Hi, I’m Stephen, an Assistant Psychologist with The Adult Autism Practice since September, 2022

Later-discovered as Autistic in 2015, aged 41, I started a BSc (Hons) Social Psychology degree with the Open University and graduated in 2021 with first-class honours. I’m a Graduate member of the Psychological Society of Ireland and a committee member of the society’s Autism Special Interest Group. I’m also a Graduate member of the British Psychological Society and a member of Psychologists for Social Change

Before joining the Practice, I worked in corporate IT for 15 years. In honesty, it was never really me and I really never knew why… until I found out I'm Autistic. Furthermore, like many Autistic people, my entire work history is diverse. I’ve been a food analyst, holiday rep, massage therapist, executive secretary…

Equally diverse is my academic experience. I’ve qualifications in travel and tourism management, business administration, counselling skills, massage therapy, IT…

I’m also a former mental health charity trustee. Being Autistic, I understand the anxiety and frustration of navigating a world built to suit the predominant neurotype

Yes, Autistic people can be variously occupied, often as we journey to find ourselves and the life experiences that bring the most meaning

Since my Autistic discovery, I’ve come to regard being Autistic as something cultural and expressive. I’m actively Autistic, with a capital ‘A’. However, coming to this point has been a journey of unlearning received understanding I initially trusted as explaining my experience of the world. Now, my understanding is determinedly in contrast to the medical manuals. I feel enlightenment comes by listening to and learning from Autistic people and relating to their experiences. That's where the greatest understanding is found

With my social psychological background, I’m particularly interested in discourse around autism. I notice how language actively constructs autism and positions it in social understanding. I believe through our everyday conversations, we’ve the opportunity to make powerful, positive change, even from relatively small linguistic tweaks. From a personal perspective, I prefer to use the term ‘discovery’ over diagnosis. I feel this linguistic lift better captures the experience of Autistic realisation

For me, ‘discovery’ shifts the understanding of autism from something coldly pathological to something warmly social. Something vibrant, vital and valid. This is how we are as Autistic people… and always have been! However, the traditional medical and social understanding of autism never started from this positive position. It’s perhaps interesting to think how different life would be for Autistic people, if understanding had built on such affirmative foundations from the outset. That said, we can make a positive difference now. We can change minds. Change lives. At our disposal are powerful linguistic tools to reconstruct and reframe social understanding. Indeed, the transformation is already underway…

I’m interested in the infinite ways in which to be Autistic. The infinite ways in which to simply be human. To be honest, I’m not sure we’ll ever know what autism is. We'll never pinpoint an origin. Really, I’m not sure that entirely matters! For me, autism is abstract and secondary. What’s primary is the tangible, lived experience of being Autistic

Through communication, we understand experience. By listening to and learning from each other, we uncover the whole human experience and our unique ways of being. It’s the being that’s important and from that understanding we can build a better, inclusive, equitable society for everyone

So, that’s me. Working with the great team in this Practice, I hope to bring my insight and experience into helping people find their authentic and actively Autistic selves and to bring about positive social change