Autism Therapy · Adults · UK & Online
Autism Therapy for Adults
Autism-affirming therapy for autistic adults — supporting burnout, masking, late diagnosis, identity and relationships. A space where you never have to perform neurotypicality.
In-person in Hornchurch, Havering, Essex · Online across the UK · Free 15-min intro call
You Are Not Alone
Does this sound familiar?
Many neurodivergent adults spend years feeling like something is wrong with them — before they understand why. These experiences are not character flaws. They are the cost of living in a world not designed for your brain.
Areas of Focus
What I help with
Autistic Burnout
Understanding the cycle of masking and collapse, recovering at a sustainable pace, and making structural changes to reduce future burnout.
Masking & Authenticity
Exploring the cost of camouflaging your autistic self, and finding ways to exist more authentically — at work, in relationships, in daily life.
Late Diagnosis & Identity
Processing a late autism diagnosis, grieving the years before understanding, and building a new, more compassionate self-narrative.
Anxiety & Emotional Regulation
Working with the anxiety that often accompanies autism — social anxiety, anticipatory anxiety, sensory distress — without shame or pathologising.
Relationships & Communication
Navigating the challenges of autistic communication styles in relationships, friendships and the workplace.
Sensory & Executive Functioning
Understanding the emotional impact of sensory differences and executive functioning challenges — not just strategies, but the feelings underneath.
My Approach
Autism-affirming, integrative therapy
I work from the understanding that autism is a neurotype — not a disorder to be corrected. My approach is integrative, drawing on person-centred, relational and somatic frameworks, and always adapted to how you communicate and process.
Sessions are flexible in structure and pacing. I do not use ABA or any approach that aims to suppress autistic traits. The goal is not to make you more neurotypical — it is to help you understand yourself, reduce suffering, and build a life that works for your brain.
Client Experiences
What autistic clients say
"As an autistic person, I have always struggled to find a therapist who truly gets it. Maria doesn't just tolerate my communication style — she adapts to it. I never have to mask in our sessions, which means I can actually do the work."
A.L.
AuDHD-affirming therapy
"I was sceptical about therapy after years of feeling like I didn't fit the mould. Maria made it clear from the very first session that there is no mould here. Her approach is genuinely person-centred in a way I hadn't experienced before."
T.O.
Individual counselling, gender identity
Common Questions
Autism therapy FAQs
Do I need an autism diagnosis to access therapy?
No. Many autistic adults are self-identified, awaiting assessment, or have received a diagnosis later in life. You do not need a formal diagnosis to benefit from autism-affirming therapy. Maria works with your lived experience.
What is autism masking and how does therapy help?
Masking is the conscious or unconscious suppression of autistic traits to appear neurotypical — mimicking social behaviours, hiding sensory distress, performing eye contact. It is exhausting and often leads to burnout, anxiety and a fragmented sense of identity. Therapy provides a space to unmask safely, understand the cost of masking, and build a more authentic way of being.
How is autism therapy different for women?
Autism in women and girls is frequently missed or misdiagnosed because it often presents differently — more socially camouflaged, more internalised, more likely to be labelled as anxiety, depression or personality disorder. Many women receive their diagnosis in adulthood and experience a profound identity shift. Maria has specialist experience supporting women through late autism diagnosis.
Can therapy help with autistic burnout?
Yes. Autistic burnout — the profound exhaustion that follows sustained masking and overextension — is one of the most common reasons autistic adults seek therapy. Therapy helps you understand what caused the burnout, recover at a sustainable pace, and make changes that reduce the likelihood of it recurring.
Do you offer online autism therapy?
Yes — all services are available online via Zoom, as well as in-person in Hornchurch, Havering, Essex. Online therapy removes many of the sensory and social demands of in-person attendance and is often a better fit for autistic clients.
What does autism-affirming therapy mean?
Autism-affirming therapy means working from the understanding that autism is a neurotype — not a disorder to be fixed. The goal is not to make you more neurotypical. It is to help you understand yourself, reduce distress, and build a life that works for your brain. Maria does not use ABA or any approach that aims to suppress autistic traits.
Take the First Step
Ready to begin?
Start with a free 15-minute introductory call. No commitment, no pressure — just a conversation to see if we're the right fit.