Guidelines for Working with Clients with Asperger Syndrome

In this professional guidance article, Elaine Nicholson MBE sets out best practice guidelines for therapists and counsellors working with clients with Asperger syndrome. Drawing on decades of specialist autism counselling experience, she outlines key considerations including communication differences, literal thinking, sensory sensitivities, anxiety presentation, masking, emotional regulation, and the importance of structure and predictability in therapy. The article emphasises the need for autism-informed clinical practice, therapist self-awareness, and adaptations that respect neurodivergent identity, ensuring therapeutic work is safe, effective and ethically grounded.