{"i":"you","#text":"\"Oh,couldn't be autistic\": Examining anti-autistic bias and self-esteem in the therapeutic alliance."}

This study interviewed 14 autistic adults about their experiences with mental health professionals. It found that some therapists showed bias against autistic people, either without realizing it (like making wrong assumptions) or on purpose. Both types of bias hurt the self-esteem of autistic clients. The researchers suggest better training for mental health workers to help them support autistic people more effectively.

This qualitative interview study examined anti-autistic bias in therapeutic relationships and its impact on self-esteem among 14 autistic adults. The research identified two forms of bias: hidden/unrealized bias (such as practitioners making assumptions about autism) and intentional/openly harmful bias. Both forms negatively affected participants' self-esteem. The study highlights significant gaps in mental health practitioner training and provides recommendations for better serving autistic clients.

This research addresses an important but under-studied area concerning the therapeutic alliance between mental health professionals and autistic individuals, emphasizing the need for improved practitioner awareness and training.

Mental health practitioners require enhanced autism-specific training to recognize and address anti-autistic bias. Training programs should focus on both unconscious assumptions and intentional harmful practices. Therapeutic alliance quality directly impacts autistic clients' self-esteem, emphasizing the need for autism-affirming approaches in mental health care.

Small sample size of 14 participants limits generalizability. Study design and methodology details are not clearly described in the abstract. No information provided about participant demographics, recruitment methods, or data analysis approach.

Many mental health practitioners in the United States are trained to cure or change autistic people. Some of these mental health practitioners may shows when working with autistic clients. Anti-autistic bias is any kind of bias that degrades, devalues, or others autistic people or autistic traits. Anti-autistic bias is especially problematic when mental health practitioners and clients are engaged in the, which is the collaborative relationship between a therapist and client.

The therapeutic alliance is one of most important parts of an effective therapeutic relationship. Our interview-based study examined 14 autistic adults' experiences with anti-autistic bias in the therapeutic alliance and the relationship they felt it has on their self-esteem. Results from this research showed that some mental health practitioners expressed hidden and unrealized bias when working with autistic clients, such as making assumptions about what it means to be autistic. Results also showed that some mental health practitioners were intentionally biased and openly harmful to their autistic clients.

Both forms of bias negatively affected participant self-esteem. Based on the findings of this study, we offer recommendations to help mental health practitioners and mental health practitioner training programs better serve autistic clients. This study addresses a significant gap in current research on anti-autistic bias in the mental health field and the overall well-being of autistic individuals.