9. S1, Ep9: Female presentation, autistic counsellors and dealing with depression

Audrey Mitchell discovered she was autistic while in the process of getting a diagnosis for her teenage daughter. She lives in Idaho, USA, where she works in private practice as a counsellor. She’s also a writer.  She’s experienced plenty of adversity in life, and struggled to establish herself in adulthood due to her undiagnosed autism. She says that when she was starting her path to diagnosis, she was hungry for information that was relatable and relevant, and in talking to me today she wants to help provide that for some other woman that is searching for connection. In our conversation we talk about: Raising a daughter when you’re both autistic, but with very different presentations Counsellors not being well educated about how autism presents in girls and women Why autistic people make great counsellors Identifying with the counterculture Dealing with depression at university Alternative education for autistic young people Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.   EPISODE LINKS: You can find out more and connect with Audrey here: http://www.audreyspeaceofmind.com/ And if you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website: http://squarepeg.community/