Resource If you're autistic or suspect you are, try to get an autistic therapist (also, a resource for finding potentially better therapists for any neurotype)

[domedune]

I've seen four different therapists. The first two were mediocre, the third was bad, and the fourth was good. Why is the fourth one good? Because they're openly autistic and have a deep and intuitive understanding of how brains like ours work, being autistic themselves and having a special interest in their work. I assumed I'd have to put up with mediocre to bad therapy forever or just give up, but there is hope (sometimes).

One website you can use to lookup therapists with certain attributes is InclusiveTherapists.com. You can search by race, gender, neurotype, certain specialties and practices, insurance, etc. You can even find therapists with focuses on police abolition and anti-capitalism (regardless of your opinions on these things, I suspect these therapists more reluctant to call cops on suicidal people; mine seems to have a reluctance that I appreciate).

Countries: Canada, U.S., Australia, France, Hong Kong, Portugal, Taiwan, U.K., Argentina, (maybe others idk these are the ones I could find specifically listed)

A disclaimer that the fields of psychiatry and psychology were built on oppressing people like us and skepticism toward therapy is well-earned. There's a lot of luck and privilege involved when it comes to getting good healthcare. A good therapist will allow you to be skeptical, combative, disagree, be suicidal, etc. Do not take this post as an endorsement of therapists in general, but rather as a suggestion for those who want a therapist to take some power back.

 

[Jorvak]

As an autistic person myself who is also very much committed to struggle against Capitalism, Imperialism and Prejudice in all its stripes, and deeply believes in constructing a classless society based around human dignity for all and equality for all without any form of class based socio-economic system dictating our lives as the highest virtues, this is really useful information.

I have very much dreaded the whole notion of "seeing a therapist" for exactly the reason of your experiences. For one, it cost a lot of money and time if you aren't covered, and many people aren't. Two, the odds are you will almost certainly get a generic one who gives out extremely generic and unhelpful advice to things i've probably thought about long ago, and who utterly fails to understand the nature neurodivergent issues, and don't at all see the full scope of the history of prejudice, ostracism, humiliation and social alientation that neurodivergent people deal with. Most therapist thinks the generic advice that they typically provide to Neurotypical people, will also work with Neurodivergent people. that's not remotely how that works. They can't seem to adapt a new strategy for genuinely understanding autistic and other neurodivergent people.

I have long thought that the only therapist who are decent for neurodivergent people are those who are neurodivergent themselves, and truly understand what it means to have an autistic brain and how it shapes our perception of reality. I also definitely agree with your assessment of therapy as a profession, and what makes a 'good' therapist. It makes perfect sense that your best therapist was the one who was openly autistic themselves.

 

[domedune]

@Jorvak I really like your thoughts on this. Very relatable. Also I like your avatar