Should I become an autism therapist?

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I feel Elsa would be good for gifted people. She would probably use inductive, creative methods. Jungian sorts of things.

Me, not so much----because I'm not "gifted." I'm more in the deductive realm. I'm more suited to "practical, everyday life" sorts of things.

Bea would be well-suited for people who need to get their heads out of their butts (a potentially large clientele). But who also need kindness, too. I'm not really good at the "rough stuff." But "rough stuff" is sometimes needed.

Yes, some groups were very difficult, it was often hard work but I enjoyed it, and even more so when I felt we had made a difference. It was a life changing experience for me too. There were so many variables that determined whether a trip was a success or not.

Onboard and underway, I needed to be hyperfocused to make sure, firstly, that we were sailing well and safely, then getting often reluctant kids to work together or at all and constantly making sure they were not doing something stupid and about to get hurt. Part of the trip would include them rowing the boat, if they were able, on to a deserted beach, where there was time to get to know them better and maybe do some one to one.

^ Kraftie - you are gifted with a wealth of knowledge, experience and positivity.

Glad you're back on a more permanent basis, Neilson.

Cheers, mate!

There is a huge need, so I say go ahead and give it a try.

I plan to study art therapy in collage, and work as a therapist.

Thank you kraftie, that is a very kind thing to say.

I don't think "gifted" people think they are gifted. From where I am standing, you appear to have many very unique traits.

Gifted or not is really irrelevant though but I have evidence suggesting that I find academic pursuits very easy. Like you.

I think there are a lot of very academically successful people who everyone thinks are doing "ok" just because they do well academically. I found out yesterday that a person I know, who is the most academically successful and most "destined for success" at a local school is self harming. This bothers me tremendously. Also, it somewhat bothers me that for many people who have a easy time with the academic side of education actually never get that stretched academically.

Anyway, my husband has banned me from any further studying. So it appears I will get a job in education, gain some real experience of the matter, and then sneakily study special needs and try to sidestep into student mental health as I go.

^^Do you mean that you'll be a teacher?

I believe you could actually get into a "special needs" situation rather easily. Special Ed teachers are always needed. It's a tough business, really. I would guess that all you would have to do is to get some sort of "training." Maybe some sort of certificate within the context of being a teacher. So your husband can't "ban" you from that

I wasn't speaking of pure "academics" when I said you were "gifted."

You have a wide range of experiences, and you have a wide range of knowledge---is what I meant. Jung went far beyond what was "academic" for his time.

Yes I am going to teach first. But the school I hope to start at has a very high ratio of high achieving students of which I know quite a few have an ASC diagnosis. So it will be ideal for finding routes into working more with high achieving students and mental health.

My husband also said the other day: "for once in your life, can't you just be one dimensional?" I am still trying to figure out what that meant. Either way, I am sure this ban can be circumnavigated with relative ease.

Sounds like a good plan! One of my partner's friends has just gone back to special ed after a few years in an admin role. She is struggling a bit to keep up with the demands at 50+ after raising her own children but she does enjoy the job.

I'm thinking, Elsa, that your husband feels you like "focus."

Just forget about that. Be a teacher. Everything will probably take care of itself. Especially if you both love kids and are able to hold their attention.

Go for it Bea. Give it a go and see if you can handle the work without getting overwhelmed yourself. If you can do it, even part time, I think that would be fantastic. Autistic therapists are so needed.

Huh? Now I am even more confused? That I like to focus? Or I lack focus? What do you mean if you say to someone that you would like them to be more one dimensional?

To focus on one thing only.

Or to only focus within one plane (e.g., practical/empirical)

Sorry to confuse you.

I've been told, many times, that I'm "all over the place." That I have to concentrate/focus on one objective. This is what I believe he means.

Last edited by kraftiekortie on 12 Jun 2018, 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Going back to your final question Bea, the only good therapists I know are autistic.

It would be interesting to discuss whether being autistic makes you better at the things necessary in a therapeutic situation.

I am a little too tired to focus on that clearly right now but I feel something could be said about the fact that many people with autism have gone through life developing very advanced coping systems for life which make them excellent people to help people lacking such coping systems, if they have the ability to transfer their own experiences in useful ways for others.

There must be other areas where it is an advantage....

Isn't that the definition of focus?

In order to be a good therapist, I believe, one has to have at least one foot in a sort of "objective reality" (i.e., focus on the other person, and not primarily on yourself).

This was my problem when I took the practicum.