15. Too Autistic to Be a Therapist? - The Empathy Myth, Pattern Recognition, and the Depth That Comes From Feeling Different

from Too Much, Apparently · host Alice Tew and Carly Radford

Ever worried that being "too different" means people won't trust you to do your job? Yeah. Us too.In this episode of Too Much Apparently, we (Carly and Alice — two therapists and recovering perfectionists with squishy brains) get real about being autistic therapists in a field that still believes we lack empathy.We unpack harmful stereotypes, challenge the "blank slate" therapist ideal, and share what it's like to be the therapist who asks "what does that face mean?" — and why that might actually make us better at this job.This time we talked about:🎙️ We've felt this thing too (and we still do): The worry about outing ourselves professionally, wondering if being autistic makes us "less than," and that moment of realizing "wait, autistic people can't be therapists… but I'm a therapist?"👀 What it looks like in real life: Not assuming what facial expressions mean, asking clients to explain their metaphors, being deeply focused on people and relationships as a special interest, and bringing blankets and fidgets to sessions🧠 Why our brains do it: Pattern recognition, hyper-focus on human behavior, heightened sensitivity to others' emotions, vivid imagination for metaphors, and a lifetime of studying social dynamics to understand a world that felt confusing🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏻 The different ways it shows up: The "Cassandra complex" of seeing patterns others miss, depth over small talk, asking clarifying questions instead of assuming understanding, and embodied knowledge of what it feels like to be misunderstood🧰 Coping mechanisms: Shaping your practice around your needs (hello flexibility), modeling self-care and boundaries, using self-disclosure appropriately, and creating therapy spaces where masking isn't required🌱 How to make peace with it: Recognizing that your difference isn't a deficit — it's often exactly what your clients have been waiting forThanks for listening 💛💜🩷🩵🧡💬 New episodes every Monday.🎧 Follow now to join the conversation.🧡 CONNECT WITH US🧡 CONNECT WITH US 🎙️ Podcast socials: → Instagram: @toomuchapparently → TikTok: @toomuchapparently → YouTube: Too Much, Apparently → Website: www.toomuchapparently.com👩‍💻 Carly Radford: → Website: www.carlyradford.com → Instagram: @the_sensitivity_therapist👩🏻‍💻 Alice Tew: → Website: www.alicetew.com → Instagram: @reparentingwithalice📩 Email us: [email protected] 🗓️ New episodes every MondayThis is a podcast that says: bring your too-muchness… we're here for it.Disclaimer: Just a quick note to say this podcast isn't therapy, and it's not a substitute for professional support. We're here to share ideas and experiences, but if you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health professional or a support service near you.—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------sensitivity podcast, overthinking podcast, therapy podcast, belonging podcast, mental health podcast, deep chat podcast, neurodivergent podcast, autism podcast, adhd podcast, autistic therapist podcast, neurodivergent therapist, empathy myth autism, double empathy problem, late diagnosis autism, masking autism, autistic women podcast, therapy for autistic people, finding autistic therapist, autism and empathy, outsider syndrome, feeling different podcast, people pleasing podcast, authenticity podcast, therapy training neurodivergence, pattern recognition autism

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15. Too Autistic to Be a Therapist? - The Empathy Myth, Pattern Recognition, and the Depth That Comes From Feeling Different

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This episode was published on November 24, 2025.

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