Counselling for anxiety doesn't work for people with ASD

[GazeboLantern]

Why do CAMHS keep telling me this?

DS is in the middle of ASD assessment, and has finally reached the top of the waiting list for help with anxiety (for which he was originally referred to CAHMS). CAMHS told me the waiting list for help with anxiety was shorter than for ASD assessment, and it could provide him with some support until diagnosis. Now it feels like they're telling me they won't even try to help him with his anxiety, because he's being assessed for ASD.

AIBU to think that any intelligent person can learn skills to reduce anxiety? Why would being autistic barr them?

From what I understood about CAMHS, they have quite strict protocols about who can receive what treatment and it is all about research with no respect for outliers. So if you're X and you have Y issue, then you go down the Z pathway. But if you're Y and you have X issue, then you go down pathway B for your care plan. It isn't very individualised.

Students who don't fit their programmes have found more success at Tavistock or at local therapeutic services for young people or even the school services.

One of mine is currently in group therapy with CAMHS for anxiety and I am in parental therapy to cope with his anxieties at the same time each week. We had a full discussion only yesterday about the fact that this two hour session per week will be slso beneficial to any of the kids previously diagnosed with ASD or undergoing diagnosis. There are 3 of the 7 kids in his group waiting on diagnosis and 2 already got diagnosed. This is CAMHS in Ireland.

It depends on the therapy, the therapist and also the subject. With ASD it's unpredictable - it's a spectrum 😁

Not true, my dd has asd and received anxiety counselling/cut/support from 11-18 from camhs. They have a specialist asd programme here, she was diagnosed first though

My husband has high functioning autism and very high anxiety levels.

He has had therapy and medication which has been transformative.

Look at the NICE evidence base, cocrane reports etc and ask where their evidence is for this assessment and what is the best practice guidance - with references.

As someone with an ASD, I have had both 'general' counselling sessions and sessions led by an Adult Aspergers specialist team.*

If you're not getting anywhere with CAMHS, it worth asking your GP or similar if there is another alternative? I don't see why his being diagnosed would affect his ability to benefit from counselling, but if there is concern for some reason, maybe the GP can refer you on.

*(Both worked for me, but they were at different times of my life, different situations, etc. Both, however, had some focus on CBT which I found easy to follow.)