Post Diagnostic Support Group for Autistic Adults Guide

Our Post Diagnostic Support Group

Our group runs for nine sessions, either in person or online.

The locations of the in person sessions are:

• Liverpool
• Southport
• Bootle
• Whiston.

What are the aims of our group?

Our post diagnostic support group involves education about autism. The group aims to:

• provide an overview of what autism is and what an autistic person might experience
• consider how being autistic might impact you
• support autistic adults to come together and share their experiences.

Where will the groups be held?

We offer post diagnostic support groups at multiple convenient locations across Liverpool, Bootle, Southport and Whiston.

It may be that you wish to access the group online. If this is the case, you will be sent an Attend Anywhere link and information on how to log on.

What will happen when you arrive for the group?

Each venue has a reception.

When you arrive:

• Tell the receptionist your name and say you are here for the autism group session
• You will then be asked to go to the waiting area. They will show you where this is
• The group facilitators will then come and get you from the waiting area when the group is about to start.

Whenever possible, we will make reasonable adjustments such as dimming lights or providing fidget tools. We want to make sure you are comfortable when coming to the sessions.

Please feel free to bring anything with you that you need. You can let us know in advance if you need any specific support.

What are the sessions about?

Meet and greet session

This is a chance for you to visit where the sessions will take place and get to know us. We will also ask you some specific questions to help us get to know you better.

Exploring Neurodiversity and Autism

We will talk about how the group will run and what sessions might look like. We will also introduce neurodiversity and autism.

Understanding Autism: strengths, social imagination, and communication

We will explore what it means to be autistic and the strengths of autistic people. We will also introduce social imagination, social communication, and social interaction.

Navigating social life autistically

We will learn about empathy, social interaction, social communication and explore why autistic people might experience challenges with them. We will also discuss boundaries and the importance of setting boundaries.

Understanding and managing sensory differences

We will learn what sensory integration is and introduce the eight main senses. We will look at self stimulatory behaviours and how we can calm our senses.

Emotions and anxiety

We will talk about emotions, identifying and regulating emotions, and reflect on how we experience emotions. We will also look at what anxiety is and how we can reframe our thinking when we are
anxious.

Emotional experience of diagnosis

We will reflect on your experiences before and after your diagnosis. W will explore your own emotions as well as those of others, and how life may have changed since receiving your diagnosis.

Your wellbeing and managing mental organisation

We will discuss what executive functioning is and what executive functioning challenges autistic people might experience. We will look at routines, autistic people’s experience of burnout, and strategies to avoid or manage it. 

Masking meltdowns, shutdowns and moving forward

We will talk about masking the difference between meltdowns and shut downs, and how you can move forward after the groups have finished.

Our patients matter

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust listens andresponds to patients and their carers to help improve the services we deliver.

If you have any comments, compliments or concerns you can speak with a member of staff or contact our Patient Advice and LiaisonService (PALS) and Complaints Team.

Telephone: 0151 471 2377Freephone: 0800 328 2941Email: palsandcomplaints@merseycare.nhs.uk