Do the Damn work.

Jill Holly

Sep 8

3 min read

(written June 26 but added onto the wrong page 😂).

If I were asked by another Counsellor, what they need to learn about Adhd and or Autism, to benefit their clients, to enable them to work with Adhd Autistic clients, I'd say this.

Firstly, learn. Learn and do not stop learning. Learn from those who are Adhd/Autistic themselves.

Free2BMe Neurodiversity offer fab Therapy Training if you are looking for some. They are Adhd/Autistic themselves. I'm not associated with them. I just know them and respect them.

It can be really frustrating for clients when they have to teach their Counsellor about Adhd/Autism.

Them having to explain it to their Counsellor, using their own time that they pay for, to educate you, is not ok. It is ethically wrong.

Also, even when diagnosed, some clients may not understand ableism and their own prejudice and may not understand anything about Adhd/Autism.

If you think you've done all the learning and believe you've learnt enough, and you are top of your field and have done it for years, you are wrong.

By default you are wrong.

New studies, new ideas, better understanding, better explanations, are happening and evolving every day.

Some of the ideas and theories we know today, may be replaced as we know more.

I cannot keep up with all the new concepts, but I try.

You learn and learn and learn and you also trust that the Client is telling you their truth, that they are the expert in their own experience.

That is not a contradiction.

You learn AND you stay curious about them.

You trust and believe them.

Places like Free2beMe are brilliant. The pages I share give you loads of learning. Free.

Books, podcasts, discussion groups, webinars, audiobooks. Lots of ways of learning.

All Counsellors/Professionals should understand Adhd and Autism because often it's in the room, even if none of you know it.

Some folk don't want to know they are Adhd/Autistic.

That's cool. Not everyone does.

And of course every person is different. But you as a Professional have a responsibility to know your stuff just in case at some point it's wanted or needed.

So my advice is always:

a) do the Learning.

b) understand each client is unique.

c) have some supervision from someone who is Adhd/Autistic themselves.

d) Believe, trust and be curious about each client.

e) pass the client to someone else if you can't be open-minded and or can't be bothered to do the learning.

I feel really strongly about this. There can be such harm done by ignorance, even unintentionally and when someone means well.

There are Counsellors who specialise in Harm in Therapy because it happens out there. It's a Thing.

You need to understand the underbelly of all things to do with Diversity. Privilege, pathology, discrimination, Monotropism, PDA, Intersectionality, Learning Differences, Double Empathy, Co-occurring Conditions, Sensory Profiles (at least 😎.

That is as-well as learning purely about what you think Adhd and or Autism is.

All of it is needed.

Being Adhd /Autistic is complex and situational and impacts physical health not just wellbeing.

You need to know about Arfid, Addictions, OCD, Pots, EDS and more.

If you do not know about all those things in depth, then you definitely do not know enough.

I'm Adhd and Autistic myself.

I have worked with Adhd/Autistic Clients for years and years.

I've read masses.

I'm part of Adhd/Autistic Communities.

I have family and friends who are Adhd/ Autistic.

I am a Supervisor and my Supervisees are Adhd/Autistic.

I deliver Training on and support Groups that are Adhd/Autistic.