Autism counselling

[Appreciatethefeedback]

Hi
I’ve been advised here to do some market research
so…. Here goes
AIBU to think that there would be much interest in offering a children and young peoples autism specific counselling service on line ?
I would have all the correct qualifications and registration.
Hypothetically is it something you would be interested in if your child was/is on the spectrum?
thank you in advance for any feedback
this is not an advert! I am some way off achieving this goal but would like to know if it’s worth the long study for.
I am not interested In working for anyone else. Only myself at this stage of life.
😁
Also any ideas of what would be a fair hourly charge?
thank you so much

Hi, I’m a therapist specialising in work with young people with autism and I’ve worked a lot online with this group. In my experience people much prefer face to face, but yes.. there’s an awful lot of demand.

Prices go up to around £130 per hour depending on qualification level etc.

I think that sadly due to issues with school funding, academic pressures, social media etc etc there is going to be a lot of demand for counselling/therapy for a long time. It’s a travesty that young people with autism are often excluded from proper CAMHS input and that families have to pay. But… in my experience they are incredibly grateful when they find someone who gets it.

Good luck 🙂

It would be great but would have to be funded by the NHS. It’s not something I could or would pay for privately, I would expect my taxes to cover it via the NHS because it’s a medical expense.

im adult diagnosed with ASD and would love social support but there is nothing for adults at all. I’m sure there is need for children as well.

Thank you all so much for the responses. Really helpful and kind to give your time.

Please may I ask what modality you specialise in?
thank you

I’m sorry to hear you may be finding things challenging. I expect you are aware of the National autistic society advice line? I am wandering if they maybe able to offer any advice or support

My understanding is that counselling is not typically helpful for autistic people.

https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/autistic-adults

I use a counsellor periodically for my autistic 9 year old. We don’t do it full time because he doesn’t react well to the disruption of going to counselling but when we have specific issues it has been very effective.

i don’t think online would work for him at all, but it might work if aimed at parents

The wrong counselling is not, the right counselling from someone who understands autism and is able to adapt to the individual can be transformative.

@Clymene I think it’s important, with any person to support them to recognise what’s helpful or unhelpful in terms of counselling or therapy. Remaining respectful of someone’s lived experience and expertise in themselves is crucial. It may well be that lack of clinical expertise and inability to adapt appropriately may create negative experiences for some.

£130 is ridiculous. I am a private HCP and around here experienced practitioners of many degree/MSc level therapist charge privately at £45 to £80. Any more and they are on the make. Online should be that or less as there are no clinic costs or travel costs.

My son needed to have counselling and we specifically requested that it be someone who had knowledge and understanding of how they might need to adjust what they did to better support him and of how his reactions and responses may be atypical. We waited longer to be able to have this and because it needed to be face to face not online. When we arrived to meet the counsellor and he asked if my son wanted the clock removed so the ticking wouldn't bother him I knew we'd found our person!
We didn't pay, it was funded.

In the U.K.??

Glad your child found it helpful.

Get a grip. All Clinical Psychologists (including myself) charge £140-£160 an hour which is an appropriate rate for our expertise.

Get a grip. All Clinical Psychologists (including myself) charge £140-£160 an hour which is an appropriate rate for our expertise.

Yes, in the UK
It wasn't perfect, having to wait longer meant that it wasn't as useful as it would have been in the immediacy of him suffering from mental health issues, but that was partly due to covid restrictions stopping face to face visits.

You sound nice.
They don't around here. My Goddaughter goes to a brilliant psychotherapist who charges £65 an hour for kids her previous one was £50. My friend is a clinical psychologist and in her private practice charges on a sliding scale but her top rate is £90 but rarely charges that All in the NW.

It might make a difference if you have more qualifications but these have a degree and masters with some sort of accreditation. I know as I helped find my GDs one.
Very few private HCP charge more around here as individuals.

Why do you want to specialise in autistic children?

Do you have experience already?

I don't think it's something I'd have paid for, but if I had it would be as a result of recommendations and very solid credentials and experience, and online definitely wouldn't have worked with my child.

My 17 year old ASD daughter (high functioning recently diagnosed), has been working with a therapist for a year. We found finding someone quite difficult, as most therapists were adults only. She would not have coped with online counselling, so she needed face to face. We pay £65 an hour

Thank you for your response. Yes I have over 20 years experience working with autistic children. I hold degrees in specialism in autism also. I just need to finalise my area of counselling or CBT. 😀I have family experiences also and have always held a really passion for advocating , particularly surrounding educational experiences and adaptations.

“We knew we had found our person” that’s so lovely.

Wow that's very unusual. My experience has been patchy and very unhelpful. I'm glad to hear you've had a bette experience

CBT is often very unhelpful for autistic people.