Lii Brooke, autistic therapist
In person in Gerrards Cross and online across the UK and the Republic of Ireland
Frequently asked questions about therapy for autistic professionals
Here is information on some points that you may find useful to know before the free 15mins introductory call.
What is a typical session like?
At the very start of working together I encourage my clients to set an intention for our work, it may be a specific outcome or just the way they want to feel at the end.
Individual sessions are then informed by that overall aim, whether it is broken down into separate objectives or not. Session structure is co-designed with the client depending on what they find most useful at a given time. It might be non-directive and exploratory in nature or it might be goal-oriented.
What therapeutic approach do you use?
I tailor my therapeutic approach to each client. Broadly, counselling with me has two components: exploration and taking action. The first element falls under the person centred approach, which focuses on supporting your self-esteem and autonomy through free-flowing non-directive sessions. The second element is borrowed from solution focused modality, a collaborative planning- and goal-oriented way of moving on from difficulties.
Have you done any additional training since qualifying?
Yes, absolutely. Ongoing training is in fact a requirement of my professional governance body, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. After the core practitioner training, I completed a postgraduate certificate in autism at Sheffield Hallam University.
Most of my continuous professional development is focused on the subject of autism.
What specific struggles related to autism do you cover?
As an autism-affirmative therapist I believe the difficulties autistic people often face are to do with the mismatch between the autistic ways of being and the environment. I don't subscribe to the idea that autism itself is a cluster of deficits. Therefore, I meet you where you are.
It is the client's choice what to work through in therapy. Typically my clients are autistic people in demanding careers and session subjects include exploring autistic identity, managing anxiety and depression, negotiating positive relationships and thriving at work.
How do you make sure that therapy is working?
I invite clients to set an intention for their therapy with me at the beginning of the series of sessions, which is then distilled into a specific goal. I encourage the client to describe in detail what will change for them if that goal is achieved and how they would know. This is done with the purpose of gaining clarity on the desired outcome. There are regular informal, collaborative reviews to discuss progress against the specified goals.
Should I disclose my autism diagnosis to my employer/colleagues, and can you help me navigate that decision?
After a formal autism assessment or self-identification you may feel conflicted about sharing this information with others.
On one hand you might want to make tangible changes in your life, which would involve letting people around you know that you are autistic. On the other hand there may be good reasons to be cautious such as high likelihood of misunderstanding or negative repercussions.
I would encourage you to consider carefully who you share this new piece of information with and to why. Trust your instincts. If an environment doesn't feel safe, then perhaps it's not the place to share. It would be worth exploring whether there are negotiations you can have without disclosing. However, if the benefits outweigh the risks and you feel ready, then go ahead.
This is most certainly a topic we can cover in detail in a therapy session.
How can therapy help me manage burnout and prevent it from happening again?
It seems that burnout is something most autistic people are very familiar with. It may be that until recently you didn't have the word for the complete exhaustion you seem to be experiencing on a recurring basis.
Burnout is all-encompassing and often comes with low mood. You might feel like nothing matters any more. If you are not aware that you are in burnout it can be disturbing to suddenly find yourself so utterly depleted. The good news is burnout is reversible and preventable!
Therapy can be very useful in helping you identify the factors that contribute to that state. We would then together think about how you could address those contributing elements.
Can you help me understand if my relationship difficulties are related to being autistic, and what I can actually do about them?
Healthy relationships are very important for wellbeing. It is a subject that comes up often in therapy.
In the first instance I would invite you to ponder how you relate to others. What are your values and are you acting accordingly? Do you meet people with positivity and kindness? It is totally human for other emotions like resentment or anger to be at play and perhaps those are justified. However, the old saying goes "Treat people how you want to be treated". This truism applies to everyone, autistic or not. It may require more concerted effort to communicate in the way that elicits a favourable response but it is probably worth it in the long run.
You may find there are some people with whom you can communicate more "naturally" without being strategic with your expressions. In sessions we would explore a particular relationship of concern to understand what is at the core of the difficulties.