Therapy That Understands Autism: What Does ‘Autism-Informed’ Really Mean?
If you’re autistic or wondering if you might be, seeking therapy can come with mixed emotions. You might want support with your mental health, relationships, or identity - but feel unsure whether a therapist will truly understand how your brain works or respect your way of being in the world.
This is where the term autism-informed comes in. But what does it actually mean in practice - and why does it matter?
At Room for Therapy, being autism-informed is not a buzzword. It’s a meaningful commitment to offering therapy that is inclusive, respectful, and genuinely attuned to the experiences of autistic clients.
Understanding What ‘Autism-Informed’ Really Means
An autism-informed therapist has more than just a surface-level understanding of autism. They approach therapy with the awareness that:
Autism is a neurological difference, not a disorder to be fixed. You can read more about what autism is via the National Autistic Society.
Autistic people often experience the world in unique sensory, emotional, and social ways.
Many autistic people spend years masking or feeling misunderstood - and therapy should never replicate that.
Communication preferences, emotional processing, and relationship needs may look different - and that’s not just okay, it’s valid.
At Room for Therapy, our practitioners who support autistic clients have extensive experience of relating to others with autism – both personally and professionally. Although not autistic themselves, they are well positioned to offer a non-autistic perspective when that feels helpful to the person they are working with. Some of our clients invite us to act as a sounding board, others as a bridge between different ways of experiencing the world.
In an autism-informed approach, the therapist doesn’t pathologise or try to make you “less autistic.” Instead, they support you in understanding yourself more fully, navigating challenges with compassion, and honouring your strengths and needs.
What You Can Expect in Autism-Informed Therapy
Autism-informed therapy at Room for Therapy is tailored to your individuality. Some of the ways this might look in practice include:
Pacing the sessions in a way that respects your energy levels and processing style
Using clear, respectful communication - and checking in about what works best for you
Being sensitive to sensory needs, including offering online sessions, structured formats, or flexible boundaries around eye contact, movement, or expression
Making space for the exploration of identity, especially if you’re self-diagnosed or wondering whether autism fits for you
Supporting you through experiences like burnout, masking fatigue, anxiety, or relationship difficulties that are common among autistic people
Our therapists are here to walk alongside you - not to define your experience, but to listen and respond with care, curiosity, and clinical insight.
You Don’t Need a Diagnosis to Be Supported
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to explore autism in therapy with us. Many of our clients are at various stages of wondering, self-identifying, or reflecting on past experiences through a neurodivergent lens.
We welcome your uncertainty. Therapy should be a space where questions are safe, not judged.
Why It Matters
Sadly, many autistic people have felt let down or even harmed by therapeutic experiences that didn’t take neurodiversity into account. They’ve been misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or pushed to conform to neurotypical norms. MIND’s guidance on neurodiversity and mental health offers further insight into these challenges.
That’s why being autism-informed is so important - it’s about creating a safe, respectful, and empowering environment that truly supports you.
At Room for Therapy, we are committed to making therapy a place where you feel:
Heard, not dismissed
Seen, not stereotyped
Supported, not shaped
A Safe Space to Be Yourself
Whether you’re seeking therapy for anxiety, burnout, identity, relationships, or just a sense of feeling out of sync with the world - know that you are welcome here.
Our autism-informed therapists are not only experienced in working with autistic clients, but also deeply committed to understanding the nuances of neurodivergence with warmth, skill, and humility.
If you're looking for therapy that respects your way of being and helps you navigate life on your terms, we’re here for you.
Learn more about our compassionate counselling and psychotherapy in Edinburgh and online or get in touch here.
Let therapy be a place where you don’t have to explain or hide who you are - just somewhere you get to be understood.