Exploring the lived experience of counsellors/therapists working with bereaved adult clients with autism and/or ADHD

This study aims to understand counsellors/therapists' personal lived experiences of supporting bereaved adults with autism and/or ADHD (self-identified or diagnosed). Individuals with autism and/or ADHD are exposed to increased vulnerability to grief due to difficulties coping with change and in understanding, expressing and managing their emotions. An understanding of these differences in therapy allows more effective support in navigating the complex emotional landscape of grief.

There is a lack of qualitative research into how therapists adapt and reflect on grief models and counselling modalities when working with bereaved adults with autism and/or ADHD. Taking part in the study offers an opportunity to contribute your lived experience to an under-researched area and to help enhance professional knowledge, inform future training and support the development of neurodiversity-affirming bereavement therapy.

The study will require you to give approximately one hour of your time to take part in a semi-structured interview conducted online using Microsoft Teams at a time convenient for you. With your consent, interviews will be recorded to ensure accuracy and later transcribed for analysis. A copy of the anonymised interview transcript can be provided after the interview, should you wish.

Data will be analysed using Integrative Phenomenological Analysis. All sensitive data will stored securely in my personal storage folder within the University of Staffordshire OneDrive, which will only be accessible to me and my academic Supervisor.

Eligible participants must be over 18 years of age, be a qualified, BACP-, BPS- or UKCP-registered therapist practicing in the UK who have worked with a bereaved adult client with autism and/or ADHD (self-identified or diagnosed).

Ethical approval for this study has been granted by the University of Staffordshire ethical panel.

Please see the recruitment poster here for more information.

If you would like to be a part of this research project, or if you would like any further information, please email me.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!