"One must think autism in everything one does": Clinicians' Experiences of Supporting Autistic Patients.
Clinicians say they adapt speech, visuals, and client choice for autistic clients, yet outside studies still show low confidence and no one has proven these changes reach real sessions.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Øverland et al. (2025) interviewed Norwegian mental-health clinicians about caring for autistic clients. The team asked open questions about what the clinicians actually do, think, and feel during sessions.
All interviews were recorded and coded for themes. The goal was to learn how clinicians adapt talk, tools, and timing when autism is part of the picture.
What they found
Clinicians said they now "think autism in everything." They slow their speech, use clear visuals, and check that the client wants to keep going.
They also said they let the client lead more choices. These self-reported changes sound hopeful, but the study did not watch real sessions to confirm they happen.
How this fits with other research
Morris et al. (2019) reviewed 27 studies and found most providers feel under-prepared and short on resources. Elisabeth's clinicians claim they have found ways to cope, yet the field-wide gap Rae shows still looms.
Jubenville-Wood et al. (2024) ran a similar interview study with psychotherapists serving autistic adults. Both papers list the same core moves: plain language, sensory breaks, and shared goal setting. This match boosts our trust in the themes.
Jager-Hyman et al. (2020) and Emerson et al. (2023) surveyed clinicians about suicide-risk tools. They report low confidence and low tool fit. Elisabeth's clinicians say they adapt everything, but they do not mention formal risk tools, hinting that the confidence gap found by Shari and E may still hide in everyday work.
Why it matters
You may leave a training full of great ideas, but real change happens only if you practice and get feedback. Use the moves these Norwegian clinicians describe—plain speech, visuals, client-led choices—as a checklist in your next session. Then video or peer-review a sample of your work to be sure the plans turn into action.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
PURPOSE: Studies have consistently shown that autistic individuals often find their interactions with healthcare professionals unhelpful, indicating unmet needs. This issue is exacerbated by healthcare professionals' inadequate knowledge about autism and communication difficulties between healthcare professionals and autistic patients. This qualitative study sought to gain a deeper understanding of clinical encounters between healthcare professionals and autistic patients, from the perspectives of clinicians. METHODS: We conducted five in-depth focus groups with 20 experienced clinicians in Child and Adult Mental Health services in Norway. We used reflexive thematic analysis to analyze the data, using an inductive approach. RESULTS: We found that, overall, clinicians want to be respectful and flexible in their clinical encounters with their autistic patients. We also identified four themes, including that clinicians: 1) are attentive to the varied responses to diagnoses; 2) understand the importance of adapting their communication styles toward the needs of their autistic patients; 3) recognize the need for greater focus on quality of life and autonomy; and 4) acknowledge the significant role that parents play in autistic young people's lives. CONCLUSION: Although neurodiversity-affirming attitudes amongst clinicians are encouraging, whether they are demonstrated in practice needs further investigation. The findings indicate that support for autistic patients should be more comprehensive and persist for a longer time.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2025 · doi:10.1089/aut.2023.0186