Nobody Believes You When You Say That You Are Autistic
Nearly every time a client comes to me—whether it’s for therapy or an evaluation—I find that I wasn’t their first stop on their autism journey. More often than not, they’ve already taken that brave step of bringing up their thoughts about being autistic to someone else, typically a medical provider. Unfortunately, the interaction often goes something like this:
Client: I’ve been doing some research and think that I am autistic. Can you help point me in the right direction for resources?
Provider: laughs You need to get off TikTok. Everyone thinks they have something these days.
Client: I get that, but after looking at the criteria, it really pieces together a lot of the experiences I’ve been having.
Provider: You can’t be—you… (are married, make eye contact, have a job, can have a conversation, etc.).
End of conversation.
Sound familiar? For many, it does. This type of exchange leaves people feeling invalidated and questioning who—if anyone—is actually there to help them. Honestly, I can’t say I blame them for feeling this way.
Hearing stories like this frustrates me to no end. It’s not just about the time it takes for someone to finally find a provider who’ll listen; it’s about the toll this process takes on their self-esteem and sense of self. Being dismissed in this way often leads to imposter syndrome—that creeping self-doubt that makes them wonder if their struggles and feelings are even valid.
This is why I’ve made it my mission to listen—really listen—to my clients. I don’t make snap judgments based on someone’s outward appearance, accomplishments, or behaviors. Instead, I strive to understand their experiences, their story, and what brought them to this moment. Because here’s the thing: people know themselves better than anyone else. If they’ve been reflecting on their lives and feel that being autistic might explain their experiences, that deserves to be heard and explored—not dismissed.
If you’re interested in booking an evaluation with a provider who will listen and work to understand your experiences—rather than laughing at or invalidating them—I’d love to connect.
Please note: I’m licensed to see clients located in AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, or WY at the time of the evaluation.
