It is All a Normal Variation - and Then What? The Experience of Running a Psychological Service for People with ASD

The view that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is normal variation among people is gaining ground. Consequently, there is a call for psychological services where the focus is less on treatment but more on support and... [ view full abstract ]

The view that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is normal variation among people is gaining ground. Consequently, there is a call for psychological services where the focus is less on treatment but more on support and empowerment. The author runs a part-time psychological service in Reykjavik, Iceland, based on this idea for people with ASD and parents of ASD children. Empowering people with ASD can be a challenge for various reasons. Many professionals, parents and people with ASD still expect psychological services to treat ASD specific areas, such as social skills, based on conformity to society rather than the needs of the client. Interviews with adults with ASD are frequently arranged and paid for by their parents who may have a different view of the purpose of the service than the client. As people with ASD generally don't feel they need treatment they are sometimes suspicious of the service and fear that the aim is to change them into neurotypicals. When, however, they seek service they often seek help with problems such as how to start on projects/activity, how to avoid being totally absorbed in special interests, problems related to over-empathising with people and how to deal with lack of understanding from others rather than problems of depression or anxiety. Research is lacking in many of these areas, which creates problems for the therapist. Thus, the recent emphasis on empowerment and on the right of ASD clients to define their problems calls for new approaches in treatment and a different kind of research.