Daniel Tyson - Autistic Affirming Counselling
Do you ever feel frustrated about being misunderstood by others?
Do you sometimes feel different, like you don’t quite fit in, no matter how hard you try?
Do you ever feel lonely, even when you’re around other people?
Are you often unsure of what you’re feeling in the moment?
Do everyday situations such as work, social events or busy places feel overwhelming and leave you drained?
Have you learned to keep parts of yourself hidden to avoid criticism, rejection, or being singled out?
Are you autistic, or wonder if you might be?
If any of this sounds familiar (even if you’re not autistic), you’re in the right place. As someone who is autistic myself I’ve been through these things and I know how powerful it can be to talk to someone else who truly understands what it feels like.
How Counselling Can Help
Person Centred Counselling gives you a place to talk about your thoughts and feelings with someone who will listen without judgement or expectation. In my case I can also offer my own lived experience of being autistic where we both think it could be valuable for you. Together, we can:
– Find ways to deal with the frustration of feeling misunderstood, and build confidence in communicating your needs clearly.
– Explore that sense of feeling different or out of place, and work towards feeling more comfortable and accepted as you are.
– Look at feelings of loneliness and what meaningful connection might look like for you on your own terms.
– Learn to notice and understand your emotions, so you can respond to what you’re feeling with kindness rather than confusion.
– Discover how to manage overwhelm from work, social situations or sensory demands, and create balance that helps you recover and recharge.
– Gently explore the reasons you’ve learned to hide parts of yourself, and build safety to express who you really are. In the autistic community this is known as “masking” and we learn to do it to keep ourselves feel safe, while at the same time it can be exhausting.
– Understand what being autistic means for you, the strengths, the challenges and the things that just are.
Working with me
Along with working with autistic people I have experience of working with anxiety, depression, stress, trauma and addiction. I can also work with you to find areas in life that motivate you to set and achieve your own goals. The key thing I can offer is a space for you to talk about yourself with someone who really gets autism, giving you the chance to learn more about yourself autism and all.
As an autistic person myself I understand how important sensory needs are for us in keeping ourselves feel safe and regulated. I have worked to make my space suitable for other autistic people for this reason. I am LGBT+ affirming in my practice as a counsellor and I work towards making my practice a warm and inclusive place for everyone.
For in person sessions, I have a quiet and private room in a separate building next to my home in Barrow in Furness close to the town centre. It’s lit by natural light and avoids unneeded noises and smells. I can also work online over video call if that’s easier for you for whatever reason. Finally I offer walk and talk therapy, walking side by side in nature can make conversations flow more easily especially if sitting face to face or making eye contact feels a bit intense (though of course we can also avoid eye contact when working in other ways too if that’s best for you).
Sessions last for an hour and take place once a week, giving us regular time to build trust and focus. I do not currently offer working every other week. I offer a free consultation for our first session, so that you have a chance to see if I’m the right person for you. I have spaces available to see you in the week Tuesday to Friday with my first slot starting at 10:30-11:30, my second at 11:30-12:30 and my last ending at 14:30. As there are different qualifications required to work with children and teenagers as a counsellor I only work with people over 18. If you’d like to find out more or arrange a first session, you can reach me through yardentherapist@gmail.com
Qualifications and experience
Level 5 Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling
Ecotherapy: Walk & Talk Therapy
Lead Counsellor at Recovery Steps Cumbria – 2024 to 2025
Counsellor at Recovery Steps Cumbria – 2022 to 2024