Autism Therapy and Support in Blackheath and Online
Autism Therapy and Support
Living as an autistic person often means navigating a world that can feel fast, unpredictable, or overwhelming. Therapy provides time to slow down, reflect, and make sense of these experiences in a way that feels safe and respectful. The focus is on understanding yourself and finding approaches that support wellbeing in daily life.
Many autistic individuals describe feeling different without always having the language to explain why. Therapy offers space to explore identity and experience at your own pace, to understand patterns of emotion and connection, and to develop confidence in your way of being. It can also help to recognise and process the impact of growing up or living in environments where difference was misunderstood or overlooked.
Autism therapy supports reflection on emotions, relationships, and sensory experiences without judgment. Over time, it can help to build a stronger sense of identity and self-acceptance, and to develop practical ways of navigating everyday life with greater ease and balance.
Therapy can be particularly helpful when challenges such as masking, anxiety, or social exhaustion begin to feel overwhelming, or when there is a wish to understand oneself more deeply.
How therapy can help
Many autistic adults seek therapy not because of autism itself but because of the strain of masking, misunderstanding, or chronic exhaustion. Through a consistent and supportive process, therapy can help to:
Understand how autism influences perception, emotion, and connection
Process experiences of isolation, rejection, or burnout
Develop strategies for self-care, sensory regulation, and communication
Strengthen self-esteem and identity
Address anxiety, depression, or low mood related to past experiences
Therapy is not about changing who you are but about finding ways to live that feel authentic and manageable.
Approach
Autism therapy at Heathwell is provided by two independent clinicians who each bring their own background and therapeutic perspective. Both have extensive NHS and private practice experience and specialist training in working with neurodivergent individuals, including autism and ADHD.
Dr George Samoilis is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist with highly specialist NHS experience in autism and learning disabilities. Alongside his clinical work, he teaches postgraduate practitioners at the Anna Freud Centre, training future therapists in working therapeutically with autistic adults and individuals with learning disabilities. His approach draws on psychodynamic, humanistic, and trauma-focused models to help clients explore their experiences at a pace that feels right for them.
Funmi Deinde is a Psychiatrist and accredited Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) practitioner. She completed her DIT training at the Anna Freud Centre, where she also received specialised training in autism. Funmi offers a structured, relational space that supports emotional understanding, regulation, and self-awareness. Her work is grounded in compassion and collaboration, providing clarity and safety for clients who value a predictable therapeutic process.
While their approaches differ, both share a neuro-affirmative and trauma-informed understanding of autism. Sessions are adapted to each person’s communication and processing style, creating a sense of clarity, predictability, and safety. The focus is on helping each individual make sense of their inner world, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop strategies that support wellbeing and self-acceptance.
People seek therapy for autism for many different reasons. Some want to understand themselves more deeply after a recent diagnosis. Others come to explore lifelong patterns of feeling different or misunderstood. Therapy can be helpful at any stage of this process — whether someone is beginning to question if they may be autistic or has long identified as neurodivergent.
Sessions may focus on emotional wellbeing, daily functioning, or relationships. Common areas of exploration include managing anxiety or sensory overload, understanding communication and relationship patterns, and developing self-compassion after years of masking or adapting to others’ expectations.
Therapy also offers space to make sense of identity, self-esteem, and belonging, particularly for those who have felt disconnected or unseen. It can help in understanding personal needs and boundaries, improving emotional regulation, and finding ways to live that feel both sustainable and authentic.
Seeking Therapy for Autism
Getting started
To arrange an initial consultation, please get in touch through the contact page, the therapist’s profile, WhatsApp, or by telephone.
The consultation is an informal twenty-minute chat to talk about what brings you to therapy, whether it feels like a good match, and to answer any questions you may have about the process. It offers a chance to understand what kind of support might be most helpful before deciding whether to begin ongoing sessions.
Therapy is provided by clinicians with specialist expertise in autism and neurodiversity.
Autism therapy is available in person from Blackheath Village, within easy reach of Greenwich, Lewisham, and Central London, as well as online throughout the UK.
