Would you prefer to see a therapist who was also AS?

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I'm interested in whether WP posters would prefer to see a mental health specialist or therapist that
was out about being on the spectrum themselves?

Would you feel better about being diagnosed or given help/support by a fellow aspie?

Would you trust them / not trust them / feel indifferent?

Having read about some people's very negative experience with therapists, I have started to think about
whether this would help, or is it just my own pet theory...!

To be honest, I don't really mind but I would rather see the therapist I see now because she's the only person that has ever helped me. I'm pretty certain she's not AS but she is really helping me, so I'd rather see her.

That's great that its working out for you with your therapist - I had a really helpful therapist 12 years ago, and things got a lot better after I had worked with her - we didn't know I was on the spectrum at the time, but she gave me a lot of hope.

I think whether someone is a good therapist or not is intelligence and personality-related more than whether they have an ASD or not.

I've met plenty of people with ASDs who lack compassion and intelligence - just because as person has similar neurology does not necessarily mean you will have anything in common with them.

I'd be interested to know if anyone on WP actually is a therapist

I get your point, but you are missing the question - it is what people think about working with therapists or mental health professionals that are out about being on the spectrum : with the number of people on this board who actively profess their distain and disgust about the NHS, diagnosis, mental health treatment and therapy in general, I am interested to find out if having the choice of a therapist who is on the spectrum would in any way change their POV.

In addiction treatment, a large number of workers including doctors, psychiatrists, support workers, nurses etc.... are people who have overcome their addictions... it is a tried and tested model - I'm interested to see whether WP people could imagine a similar network of professionals with insight.

I'm not sure I understand in what way I have missed the question

I gave my opinion re the usefulness of having therapists etc known to be on the autistic spectrum - I said I didn't think it would make much difference as the usefulness of a therapist is based on their intelligence and personality, not on whether thy have an autistic spectrum disorder or not

I'd go to a therapist who had an ASD if they were any good - not just because they had an ASD

you are suggesting something like when some when prefer a woman gynecologist.

it is assuming that if the doctor is not like you, then they can not understand you.

this is a personal preference.

Me too.
But the question is about preference....
If you had the opportunity to see 2 therapists and you are told one of them is ASD, would you opt for the one with ASD or not?

Most of the time in the UK we don't get to test them out, give them personnality and IQ tests etc.. we just get what we are given. Maybe it works differently elsewhere ...

So assuming they are both good therapists, would you choose one with ASD or not ? that is my question.

I would choose someone with ASD - because :

I wouldnt go to a smoker for example, if I had an addiction problem. I wouldnt see a therapist for OCD if they couldnt touch a toilet ...so, if I am talking about sensory issues with my AS, it would be good to see at least a flicker of recognition in the therapist --- it would be nice to have that opportunity ...

If both were good therapists I'd go to the therapist who I thought I could get on with best and that wouldn't automatically be the one with an ASD. I would assess which one seemed the most interested in me/liked me best.

Also, the therapist with an ASD is not in a very good position to advise on issues relating to interaction with the majority of people (who are non-autistic)

why? I would have thought they were in a very good position - ie they have to deal with this issue daily?
wouldn't that make them experts ?

That would imply that we ourselves should be experts as we deal with Asperger issues on a daily basis

I think many people with Aspergers have what I'd term a 'blind spot' ie they aren't completely aware of how they come across to others or the extent to which their behaviour differs from the norm

So an AS therapist would be a bit like the blind leading the blind

No it doesn't imply anything of the sort !

If someone is a trained, experienced therapist or mental health professional - who in addition to their training and experience has also got their own understanding and personal experience of living with being on the spectrum . . . .

why would you suggest that this person would be unsuited to do the job or not have any particular skills to bring to the role?

would you say that to an addictions counsellor who had beaten their addiction ?

Not only are your comments and language frankly discriminatory, I found them pretty insulting, until I realised that you may have never had many positive role models with AS, and must have a very limited view of what we may be capable of.

I've also thought about this.

I think I would prefer someone that is not on the autismspectrum, but has 'some' quirks. Like a half-aspie or a quarter-aspie.

Agree - it might be helpful to have someone recognise what you go through on a daily basis - so that you feel you are speaking the same language etc

I'm a bit passionate about aspie rights - I get the sense that a lot of people really struggle with accessing good professional help - it seems logical that more aspies might get trained up as psychologists and therapists if possible -

maybe things would change for the better ? Who knows !

It would be nice in some ways-- great to commiserate with someone who can see through my eyes.

But basically I'm investing my time and money for NT lessons and reality checking from a sane person. I'm not interested in investing $145 and 3 hours out of my week in the blind leading the blind.

People on this forum have Aspergers and I rarely feel I have anything in common with them or relate to them so why would a therapist with Asperger's Syndrome be any different?

I don't see how it's insulting either; surely it's just my preference

I wouldn't want to see an addiction counsellor who had beaten their addiction either - I don't have a lot of time for the whole addiction care industry full stop - I've seen what many of the people are like in it