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Clair is a clinical psychologist who works with couples where one or both partners have autistic traits or a diagnosis of autism (formerly referred to as Asperger’s) that contribute to difficulties in the relationship. She also works with normal to high-functioning adults with autism.
THERAPY
Couples and Individuals
Clair is very optimistic about the benefits of therapy.
Couples who were ready to break up, find new ways of understanding themselves and/or their partners and make small but significant changes, which enables the relationship to function more effectively, but also with joy.
Individuals with autistic traits or a diagnosis of autism acquire an understanding of themselves and the way autism impacts on their life and learn skills to negotiate the world of neurotypicals (a term used to describe people without autism).
Solution Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Mindfulness-integrated Cognitive Therapy (MiCBT) are the predominant modalities she uses. MiCBT is especially effective for extreme anxiety which is a common symptom in ASD.
Couples
With couples, usually, one of the partners has read an article or
heard a podcast about autism and they seek help, feeling that at last, there could be an explanation for the complex difficulties in their relationship.
These are the sort of comments from clients - many of which are similar to other clients.
“I just can’t get through to him, I can say the same thing over and
over again, but it’s like talking to a brick wall.”
“There’s no reciprocity – it’s as though I’m playing table tennis with
myself – the ball doesn’t come back.”
“She blames me for everything. She’s never wrong. At times I get
blamed for the very thing she has done.”
“He presents obstacles or says ‘no’ to almost everything. Other
people can buy a house, go on holiday or sort out the garage. We’re just always stuck in the same place.”
“He has no clue how to be a dad – he thinks he’s supposed to be the children’s buddy. He’s just an extra child for me to take care of.”
“When we go to a party, the mask comes on - she becomes this
extrovert, full of fun and making jokes, but then when we get home, she has to have a very long nap.”
Individuals
Individuals may seek therapy for a range of reasons - when their
doctor has referred them, when one of their children has been
diagnosed with autism, when they’ve read an article or heard a
podcast that makes them wonder if they have autism or a
friend/colleague has made a comment about them being autistic.
They may or may not have a formal diagnosis.
These are the sort of comments from clients - many of which are
similar to other clients
“I have had so many different diagnoses including borderline
personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, avoidant
personality disorder, and bi-polar, but none of them seemed to really fit. I read an article about autism and that really describes me. I’m 63 years old and for the first time, feel that I can make sense of my life.”
“I’ve never fitted in, I’ve always felt an outsider. I am so often lost in a social group – I can’t tell when someone is being sarcastic. I take everything so literally.”
“I was bullied at school, but I was brilliant at maths and music which was one good thing.”
“I've had a very successful career as an anaesthetist, but a formal complaint has been made against me for my bullying, which I've been accused of before. I've also been accused of being a narcissist. My wife says she has always felt alone in our marriage and has sent me to see you, but there's no way I have autism.
“It’s hard to reconcile how mean she is to her sister, yet so
compassionate to a stray cat – such contradictions in one person.”
ABOUT CLAIR
M.A., Clinical Psychologist
Clair is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Australian College of Clinical Psychologists (ACPA).
Clair grew up in southern Africa and qualified as a clinical
psychologist at the University of Natal. She went on to do further
study at the Tavistock Clinic and the Institute of Family Therapy in
London.
Clair has worked in a wide range of settings, including mental health care centres, GP practices, acute and chronic wards in psychiatric hospitals, a renal unit and chronic pain ward in general hospitals, a STD (sexually transmitted diseases) clinic and outpatient centres on three different continents. She has thirty-five years of experience as a clinical psychologist.
Clair now specialises in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
CONTACT
Please feel free to contact Clair regarding an appointment or any query you may have.
Appointments are available in Woy Woy NSW and via Zoom.
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