty of time and can allow yourself to indulge in the joy that the focus brings you.
✅ Set goals for projects and take a break when you reach a goal.

If you experience hyperfocus, we’d love to hear from you – how do you channel or manage your focus to suit your needs? Leave us a comment below.



[ID: A maroon background with the Reframing Autism logo and a photograph of a woman focused on making a necklace. Text above reads, “Hyperfocus is neither inherently positive nor negative. It can be equally helpful or harmful – the key is in how you manage it”.]

24/04/2024

🌱 Sessions Available 🌱 Book a Free Consultation 🌱

I am an ACA-registered counsellor, passionate about supporting fellow Autistic individuals to find their version of thriving. During sessions, I draw from a range of therapeutic modalities and take a holistic approach to supporting my clients' wellbeing. There is currently a short waitlist in place for counselling sessions of no more than 2 weeks.

Do you want to learn more about how counselling can help you? Have questions that you would like answered before diving into therapy? Want to see if I am the right fit for you and your personal therapeutic goals? Find out more and book in a free consultation here: www.findingautism.com.au/counselling 🌈

11/04/2024

Recently, I contributed this guest blog to Reframing Autism about my experience with sensory anxiety. Thank you to this wonderful organisation for seeking out lived experiences, providing us with a sense of common humanity and community through their resources. ✨♾️💚

02/04/2024

Another wonderful image from the very talented Briony Kay for

26/03/2024

Cute graphic and a good example of self-advocacy in relationships 💚✨

This is perfect 💚
Credit: