Hope Therapy and Counselling Services
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Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that can shape how a person experiences, understands, and interacts with the world. Autistic people may experience differences in communication, social interaction, sensory processing, routines, emotional regulation, and the way they focus on particular interests, although every autistic person is different. In this section you’ll find a collection of articles exploring autistic experiences, sensory needs, communication, relationships, mental wellbeing, masking, burnout, and everyday life. If you’re looking for professional support, use the links below to learn more about our autism counselling services or book a free consultation.
You have spent your whole life feeling slightly out of step. You can hold a conversation, do your job, keep things running, but it costs you far more than it seems to cost everyone else, and by the end of … Read more
There was a time when you managed. You held down the job, answered the messages, kept the plans, and looked, from the outside, as though everything was fine. Then, slowly or all at once, it stopped working. Getting dressed feels … Read more
You have spent years feeling like two different people. One part of you craves routine, quiet and the same lunch every day. Another part is restless, easily bored, and already chasing the next idea before the last one is finished. … Read more
Part 5 of Our Executive Functions Series Written by Simon Hughes MBACP Looking for ADHD or Autism-Informed Counselling? Living with executive functioning difficulties can be exhausting, particularly when you know what you want to do but repeatedly find yourself doing … Read more
Written by Simon Hughes: Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) In the previous article, we explored Working Memory and how executive functioning difficulties can affect everyday life for ADHDers and autistic people. Another executive function … Read more
Burnt out, exhausted, overwhelmed, self-blaming and feeling like no one gets you – this is often the experience of autistic females who come to us for therapy.Autism can present uniquely in females in a way that can often cause missed … Read more
IntroductionA low-demand environment is a carefully designed space where autistic individuals with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) can thrive without feeling overwhelmed by expectations and requirements. This approach transforms daily interactions and routines into more manageable experiences by reducing direct demands … Read more
IntroductionPathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a unique profile within the autism spectrum. It is characterised by an anxiety-driven need to resist everyday demands and expectations. This complex condition affects individuals differently, creating unique challenges in daily life, education, and social … Read more
IntroductionPathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is a specific profile within the autism spectrum that comes with its own set of challenges in everyday life. People with PDA have an intense aversion to demands and expectations, making even simple tasks feel impossible.Imagine … Read more
Shining a Light on SPD, Tinnitus, and Selective Attention Sensory sensitivities can be a significant challenge, yet they are rarely given the attention they deserve. Whether it’s Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in autism, tinnitus, or selective attention issues following brain … Read more