Leone Centre offers autism-affirming therapy in London and online for individuals, couples, and families. Continue reading to learn more about inclusive, neurodivergent-affirming support tailored to the autistic experience.
On This Page
- What Is Autism?
- Signs of Autism
- What Is Autism-Affirming Therapy?
- Types of Autism-Affirming Therapy
- Living With Autism: The Autistic Experience
- Living With Autism: Everyday Accommodations That Make a Difference
- Autism and Gender
- Am I Autistic?
- Late-Diagnosed Adults and Autism Across the Lifespan
- How Is Autism Diagnosed in the UK?
- Why Choose Leone Centre for Autism-Affirming Therapy?
What Is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental variation that affects how a person experiences the world, processes information, communicates, and relates to others. It’s part of the natural range of human diversity. Autism is not something to “fix” or “cure”; it’s a different way of being, one that deserves understanding, respect, and proper support.
Signs of Autism
Autism can present in many different ways, and each autistic person is unique. However, some common traits include:
- Heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory input, such as light, sound, textures, or smells
- A preference for structure, routine, and predictability to provide a sense of safety and control
- Strong, passionate interests that bring joy, clarity, and deep focus
- Unique communication styles, including verbal, nonverbal, or using scripts, visuals, or movement to express thoughts and feelings
- Masking or camouflaging traits to fit neurotypical expectations, often leading to exhaustion, stress, or burnout
What Is Autism-Affirming Therapy?
Autism-affirming therapy is a therapeutic approach that respects autism as a valid neurotype and not a disorder to be treated or eliminated. It centres autistic voices, identities, and experiences, supporting people to live authentically rather than teaching them to “fit in.”
Autism-affirming therapy supports:
- Self-understanding and acceptance
- Emotional and sensory regulation
- Unmasking and self-expression
- Navigating identity, trauma, or burnout
- Advocacy and boundaries
This approach is grounded in neurodiversity, trauma-informed practice, and anti-ableist values.
Learn more about Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy at Leone Centre.
Types of Autism-Affirming Therapy
Individual Therapy
Individual Therapy offers a supportive space to explore your identity and feel truly seen, heard, and accepted. It can help you to develop tools to manage and address:
- Meltdowns
- Shutdowns
- Autistic burnout
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma
Autism-affirming therapy addresses these issues from a perspective that’s informed by neurodivergent experiences.
Sessions are flexible and may include written communication, visual supports, or other formats to suit your needs.
Learn more
Couples Therapy
Couples therapy focuses on understanding and navigating the dynamics between neurodivergent and neurotypical partners.
It helps build shared communication styles, supports emotional regulation and sensory needs within the relationship, and honours each partner’s differences without trying to change who they are.
Learn more
Family Therapy
Family Therapy helps educate and support family members in a respectful, inclusive way. The goal is to move away from trying to “fix behaviours” and instead foster connection, compassion, and mutual understanding. It supports routines, regulation, and communication at home, while promoting neurodivergentaffirming approaches to parenting and relationships.
Learn more
Living With Autism: The Autistic Experience
Living with autism can mean navigating a world that isn’t designed with your sensory, emotional, or communication needs in mind. While autistic individuals bring immense strengths such as creativity, innovation, loyalty, and deep focus, they also often face:
- Sensory overload or shutdowns
- Misunderstanding or invalidation from others
- Difficulty accessing support
- Burnout from prolonged masking or trying to meet neurotypical standards
For many, the most challenging part of being autistic isn’t autism itself, it’s actually how others respond. That’s where autistic-affirming therapy can make a real difference.
Living With Autism: Everyday Accommodations That Make a Difference
Creating an autism-friendly environment isn’t about special treatment—it’s about recognising and respecting different needs while reducing unnecessary barriers. In both work and school settings, small adjustments can make a significant difference to an autistic person’s comfort and success.
Some daily accommodations that can help include:
- Noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, or dimmable lighting to reduce sensory overload
- Clear communication, avoiding sarcasm or double meanings, and ensuring instructions are direct and easy to follow
- Written follow-ups after meetings, lessons, or conversations to help with processing information
- Regular breaks and downtime after social interactions or sensory-heavy tasks to manage overwhelm
- Stimming-friendly spaces where it’s safe to engage in repetitive movements or sounds as a form of self-regulation
- Predictable routines and advance notice of changes in plans or schedules
Accommodations for autistic people in the workplace:
- Creating quiet zones
- Flexible working hours to prevent burnout
- Remote working to avoid being overstimulated
- Clear expectations for meetings and tasks can reduce stress and improve productivity
Accommodations for autistic children in school settings:
- Extra time for assignments
- Support with transitions between classes
- Visual schedules can support learning and reduce anxiety
Small, thoughtful changes often have a big impact on an autistic person’s ability to thrive and feel at ease in everyday life, whether at work, in school, or at home.
Autism and Gender
Autism doesn’t look the same for everyone. It’s often under-recognised or misdiagnosed in:
- Women and girls
- Trans and nonbinary people
- People of colour
- Historically, diagnostic criteria were based on studies of white, cisgender boys, which has led to a narrow understanding of what autism “looks like”
Autistic women and AFAB people often:
- Mask more heavily or mimic peers socially
- Internalise stress, leading to anxiety or depression
- Are often mislabelled with conditions such as BPD, anxiety, or ADHD
Autistic men and boys may show more visible differences, but still face stigma, especially around emotional expression and regulation.
Gender-diverse autistic people frequently describe a deep sense of difference early on and may navigate complex intersections of identity.
Recognising these differences helps to shift away from stereotypes and towards a more accurate, inclusive understanding of autism.
Am I Autistic?
If you’ve ever felt different, overwhelmed by social situations, highly sensitive to your environment, or exhausted from masking your true self, you might be wondering: Do I have autism?
Autism can present in many ways and is often missed, especially in adults. Whether you’re exploring a formal diagnosis or self-identifying, your experiences are valid—and support is available to help you understand yourself better.
Late-Diagnosed Adults and Autism Across the Lifespan
For many people, autism isn’t identified in childhood. Instead, it’s discovered later in life—often after years of feeling “different”, misunderstood, or emotionally exhausted.
If you’re a late-diagnosed autistic adult, you are not alone. Many adults, especially women, AFAB people, and those from marginalised backgrounds, are diagnosed in their 30s, 40s, or even later. Autism in adults can look very different from the classic childhood presentation. By adulthood, many autistic individuals have developed strong coping mechanisms and masking strategies— consciously or unconsciously—designed to fit in with social expectations.
While these strategies may have helped them get by, they often come at a cost: chronic anxiety, burnout, identity confusion, or a deep sense of being disconnected from one’s authentic self.
Children are more likely to be identified based on observable behaviours—such as differences in play, communication delays, or social challenges. Adults, on the other hand, may be overlooked if their traits are more internalised or if they’ve become skilled at camouflaging. They might be misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, OCD, or borderline personality disorder, while the root experience of being autistic goes unrecognised.
Common signs of autism in late-diagnosed adults include:
- Feeling overwhelmed in social situations but unsure why
- Exhaustion from masking or people-pleasing
- Deep sensitivity to sensory input
- Strong need for routines, structure, or control
- Intense interests or passions that bring clarity and comfort
- Difficulty with transitions or changes
- A sense of always having to “perform” to be accepted
Being diagnosed later doesn’t mean you’re behind—it means you’ve been doing your best without the full picture. And now, with more understanding, you can begin to truly honour what you need and who you are.
How Is Autism Diagnosed in the UK?
In the UK, autism is typically diagnosed by NHS professionals such as clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, or paediatricians. However, waiting times can be long, and many pursue private assessments or explore self-identification, which is valid and respected in neurodivergent communities.
A diagnostic process may involve:
- Clinical interviews
- Questionnaires (e.g., ADOS-2, AQ, or RAADS-R)
- Behavioural observations
- Developmental and sensory history
- Input from parents or carers (especially for children)
Receiving a diagnosis—or even exploring the possibility of being autistic—can be a life-changing and empowering experience. It often brings clarity, self-compassion, and language for things that previously felt confusing or shameful.
Autism-affirming therapy can support this journey, helping you unmask safely, reconnect with your identity, and rebuild life on your own terms.
Why Choose Leone Centre for Autism-Affirming Therapy?
At Leone Centre, we have therapists who specialise in neurodivergent-affirming therapy and are here to support you. We believe every autistic person deserves therapy that is respectful, validating, and empowering.
Autism-affirming therapy recognises that:
- Autistic people don’t need to be changed
- Autistic voices and experiences are valuable
- Therapy should be collaborative, flexible, and tailored to individual needs
Whether you’re autistic, exploring a diagnosis, or supporting someone who is, our experienced therapists can offer a safe space to reconnect with your needs, process your experiences, and live authentically.
At Leone Centre, we offer individual, couples, and family therapy for:
Autistic adults
Autistic children (if accompanied by an adult in family therapy)
Late-diagnosed or self-identified individuals
Neurodivergent relationships and families
Those navigating masking, burnout, trauma, or identity exploration
We’re here to support you. Call or email us today to enquire.