Being The Change I Wish To See In The World: My Commitment to You 🤝✨

Throughout my time as a private practice owner, I have received a lot of feedback from therapy clients as well as group participants. The #1 feedback I receive is that people feel safe with me. It’s not just that I advertise being Autistic; it’s that I embody my Autistic identity in every interaction with my clients. I am relatable and familiar. I arrive at my appointments exactly on time, just like my clients do. I am frustrated with inefficient systems that waste our precious time, just as my clients are.

I create spaces in therapy and groups where Autistic traits are welcome. People don’t have to show up in any specific way; they can do what feels good to them. They are no longer pathologized for taking care of themselves and for showing up how they need to.

Every time I am forced to make a phone call because a provider doesn’t allow for written communication, I am reminded of how much the world is not built for us. It may seem like a small issue from the outside—what does one little phone call matter? Well, it matters a lot. Personally, I prefer writing when seeking just about anything. I like texting my friends and family; the only person I ever talk to on the phone is my partner, and honestly, I prefer texting him too. I used to feel ashamed of my preference for writing because it is often seen as avoidant in our culture, but now I realize it is simply part of my Autistic way of being.

So it’s these “little” things that show how what I offer is different. Everything is streamlined; my website is regularly audited by me, so it usually functions well and is completely accurate. All of my services can be signed up for in writing. No one is ever required to speak, introduce themselves, or have their cameras on. Sometimes, at the end of the week—like today, a Friday—I sit back and can’t believe how much of an honor it is to serve my fellow Autistic neurokin. I get to create a small, safe island for them to land on, to connect with each other through the support community I run, or to connect with other isolated Autistic parents in my support groups, or meet with a therapist who can deeply resonate with their very real, very complex experiences.