I'm already working with autistic clients — is this still for me?

Created by Colette Kelly, Modified on Thu, 7 May at 10:15 AM by Colette Kelly

At a Glance

Yes — and many of our members were already actively working with autistic clients when they enrolled. The course is designed for depth, not for awareness. If you have been seeing autistic clients and quietly sensing that your existing knowledge is incomplete, that instinct is worth taking seriously.

A common pattern

Across testimonials, a particular pattern shows up. Practitioners who had been working with autistic clients for years describe arriving at the course with what they later realised was "surface knowledge mixed with preconceptions." The preconceptions weren't visible while they held them. The surface felt like real knowledge until depth replaced it.

"I have moved from surface knowledge mixed with preconceptions and a little fear to a deeper understanding and compassion for autistic people."

"As I grow my client base, I am realising how important it is to become informed in neurodiversity practice."

This is not a comment on professional inadequacy. It is the nature of the gap. Most counselling training does not cover autism in any depth — and most autism CPD available before now has been rooted in deficit-based models that the autistic community itself has moved beyond.

What changes for experienced practitioners

If you already have a foundation, the course gives you:

A new lens — not just more information layered onto your existing framework, but a paradigm shift toward affirming, non-deficit-based practice

Depth on topics you may have only touched — the double empathy problem, alexithymia, interoception, the toll of masking, autism and trauma

Practical implementation work — not "what is autism" but "what specifically will I do differently in my practice"

The chance to revisit your own assumptions in a held space with neurodivergent practitioners and peers

What graduates with prior experience say

"I work with many neurodivergent clients and I now have lots of really useful ideas, tools and resources that I can take into my practice."

"It moves beyond outdated, deficit-based models to offer a truly affirming approach."

"New insights and understanding but new ways of working."

The recurring word is new. Even — perhaps especially — for experienced practitioners.

Want to know more?

You can see full course details — including upcoming start dates and current pricing — at the Certificate in Working Therapeutically with Autistic Clients page.

If you have a specific question we haven't answered here, email us at support@counsellingtutor.com — a real person will reply within 24 hours.