What would it be good to know about?

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I am an NT counselling psychologist in training with personal experience of autism. I have to do a doctoral level piece of research and am in the process of deciding what to explore. If there is anything that you would really like the counselling pscyhology world to know about then this is your chance to influence my choice. Tell me what we need to know. it could be in the field of marital or individual functioning. It could be areas where you need the most help. It could be about what psychological intervention has helped you in the past or what has been completely unhelpful.

I've found mainly that with many things psychology tends to make assumptions (and keep them and not admit it's mistakes) about a lot of conditions. I have a thing in general with the whole medical community (I've visited 100+ doctors for some problems and well in the end I knew more than them about it from a quick search which is very irritating).

It's great that you're actually taking the time to talk to some people with the condition. I suggest you find someone in real life though. In fact I think psychologists should be forced to do that about most of the things they study. I had ex-friend of mine who studied psychology once tell me that being gay wasn't completely genetic. And they were straight and wouldn't listen to my point of view and experience even though I was the gay person in the conversation. It's really irritating.

So yeah, it'd be nice for them to know and correct myths such as we don't have empathy and also have our opinions known about why we do certain things. Also that some things are fundamentally different and often counseling for NTs does not work for people with autism. For example, to me, talking about my issues doesn't help in the slightest like it does to others. I want my issues solved. It might be different for others with autism but there will be suggestions you can give to NTs that you can't give people with an ASD.

Basically I want the patient listened too. I had a horrible experience with a psychologist as a child. She treated me like a child, gave me some BS tests (draw this and that) and then helped solve none of my problems. I currently went to see a psych and she seemed okay and then she did some sort of psychological test and the results were hilarious. She just repeated the problems I'd outlined to her and then added her own observations. Guess what? Her observations were all wrong. No I'm not purposely emotionally distant. Sometimes emotions don't show. I'm not hiding them or anything. I stopped seeing her. Now I'm seeing a psychiatrist and I discussed my suspicions of AS and she's pretty knowledgeable and open minded and not by the book which is a very nice change. She listens, understand when I tell her I can't do certain things and helps me found a way around it.

What you need to know:

*really important to do some actual research and studies on females with Asperger's as there are some differences in presentation;
*to really take on board (and incorporate into screening tools) the sub-types of Asperger's;
*when we take things literally, it's not always the idioms and sayings (which can be learned, especially with an intelligent mind), it means in general conversation, it's much more complex than just idioms;
*to learn when it's meltdowns and not anger-management issues;
*to know that the 'lacking in empathy thing' is more complex than that, and that we do have some empathy;
*females may not monologue purely about special interests, they may just monologue generally;
*passivity in Asperger's means traits are harder to pick up in assessment;
*to accept that there will be adults seeking diagnosis who are unable to provide evidence of childhood traits for a variety of reasons and this should not prevent them getting a diagnosis;
*to ensure that outdated views amongst professionals are changed such as that children with AS cannot participate in pretend play, or that they are not affectionate, as this is untrue;
*to really get to grips with the lack of theory of mind issue (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/ ... 021606.php) as we are not necessarily without ToM in the ways professionals seem to believe;
*to stop applying criteria so rigidly - to see how the individual displays the listed traits not to try to find the exact listed traits in the individual.

If I think of more I will re-post.

Don't believe the textbooks as truth. Believe your experiences.

Understand that you are dealing with people who process information differently, not an illness.

My favorite example is "stimming", if someone who was suspected of being on the spectrum twirled keys, he/she would be listed as "stimming". If most people did it while talking on a phone, it's a nervous habit. One is treated as some sort of disorder, and one is ignored or gets a quick joke.

Special Interest in fantasy football, something to enjoy at the water cooler. Special Interest in star trek, we need to treat it! Stuff like that adds up after awhile.

*To stop just doling out medication to treat something which is down to different wiring of the brain. Instead try to find real solutions and help for people with ASDs.

The question of whether to diagnose or disclose is a biggie for the “high-functioning” (whatever that is).
For a lot of people, a formal diagnosis does more harm than good. Unless the person needs a diagnosis for a tangible reason, such as funding, tell him/her to skip it. You know who you are, and that’s all that matters. And say it in English, don’t just hint. “You’re an Aspie, but you’re better off without the papers.”

If you tell everyone that you’re an Aspie, the nice people will start talking more slowly or other such nonsense. And you need to explain why that's bad -- it's not just an ego thing. When people see you as sub-human, you can't get anything done and you'll end up getting fired and other things. And that's from the people with good intentions. The predators will deliberately use it against you. No one will use it for your benefit.

Most people don’t know or want to know what it means, and disclosing can only hurt you. Even most shrinks would probably rather eat their own children than bend their minds enough to understand the differences. And with some people, it’s probably just as well that they don’t understand.
Just let 'em think you're a little quirky or whatever works.