Oksana Roberts

I am proudly a combination of Autistic and ADHD. AuDHD has a nice ring to it. I draw on 14 years of experience in private practice as well as lived experience of being neurodivergent. I specialise in working with sensitive souls, Autism, ADHD, HSP. I work with clients who fall into what used to be the Asperger category of Autism. Although these people are considered to be high functioning, I am careful using this term. It can cover up the deep seated struggles under the facade of “doing well”. 

As a trauma informed therapist I acknowledge that the deficit/disorder narrative and the medicalised model of autism can be traumatising. The treatment of neurodivergent people to appear more neuro-normative, to fit «a square peg in a round hole» is very damaging. It is not the client’s job to educate professionals on how they need to be helped. I am committed to supporting others in the way which I needed in the years prior to recognising my neurodiversity late in life and after. I hope that this will help to reduce the impact of living in a neurotypical world. 

My ethos is 

-recognising natural neurodivergent variations in human brain functioning

-honour neurodivergent strengths and vulnerabilities 

-acknowledge the challenges of fitting in within the neuronormative way of being

-acknowledgment of ableism that may occur where neurodivergent people struggle to fit it 

-acknowledge the impact of internalising neuro-ableism on mental health 

-acknowledgment of the impact of intersectionality and the added challenges of racism, sexism, classism and prejudice based on religion, culture, disability, sexuality and gender identity. 

My therapeutic approach is integrative, incorporating humanistic, person-centred, experiential, relational, dialogical, somatic and mindfulness modalities. I can adapt the way I work to suit your changing needs. If you like working creatively, we can explore the issues that you bring though creative psychotherapy with art, writing, poetry, music, movement and drama. I take the mind-body-spirit-community continuum approach to healing. Using a multi modal skill set, I offer complementary therapy to clients who are spiritually oriented. Recognising the brain-gut connection, I can also support my clients as a naturopath, with nutritional advise on request. 

I offer heartfelt support in the exploration of neurodiversity, self-advocacy to be heard and respected, boundary setting and self-care.

I have been described as passionate in my work promoting social change as well as intuitive, warm, genuine and compassionate in the way that I relate to people in the therapy room. 

I am here to support the trauma healing process that, for most of us, has started in childhood. I hear you. I see you. I stand by you.

I facilitate a safe space for my clients to discover their unique definitions of happiness, success, meaning and purpose, reclaiming personal power. 

Survive, strengthen, thrive and connect. Moving from the individual happiness from within to the satisfaction of living fully within a community we deserve.

Are you on the autism spectrum, or do you suspect you might be? Have you tried therapy in the past, but it just didn’t work? Or maybe it helped, but something felt off. Perhaps you didn’t like the thought of being « treated.»

The feedback I get from clients is that a shared understanding of what it is like to be neurodivergent makes a big difference. Right away, they feel more comfortable, heard, and understood. 

I identify as being autistic (identity first). This is my neuro-type. I am not disordered and do not need fixing. I do not want to change and normalise to fit in with the majority by being more palatable. I am not disabled. I thrive in a lifestyle that meets my needs. For example, I am writing this on my phone while lying on the sofa with my legs up because it feels comfortable. I might write some more when I go for a run and think of something else that I want to add. For my type of autism, I need unrestricted movement to do well. Other neuro folks may not, as we are all different.

My mind diverges from the norm, which is a natural form of human cognitive variance. How I perceive and interact with the world differs from the typical expectations and standards. I can find the environment set up for the dominant neurotype disabling. I am a neuro minority. However, difference is not synonymous with a disorder or a disability. Normal does not mean healthy. If anything, difference is to be celebrated as it brings richness of diversity. This is a more affirmative alternative to an assessment based on a medical model.

When I say that I am autistic, I still get a surprised response, “But there is nothing wrong with you.” There isn’t. Society still has a long way to go in reframing how neurodivergent people are perceived. Comparative judgment does not take into account that neurodivergent people are disadvantaged by the world that is designed for the neurotypical majority.

My lived experience helps with understanding and appreciating what the world looks like when the brain is wired in an A-typical way. Accepting and owning my identity with confidence means that I can support my clients in embracing being neurodivergent. This means moving away from being defined by something they are not. By measuring yourself against the neurotypical benchmark, the disappointment of being too much and not enough at the same time can be exhausting. What I can offer, is a safe space to discover what it is like to flourish in a fulfilling life from an A-typical point of view.