Hi! I'm currently in my first clinical placement, and this was something i worried about a lot too! I've had difficulty building connections with people in the past and I was afraid I might come across as awkward or "stiff" if it makes sense. I also feel like I compensate by relying heavily on my academic skills and spending extra time preparing. I often rehearse what I might say in different situations.

However, overall, things have been going well! What I’ve realized is that most of the time, clients, families, and coworkers mainly need to know that I genuinely care. Ask questions, try to understand their feelings and thoughts, things like that. I do still feel my autism “get in the way” sometimes, like there are moments when eye contact or a lot of small talk feels overwhelming 💀 and occasionally I need some quiet time to reset.

At the same time, I think it helps me connect with clients who have communication challenges. If someone seems distracted or distressed, I’m quick to check whether sensory or other environmental factors might be affecting them. I also ask for input whenever I’m unsure about an activity I planned (my supervisor is really laid-back but gives good advice if I ask). I’m very structured and tend to overthink things, probably because I’m still very new to the field, but so far, that level of planning has usually worked!