A Phenomenological Exploration of Special Interests in Therapy with Autistic Individuals
My name is Lennie Belcher and I am a Level 6 student at the University of East London, studying BSc Counselling. I am completing my research dissertation titled 鈥淎 Phenomenological Exploration of Special Interests in Therapy with Autistic Individuals鈥�, to better understand how special interests come into therapy with autistic clients.
I am recruiting qualified therapists with at least two years of experience who have worked with at least 3 autistic clients. The aim of this study is to explore how therapists experience and perceive the special interests of their autistic clients and whether these have been useful within the work. As they have been shown to be useful assets in other areas of the lives of autistic people, but have not been researched within therapy. The hope is that improving the understanding in this area will allow more effective and deliberate application of the special interests within therapy and informing better support for this population.
Eligible participants will be invited to partake in a semi-structured interview on Microsoft Teams, lasting around an hour. During these interviews we will broadly discuss the participants experience as a therapist, how they work with autistic clients and whether special interests have come into their work. Following this the interviews will be transcribed and anonymised, in accordance with ethical guidelines.
This research arose from my own experience as an autistic person in therapy and how meaningful my special interests became during the time with my therapist. As a result of this I am able to understand these experiences as an autistic client and as a therapist.
If you have any questions about this or are interested in participating, please contact me at u2252844@uel.ac.uk.
Please see information sheet here.
Please see consent form here.
Please see flyer here.
Kind regards,
Lennie