Sean’s Story
Assessment:
Autistic
3 Minute Read
When two of Sean’s children were identified as Autistic, Sean was confused at first. He had encountered many of the issues they had - he’d even been to a GP. In fact, he struggled to graduate from secondary school and relied heavily on his mum’s support. As well as this, his children’s Autistic traits - their passion for certain topics, heightened emotions, and sensory differences - resonated with him too, but perhaps more “quietly.”
He had been taught to limit his self-expression and hide his challenges in school.
He learned ways to socialize that other people seemed to accept, though he had always known it didn’t seem quite “right” to him. Sean knew he didn’t want to repeat those messages to his children.
He decided to book into the Adult Autism and ADHD Practice for a consultation.
Initially, he was concerned about describing everything over video call and feeling understood. Sean had visited counsellors in the past but felt the solutions weren’t helpful - that he couldn’t fully explain his differences despite doing his best. He had always experienced anxiety and exhaustion, constantly feeling he needed to push himself to the limit just to keep up with friends and family.
There had been numerous times when he’d become too exhausted to continue working, but his doctor had been unable to offer helpful suggestions. Discussing with one of our psychologists, Sean quickly discovered that his passions and differences were not “strange” at all - certainly nothing to be ashamed of or suppressed. However, he found the conversation warm and welcoming. He could have an open discussion about his doubts, long-forgotten events, and long-standing beliefs about himself.
“After his three sessions, Sean and his psychologist concluded that his experiences aligned with Autistic experience.”
Sean felt understood and more confident relating to his children.
Now, Sean is on the path to discovering more about himself and his Autistic identity. Initially, he was unsure how to approach this new knowledge. Following his sessions with the practice, Sean was worried he would have no access to support or way to process his discovery. However, included in the cost of his identification assessment, was a session with Thriving Autistic. He met with one of their practitioners specializing in newly identified adults and felt a warm, genuine connection. Despite his previous doubts, it became clear how much he was understood.
Sean continued to attend Thriving Autistic sessions and discovered:
His “quiet” Autistic traits were just as valid as his children’s more visible ones.
The exhaustion and anxiety he’d always experienced made sense in context of masking.
His difficulty with socializing wasn’t a personal failing - he was navigating a neurotypical world without understanding why it felt “wrong”.
He could parent his Autistic children from a place of understanding rather than repeating harmful messages he’d received.
Sean now knows:
He doesn’t need to push himself to exhaustion to “keep up”.
His differences are strengths, not deficits.
He has a community and support system that truly understands.
He can be authentically himself with his children and model self-acceptance.