Counselling Autistic Adults: The weekend intensive

Spend a full weekend immersed in a practical, research aligned framework for working respectfully and effectively with Autistic adults. This training brings together the core cognitive, emotional, communicative, and sensory elements that shape Autistic experience, woven into one coherent learning arc designed to transform how therapy feels for your clients.

Across two days, you’ll build a grounded, whole system understanding of how Autistic people process information, navigate uncertainty, interpret social cues, move through overwhelm, and experience the world through their sensory and emotional filters. You’ll leave with language, tools, and strategies that reduce cognitive load, increase clarity, and support genuine therapeutic safety.

• Learn in an environment that adapts to your pace and individual needs

• Engage in hands-on practice that deepens understanding and integrates theory into real skills

• Receive immediate, personalised feedback from an experienced facilitator who adjusts as you go

• Take part in richer, more dynamic group interactions that strengthen learning and insight

• Build confidence through collaborative practice and shared learning that boosts engagement and motivation

What will you learn 

A neurodiversity affirming foundation for understanding Autistic adults
Across the series, you learn to move from a deficit model to a difference model, using Autistic‑led theories such as monotropism, bottom‑up processing, spiky profiles, and neural connectivity to understand Autistic experience in a respectful, non‑pathologising way. You also develop cultural competence, recognising autism as a form of culture with distinct communication and relational styles.

Autistic complexity: Co-neurodivergences, gender & sexuality
Expand your capacity to recognise and work with the real‑world complexity of Autistic clients, including ADHD, alexithymia, aphantasia, misophonia, and diverse gender and sexuality presentations. You also learn how these factors interact with therapy, communication, overwhelm, and safety.

How to adapt counselling practice to Autistic nervous systems
You learn practical, immediately usable tools such as flexible goal setting, scripting, exit planning, and adapting modalities to Autistic attention, processing, and sensory needs. You will also build skill in identifying client needs before therapy begins (e.g., intake adaptations, screening), supporting unmasking safely, and applying polyvagal theory in neurodiversity affirming ways.

Supporting Autistic adults through the diagnostic journey
You will be equipped to support adults before, during, and after diagnosis, including: recognising underdiagnosed groups, navigating pros and cons of diagnosis, guiding clients through grief, identity development, and connecting with neurokin, understanding and interrupting the burnout cycle, and supporting unmasking in a safe and sustainable way.

Working therapeutically with sensory differences
Understand Autistic sensory profiles, recognise sensory triggers and soothers, and integrate sensory‑based strategies into therapeutic work. You also learn to create sensory safe environments, tune into sensory characteristics of spaces, and use collaborative, neuroaffirming approaches to support regulation and safety.

This learning will be deeply experiential 

You will have the opportunity to experience these things and have them modelled to you to help you implement theory to practice.

• Topics are explored from a deep theoretical AND practical point of view, so you can immediately implement tools and strategies with your own clients.

• I’ll use language, pacing and choice points that reduce social performance pressure, so you can notice your own nervous system when neuronormativity isn’t centred.

• Explore your sensory profile and safety strategies to mirror what you can offer clients later. The learning space has different seating options, sensory tools and adjustable lighting.

• Using lived experience narratives as teaching tools, and hands-on practice with extra resources to take away.

• Culturally competent communication that will allow you to participate in a way that feels natural and safe to you.

• Monotropic friendly pacing throughout the weekend: single focus learning, gentle transitions and reduced task switching.

What is included

Resource Pack

• 350+ page resource pack printed in colour, including:
  • Copies of the slides with space to take notes
  • Workbooks to record your experiences during activities
  • Additional resources you can use at home
  • A 60+ page diagnostic resource
  • A 80+ page glossary designed specifically for counsellors

• Stationery to use and keep

  • An a4 folder so you keep your resources organised and keep them for future reference
  • All the stationery you will need for the workshop

• Sensory Tools

  • Sensory tools for you to try and take back to your own practice

2 hours of group supervision

• 2 × 1hr group supervision at 4 and 8 weeks post workshop to get ongoing support and supervision in counselling Autistic adults

Meals

• Morning and afternoon tea 
• Lunch
• Coffee/tea/soft drinks/juice
• Snacks

Professional Development Certificate

• Claim 10 points with ACA
• Claim 13 hours of category A with PACFA

Location 

The training will occur at my office in Curtin, ACT.  More information will be sent to you after you purchase a ticket.  

Accommodation 
There is accommodation available in Curtin at the Statesman's Hotel, otherwise there are lots of places to stay nearby in Woden and Canberra city, both which are accessible within a 15 minute drive from the office and on a bus route.  

Local bus 
#58
Find bus timetables here: https://www.transport.act.gov.au/getting-around/timetables/routes-by-number

About the presenter 

I am an AuDHD therapist, supervisor, writer & educator, working in Canberra.  The focus of my counselling work is working with Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD adults as well as people recovering from trauma.  This often involves supporting adults through the late diagnosis process for autism & ADHD, as well as providing support through the post-diagnosis phase.   I also provide clinical & professional supervision to other Autistic counsellors or those who work with Autistic adults.   I also train and provide consultation to organisations on providing neurodiversity affirming services

Read more about me here

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