Episode 6: Challenging Stigma Around Autistic Therapists
Divergent Conversations
How to Be a Good Listener
"I think that it's such a great way to turn the conversation around and take the pressure and the focus off of you," she says. "It allows them to feel heard and validated and seen coming away from the conversation probably like, Megan is the best friend in the world ... Like they they make me feel so much better."
There can be a lot of stigma around autism and especially being an autistic therapist, which can make it even harder for autistic individuals to step into this career.
They may even be told that they can't be empathetic or relate to others in a way that could help their clients, which is just NOT TRUE.
If you are autistic and have been hesitating to step into the mental health field because of the stigma around autism, then this episode is for you.
Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:
- Understand how being autistic can make you a better therapist for other neurodivergent clients, often more so than an allistic (not of the autism spectrum) therapist.
- Identify ways to combat the notion that autistic people can't make good therapists, as well as how to navigate grad school when you are receiving a negative perspective on autism from professors or supervisors.
- Learn how to structure a private practice to support your needs and create a stable work environment for more longevity in your career as a therapist.
When Dr. Megan Neff was asked why they became a therapist, the answer was "because I'm autistic." This episode can help you explore in what ways autism can help you succeed as a therapist, as well as in what ways you might struggle and how to face those times.
Check out the resources on Megan's website to learn how you can find a Neurodivergent Affirming Therapist: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/resources
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✨ The Autistic Burnout Workbook:
I'm Dr. Megan Anna Neff, owner of Neurodivergent Insights, and I'm excited to announce the release of my book, The Autistic Burnout Workbook. I'm running a special deal for those who support my work. After you order, you will get a coupon code that you can use toward our store for the same amount. For example, the workbook costs $18.99, so after purchase, you'd get a credit of $18.99 to use in our digital shop or in our Etsy shop, which gets you another digital workbook of your choosing for free. This is technically a pre-order promotion that was originally set to end on March 10th, but for listeners of the podcast, I'm going to extend this deal, so if you buy the book in the next month, you can also redeem this special. Thank you for supporting my work. It means so much to me and I hope that you will find this a helpful resource for you as you continue to build a life that is a bit more resilient to autistic burnout.
- Use the following link to grab this offer: neurodivergentinsights.notion.site/17ea17a4bb8b8034ab2bf9b03c560a64
- After this deal ends, you can use this link to purchase this workbook: simonandschuster.com/books/The-Autistic-Burnout-Workbook/Megan-Anna-Neff/9781507223062
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💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground
Divergent Conversations Underground is a space for messy conversations, real connection, and unfinished thoughts in a neurodivergent-affirming community. If you’d like to go deeper with us into more nuanced, searching conversations, join here: divergentconversations.substack.com
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Mentioned in this episode:
The Autistic Burnout Workbook
I'm Dr. Megan Anna Neff, owner of Neurodivergent Insights, and I'm excited to announce the release of my book, The Autistic Burnout Workbook. I'm running a special deal for those who support my work. After you order, you will get a coupon code that you can use toward our store for the same amount. For example, the workbook costs $18.99, so after purchase, you'd get a credit of $18.99 to use in our digital shop or in our Etsy shop, which gets you another digital workbook of your choosing for free. This is technically a pre-order promotion that was originally set to end on March 10th, but for listeners of the podcast, I'm going to extend this deal, so if you buy the book in the next month, you can also redeem this special. Thank you for supporting my work. It means so much to me and I hope that you will find this a helpful resource for you as you continue to build a life that is a bit more resilient to autistic burnout. Use the following link to grab this offer: https://neurodivergentinsights.notion.site/17ea17a4bb8b8034ab2bf9b03c560a64 After this deal ends, you can use this link to purchase this workbook: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Autistic-Burnout-Workbook/Megan-Anna-Neff/9781507223062
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