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Before you explore

Acknowledgement of Country

Sovereignty was never ceded. No treaty was ever signed. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which this work is made, and that does not become less true with time, legislation or silence.

FREE 2B ME acknowledges Elders past, present and emerging. This body of work exists because systems cause harm when they ask people to become easier to accommodate. No community in this country has been asked to do that more often, or for longer, than First Nations peoples.

We hold that as a matter of practice, not sentiment.

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FREE 2B ME · Professional learning

Beyond Burnout

Body, Capacity and Sustainable Support

Your client is exhausted. Your usual strategies aren’t helping. Where do you start?

Who it’s for: counsellors and allied health professionals supporting autistic and other neurodivergent people experiencing exhaustion or burnout.

For the sessions that leave you wondering

They used to manage. Now they can barely get through the day.

Your client tells you they are exhausted. Things they once managed now feel impossible. You want to help, but every suggestion seems to become another thing they have to do.

You may be wondering whether this is autistic burnout, what else needs to be considered and how to support the person without making an already hard situation harder.

  • You want to understand why your client has so little energy and what might be contributing.
  • Plans and routines that helped before now seem impossible to follow.
  • You’re unsure how to support recovery without setting goals that add pressure.
  • You want to know when other health concerns or professional support need to be considered.

There is another place to start

Start with the whole picture, not another to-do list.

Beyond Burnout explores autistic burnout, exhaustion and the things that may affect a person’s energy and ability to get through the day. Learn to have conversations about what is taking effort, what support is available and what might need to change.

What could be different in your practice?

When you return to work, the aim is to help you:

  • Have a clearer conversation about exhaustion and what the person can manage now.
  • Consider the demands, health needs, sensory experiences and supports that may be affecting daily life.
  • Work with the client on practical changes without adding another overwhelming list.
  • Adjust expectations and review support as the person’s needs change.
  • Recognise when concerns need input from another qualified professional.

In your next session

A client can no longer follow a routine that once helped. You can step back, ask what is taking their energy and consider with them what support or changes may be useful now.

What you’ll explore

  • What current research and autistic people say about burnout
  • What you notice, what the person tells you and what needs further consideration
  • How daily demands, support and energy can change over time
  • The effect of sensory experiences and surroundings
  • Interoception, or noticing signals from inside the body
  • Rest, enjoyment, connection and practical support
  • Physical and mental health, and working with other professionals
  • Making and reviewing a support plan together

The aim is to understand what the person needs, not give them another list of things to manage.

Who this is for

For counsellors and allied health professionals supporting autistic and other neurodivergent people experiencing exhaustion, overwhelm or changes in what they can manage. Apply the learning within your own role and professional scope.