Ways Forward: Progressive Approaches to Providing Therapy with Autistic Individuals

'Ways Forward' is a groundbreaking text completely unique in its approach as it brings together the experiences of Autistic practitioners, research practices from the field and lived experiences.
'Ways Forward' offers progressive approaches and strategies for practitioners to better understand consumer needs. The text is designed to assist practitioners who work with Autistic individuals along with those who are completing undergraduate or postgraduate studies related to providing mental health support to Neurodivergent people. 'Ways Forward' is underpinned by research that notes the importance of the inclusion of first-hand accounts and co-researching within Autistic Communities. Reviews of this text have noted its importance in reshaping the landscape of therapy approaches for Autistic Individuals in that it is uniquely written by Autistic practitioners and can be employed in the field for the empowerment of Neurodivergent service users. Within the research, there is a call for more work of this nature to be increasingly present in an effort to inform therapists from a lived experience perspective.

List of figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction to the editor
List of contributors
Introduction to autism and therapy approaches
Dr Britt Couchman
Autism Approach

Chapter 1 Am I seeing the person in front of me? Autism and ADHD, some key characteristics often obscured
Dr Wenn Lawson
Curtin University
Chapter 2 Practices in review: Setting the scene for neurodivergent inclusivity in counselling
Dr Britt Couchman
Autism Approach
Chapter 3 An olive branch for a tourist in a different culture
Naomi Kaye O’Brien
Independent Researcher
Chapter 4 Wise: When is someone enough
Naomi Kaye O’Brien
Independent researcher
Chapter 5 Neurodiversity, inclusivity and beyond human interactions on/with country
Dr Genée Marks
Deakin University
Hanni Hofsink
Wirriny Spirit Horse Program
Chapter 6 Beyond words, the unspoken language of creative therapy
Dr Britt Couchman
Autism Approach
Lisa Kerr
True Colours
Chapter 7 Advocacy approaches and the role of therapists
Yenn Purkis
Independent researcher
Chapter 8 Shared voices, lived experience from a Neurodivergent Consumer lens
Dr Britt Couchman
Autism Approach
Chapter 9 Possibilities for practice, gaining momentum and taking the leap
Dr Britt Couchman
Autism Approach

Conclusions and addressing key themes
Dr Britt Couchman
Autism Approach

Dr Britt Couchman started her career as a teacher of Autistic students. She went on to complete research looking at behaviour approaches for Autistic children, which followed an action research approach and included parents as co-researchers. Britt then created her own unique consultation practice where she assisted parents and collaborated with allied health professionals to support Autistic individuals in a holistic sense. Britt also spends much time training and supporting inclusion specialists who work in schools with neurodivergent students. The next stage of her career has included providing psychosocial support directly to Autistic individuals to assist with developing independence and self-advocacy skills. Britt then went on to complete higher education studies in counselling and now offers neurodivergent clients a service to support them with healing, processing past events and developing additional strategies to achieve greater well-being. Britt is passionate about neurodivergent people being change agents within structures in society that have been limiting and oppressive. She is part of a network of neurodivergent practitioners who work hard to develop purposeful and tailored services to support neurodivergent community members. This network aims to combine lived experience with industry experience and research to improve accessibility, inclusivity and the culturally appropriateness of therapy services.

Lived experience, neuro-divergent, mental health, atypical, therapy