Autism
Years of being told you're too much or not enough leave marks. Our counselling for autistic people starts from who you are.
The cost of masking for a lifetime
Autistic people, particularly those diagnosed late or not at all, often spend years or decades learning to perform neurotypicality. They figure out the social scripts, suppress their natural responses, mask their interests, and push through sensory environments.
Years of masking can lead to autistic burnout, to anxiety and depression, and to the grief of a late diagnosis: finally understanding yourself while mourning all the years of not knowing.
We work from a place that accepts you as you are. The goal is to help you figure out who you are, what you need, and how to build a life that works for your brain.
Session info
- 50-60 minute sessions
- In person, at home, or online
- Qualified, experienced counsellors
- NDIS and fee-for-service
What autism sessions cover
Identity and self-understanding
Especially for those diagnosed later, building an accurate, affirming understanding of yourself as autistic and what that means for you, separate from stereotypes and misconceptions.
In practice: Creating a personal profile of your sensory needs, communication style, and strengths, separate from the clinical language of diagnosis.
Masking and burnout
Understanding the cost of masking, recovering from burnout, and working out what it looks like to stop performing and start being more yourself, safely, in the contexts that allow it.
In practice: Identifying which situations require the most masking and problem-solving ways to reduce the load, starting with the easiest changes.
Sensory overwhelm and regulation
Working with a nervous system that's calibrated differently, understanding your sensory profile, building in what you need and developing strategies for when the world is too loud, too bright or too much.
In practice: Building a sensory toolkit for the environments you move through, what helps you focus, what overwhelms you, and what to do when it's too much.
Social exhaustion and relationships
Working on relationships when social interaction is exhausting, working out your own social needs, separate from what's expected of you, and communicating them without shame.
In practice: Practising specific social scenarios that feel challenging, with honest feedback and strategies you can use in everyday situations.
Autism and mental health
Anxiety, depression, and OCD are significantly more common in autistic people, and often present differently. We work with both, understanding how they interact with your autistic profile.
In practice: Separating anxiety that comes from the environment from anxiety that comes from within, and building targeted strategies for each.
Late diagnosis grief and anger
A late diagnosis can bring relief and grief together: all the years of not understanding yourself, the school experiences, the relationships, the burnouts. We make room for all of it.
In practice: Making space for the full range of feelings that come with late diagnosis, including relief, grief, and anger, and giving each one room.
Who this is for
- Autistic adults and young people (diagnosed or self-identified)
- People with a late autism diagnosis
- Anyone in autistic burnout or recovery
- Autistic people with co-occurring anxiety or depression
- People working out who they are beneath the mask
- Autistic people working through relationships, work, or big changes
Cost, eligibility & getting started
What it costs
Pricing for autism support follows the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. What you pay depends on the session type and whether it's a weekday, evening, or weekend appointment. If NDIS funding doesn't apply to you, private and self-funded sessions are available. Cost is always confirmed with you in writing before anything starts.
Am I eligible?
Support for autistic people is usually accessed through NDIS Capacity Building funding, typically Improved Daily Living, and Improved Relationships where that fits your goals. A support coordinator or plan manager can help confirm what your plan covers. Private and self-funded access is available too. You don't need a formal autism diagnosis before reaching out. Many autistic people we work with are self-identified, exploring what fits, or waiting on an assessment.
Where we work
We're based in Thomastown and work across Greater Melbourne, the northern, western, and eastern suburbs. Online and telehealth sessions are available too, and some of our support extends into regional Victoria.
How to start
Reach out by phone, our contact form, or email. The first conversation is about what you're looking for, and no masking is required. From there, we match you with a practitioner who understands autistic experience. A first session is usually booked within a few business days.