The Science of Autistic Burnout For Therapists & Coaches

Is your client depressed, or are they in autistic burnout? The two can look remarkably similar - but the causes and the support needed are very different.

Autistic burnout is increasingly recognised as a distinct experience: a state of chronic exhaustion, reduced tolerance, and loss of skills brought on by the cumulative load of navigating a neurotypical world. Yet it remains widely misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and overlooked in clinical settings.

This professional workshop explores what autistic burnout actually is, how it differs from general burnout and depression, and why recognising it matters. You'll leave with a clearer framework for identifying burnout in your autistic clients and practical approaches to support their recovery.

What you'll gain:

• Understanding of autistic burnout as a distinct experience: its causes, presentation and trajectory
• Clarity on how to differentiate autistic burnout from depression, chronic fatigue, and occupational burnout
• Insight into the cumulative toll of masking and sensory overload on autistic clients leading to burnout
• Practical strategies to support clients in recovery and prevention
• Ways to reflect on your own approach
• CPD certificate of attendance

Who is this for?

This workshop is designed for therapists, counsellors, psychologists, coaches, and other professionals who work with autistic clients. Whether you're seeing clients in crisis or want to better understand the warning signs, this session offers theory, evidence, and practical application.

Please note: This is a professional-level workshop. The content assumes familiarity with therapeutic concepts and clinical practice.

About your host:

Dr Tom Nicholson is an Assistant Professor of mental health nursing and a speaker, trainer, and advocate for neurodiversity and ADHD. Tom's PhD project explores the lived experiences of parents whose children are undergoing ADHD assessment, listening to, and retelling their changing stories over a period of two years: From waiting list, to diagnosis, to living with a diagnosis. Diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, Tom uses his personal lived experience of ADHD alongside his clinical and academic background to give a multitude of perspectives to his work.