Autism Support in Berlin

Autism spectrum condition (ASC/autism) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects social communication and interaction, presents with sensory sensitivities, triggers anxiety in unfamiliar environments, makes adapting to change more challenging, and lengthens information processing. 

If you haven’t been diagnosed with autism but you think you might be Autistic, counselling can offer a safe space for you from where to start exploring and processing your challenges and past experiences. 

At Arula Counselling, we adapt a neurodiversity-affirmative and trauma-affirmative lens to counselling. Meaning, it is a collaborative process where you work together with your therapist to understand your unique needs and challenges. We look at autism as a way of being rather than as a disorder which needs to be ‘fixed’. You are the expert on your experiences and we want to hear your voice.

Autism in adults

Autism exists on a spectrum, meaning it can be experienced differently in each individual. Although autism is often associated with childhood, it is a lifelong condition that is sometimes not discovered until later in life.

More than half of Autistic adults display other mental health conditions, such as ADHD, anxiety, OCD and depression, making it challenging to find appropriate support and diagnosis. Therefore, autism is often under-recognised and missed. 

Sometimes, autism is not discovered until later in life, especially in women whose diagnosis can be delayed into adulthood. 

Unique challenges

By trying to keep up with the daily life where everyone else seems to be flying through the day you may have learnt to dismiss your own needs and put others first. This can lead to exhaustion, burnout, suppressed emotions, anxiety, depression, meltdowns and isolation. 

Tasks such as getting out of bed, brushing your teeth, making your bed, cooking, and getting to work may all require a lot more effort. What seems to be automatic for others feels a lot harder for you. 

This doesn’t mean that there is anything wrong with you. It means that you may need different types of support in place in order to complete these tasks. These may be: giving yourself more time, being compassionate towards yourself, being aware of your needs,  understanding how your brain works, and asking for support where you most need it.

Masking symptoms of autism

You don’t need to change yourself for the better of others. By beginning to understand yourself, noticing the differences in how you experience the world may all support you in your process of self-discovery and improve your mental wellbeing. Starting to show compassion for yourself and adapting your environment according to your own needs, on your own terms.

Autism identification for adults in Berlin

Getting an autism assessment through the healthcare system can be challenging. The queues may be long and getting a psychiatrist’s appointment is not easy. 

To start the process, you can begin by writing down any challenges you are experiencing and discuss these with your therapist. This may make the appointment with your family doctor easier, to help express your needs and concerns clearly. 

As you’re going through the process of identification, processing these challenges with a therapist whom you feel comfortable with can support your journey in understanding yourself. 

Arula Counselling works closely together with The Berlin Autism Clinic who offer autism assessments in English. 

You can also find support from The Adult Autism Practice, offering autism assessments for adults in the UK, Ireland and (almost) worldwide online.

Arula Counselling integrates creative, psychodynamic, mindfulness and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) approaches with a focus on neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed care. 

Counselling for Autistic adults in Berlin

Counselling helps to unlearn masking your symptoms and get to know yourself again. When you have learned to mask your symptoms since childhood, it might take time to get comfortable with yourself and understand your needs. In therapy, we can discuss your childhood and appreciate your early experiences with the world. Social differences and living in a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent person does impact mental health. When we create awareness, we start to understand why we behave the way we do.

Working together with a counsellor who understands autism and neurodiversity can offer a supportive space from where to start making sense of your experiences. It can also support you in sensitively unmasking your symptoms, learning more about yourself and your needs. 

Counselling can offer: 

• Safety

• Structure

• Routine

• Consistency  

• Introducing change

• Alleviating anxiety and depression 

• Developing self-compassion

Music therapy for Autistic adults

In addition to counselling, music therapy can be a great resource for Autistic adults since not everything can be expressed in words. In sessions, we can use writing, art or music for self-expression. This creates more openness and awareness, giving the work a different lens from which to look at your experiences and understand yourself. 

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace a therapeutic relationship with a trained professional. If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 112 or your country's crisis line, where professional mental health workers can help you.

References

Cook, J., Hull, L., Crane, L., & Mandy, W. (2021). Camouflaging in autism: A systematic review. Clinical psychology review, 89, 102080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.102080

Hofvander, B., Delorme, R., Chaste, P., Nydén, A., Wentz, E., Ståhlberg, O., Herbrecht, E., Stopin, A., Anckarsäter, H., Gillberg, C., Råstam, M., & Leboyer, M. (2009). Psychiatric and psychosocial problems in adults with normal-intelligence autism spectrum disorders. BMC psychiatry, 9, 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-9-35

Kenny, L., Hattersley, C., Molins, B., Buckley, C., Povey, C., & Pellicano, E. (2016). Which terms should be used to describe autism? Perspectives from the UK autism community. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 20(4), 442–462. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361315588200

Lipinski, S., Boegl, K., Blanke, E. S., Suenkel, U., & Dziobek, I. (2022). A blind spot in mental healthcare? Psychotherapists lack education and expertise for the support of adults on the autism spectrum. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 26(6), 1509–1521. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211057973

Malik-Soni, N., Shaker, A., Luck, H. et al. Tackling healthcare access barriers for individuals with autism from diagnosis to adulthood. Pediatr Res 91, 1028–1035 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01465-y