'If I don't Do It, I'm Out of Rhythm and I Can't Focus As Well': Positive and Negative Adult Interpretations of Therapies Aimed at 'Fixing' Their Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Childhood.

This study interviewed four young adults about childhood therapies that tried to stop their repetitive behaviours. They remembered feeling rejected and criticised as children, but as adults they now see their autism differently - as part of who they are, not something that needs fixing. They've learned to accept themselves and don't think they need to change to fit in with others' expectations.

This qualitative study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore how four young adults retrospectively interpreted childhood behavioural interventions targeting their restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs). Two main themes emerged: (1) experiencing doubt, stigma and being 'fixed' according to others' expectations, and (2) embracing authenticity in adulthood. Participants described a journey from childhood experiences of exclusion, rejection and self-doubt to adult acceptance of their neurological differences through a neurodiversity lens. As adults, they rejected the notion that they needed to be 'fixed' and instead embraced their authentic selves, reframing their differences positively.

Findings suggest interventions targeting RRBs should consider long-term psychological impacts and incorporate neurodiversity-affirming approaches. Clinicians may benefit from exploring client perspectives on intervention goals and ensuring approaches support authentic self-acceptance rather than conformity to neurotypical expectations.

Very small sample size (n=4) limits generalisability. Retrospective design may introduce recall bias. No comparison group or control condition. Findings represent subjective interpretations and may not reflect experiences of all autistic individuals who received similar interventions.

Restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) are observed in many children presenting with characteristics of autism and are frequently the targets of psychological interventions. This study used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to identify positive and negative interpretations from four young adults who received behavioural interventions in their childhood designed to 'fix' RRBs. Two superordinate themes were identified: (1) Doubt, stigma and being fixed according to others, and (2) Embracing Authenticity. They highlighted juxtaposed positions from exclusion, rejection, criticism, and self-doubt in childhood, to rejecting societal censure and embracing authentic growth in adult life.

As adults, though the participants recognised themselves as neurologically different from others, they redefined themselves through a lens of neurodiversity, and therefore as not needing to be fixed.