'Therapy Through the Lens of Autism': Qualitative exploration of autistic adults' therapy experiences.
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| Title: | 'Therapy Through the Lens of Autism': Qualitative exploration of autistic adults' therapy experiences. |
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| Authors: | Pappagianopoulos, Jessica, Brunt, Sophie, Smith, Jessica V., Menezes, Michelle, Howard, Mya, Sadikova, Eleonora, Burroughs, Christina, Mazurek, Micah O. |
| Source: | Counselling & Psychotherapy Research. Jun2025, Vol. 25 Issue 2, p1-12. 12p. |
| Subjects: | Treatment of autism, Psychotherapy, Therapeutics, Qualitative research, Patient safety, Interprofessional relations, Research funding, Interviewing, Retrospective studies, Attitude (Psychology), Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Ability, Asperger's syndrome, Medical needs assessment, Individual development, Patients' attitudes, People with disabilities, Training, Adults, Middle age |
| Geographic Terms: | Southern States |
| Abstract: | Background: Autistic adults are at increased risk for mental health (MH) conditions. As such, there is a need for effective MH care services that meet the unique needs of autistic clients. However, a deeper understanding of the therapy experiences and preferences of autistic adults is necessary to inform future enhancements to clinical practice for this population. Aim: This study aimed to qualitatively examine the perspectives of autistic adults regarding past MH therapy experiences through semi‐structured interviews.Method: Autistic adults (N = 19, ages 21–51 years) completed a demographics survey and participated in individual interviews to share experiences and recommendations. Findings: Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three over‐arching themes and eight sub‐themes. Overall, findings highlight therapeutic approaches that are important to autistic adults. Specifically, participants emphasised the value of the following strategies: (1) cultivating a safe space informed by an understanding of autism; (2) demonstrating a flexible and collaborative approach to therapy that is responsive to clients' needs; and (3) considering clients' preferences regarding talking in session when supporting personal growth and skill development. Limitations: The study was limited by a relatively non‐diverse sample in terms of racial and ethnic identity and potential recall bias due to the retrospective nature of the investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Counselling & Psychotherapy Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Background: Autistic adults are at increased risk for mental health (MH) conditions. As such, there is a need for effective MH care services that meet the unique needs of autistic clients. However, a deeper understanding of the therapy experiences and preferences of autistic adults is necessary to inform future enhancements to clinical practice for this population. Aim: This study aimed to qualitatively examine the perspectives of autistic adults regarding past MH therapy experiences through semi‐structured interviews.Method: Autistic adults (N = 19, ages 21–51 years) completed a demographics survey and participated in individual interviews to share experiences and recommendations. Findings: Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three over‐arching themes and eight sub‐themes. Overall, findings highlight therapeutic approaches that are important to autistic adults. Specifically, participants emphasised the value of the following strategies: (1) cultivating a safe space informed by an understanding of autism; (2) demonstrating a flexible and collaborative approach to therapy that is responsive to clients' needs; and (3) considering clients' preferences regarding talking in session when supporting personal growth and skill development. Limitations: The study was limited by a relatively non‐diverse sample in terms of racial and ethnic identity and potential recall bias due to the retrospective nature of the investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 14733145 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/capr.12861 |
