Are autistic therapists the best fit for autistic clients?

Therapy is deeply personal. It’s an encounter shaped not just by clinical skill, but by trust, understanding, and connection. But for many autistic people, finding a therapist who “gets it” has long been a struggle raising the question: are autistic therapists inherently a better fit for autistic clients?

Recently I came across the BACP blog post by Philippa Balazs (August 2025), titled “Are autistic clients best served by autistic therapists?” 

In her article, Philippa Balazs a therapist (AuDHD) with clinical training shared her experience of working with many autistic clients.

She noticed a recurring theme that I have often come across with my own clients: clients often felt misunderstood, unseen, or inadvertently harmed by well-meaning neurotypical therapists, despite their best intentions.

Balazs recounts how behaviours typical of autistic experience, such as masking, shutdowns, or sensory dysregulation were sometimes misinterpreted in therapy as resistance, avoidance, or dissociation. In some cases, attempts to “correct” these behaviours ended up suppressing traits that are central to an autistic person’s wellbeing.

This led her to a tentative conclusion: many autistic clients might currently be better served by autistic therapists but not because autism itself makes someone a better clinician, but because neuro-affirming practice is still too sparse in mainstream training.

Why Shared Neurotype Matters But Isn’t Enough on Its Own

So, could it be that shared lived experience can create a sense of being truly understood. Autistic clients sometimes describe relief at chatting with someone who “speaks their language” without having to over translate or mask their authentic self. This overlaps with the idea that authentic communication styles and sensitivity to sensory experiences matter in therapy settings.

But shared neurotype doesn’t automatically guarantee good therapy. Good therapy also depends on therapeutic skills, ethical practice, and reflective capacity. An autistic therapist still needs solid training and self-awareness.

The Bigger Gap: Neuro-affirming Practice Across the Profession

Too many clinicians learn about autism from outdated, clinical deficit models rather than contemporary, autistic-led frameworks and unfortunately this knowledge gap can harm clients.

If neuro-affirming practice were part of core counsellor training the debate might shift from “who is best” to “who is prepared.”

The goal would be a profession where any therapist can work ethically and effectively with autistic clients, regardless of their own neurotype.

Questions for Autistic Clients Searching for Support

For autistic people exploring therapy options, here are some reflective questions to consider:

• Does the therapist use a neuro-affirming approach? Look for language that respects autistic traits and identities rather than pathologising them.

• How does the therapist talk about sensory needs and communication differences?

• Are they willing to adapt the therapeutic environment and pace?

• Do they have training or supervision in autism-informed practice?

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Shared experience can be a powerful support but it’s equally vital that therapy is grounded in ethical, evidence-informed, and person-centred practice.

Conclusion: Toward a More Inclusive Profession

So, are autistic therapists the best fit for autistic clients? Philippa Balazs’ perspective suggests that many autistic people currently feel better understood by therapists who share their lived experience, largely because neuro-affirming practice is not yet widespread enough in mainstream training.

But the real long-term answer isn’t about matching neurotypes. It’s about raising the baseline of understanding across the profession, so every autistic person can find a therapist who truly sees, hears, and respects them whether autistic or not.

To read Philippa Balaza's blog post click here: https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/blogs/2025/blogs-and-vlogs/27-august-are-autistic-clients-best-served-by-autistic-therapists/