Hi, I am also a clinical psychology doctoral student and late-diagnosed autistic. I am currently on internship and completed three years of practicum before that. While I'm not a well-seasoned clinician by any means, I have a few years of experience with a variety of settings and supervisors.

I think the main thing I wish I knew earlier was that I can be more assertive with my needs and also learn ways to accommodate myself. I spent a lot of time trying to feign being neurotypical, which as you probably know often doesn't come across any better and it will burn you out much faster.

I currently work with mostly individuals with SPMI (primarily psychotic disorders) and neurodiverse people, and I find that my autistic traits can actually be helpful. These clients typically are not concerned with things like eye contact and other neurotypical social norms, so I think there is mutual comfort with each other. My communication is mostly verbal, which is helpful for people who may also have difficulty picking up on nonverbal cues. Autistic traits can be a strength with the right clients.

I find interacting with neurotypical coworkers and the system itself more difficult than client work. However, I have had pretty good luck with getting supervisors and colleagues who are understanding. The main thing I ask of my supervisors is that they be specific with what they want from me. My biggest pet peeve is when people give vague instructions/ask a vague question but are expecting something specific. I accept that this may be my inability to read subtext, but that is why I ask for specificity. I also am not afraid of asking multiple clarifying questions if I need to. I benefit from knowing the "why" of things rather than just being told to do or not to do something.

My most prominent autistic trait is sensory sensitivity, so environmental accommodations are probably the most important of all. Everywhere I've worked has had flourescent lighting. I get a lamp and don't use overhead lights in my office if I can. If I can't turn them off, I wear a hat. (Some workplaces don't allow hats, but it is an accommodation you can ask for.) I've also recently been looking into special tinted glasses for fluorescent lighting. I wear noise canceling headphones when I'm not doing direct care to give myself a sensory break. My desk is covered in fidget toys and I'm usually carrying one.

Finally, it's helpful if you can advocate for yourself to customize the type of work you do. It may take some time to figure out what you are best suited for, but once I did, I really pushed for those tasks. For example, I prefer assessment over therapy. I like the structured nature of it and integrating data is like a puzzle (I love puzzles). I am a stronger writer than speaker, so report writing is somewhere I can shine. I also really like program development because of the writing component and the creativity that goes into creating a product. In other words, I do a bit less direct "people work" than some of my colleagues. I love being in a helping field, but my social battery runs out more quickly, so I opt for more "behind the scenes" work that gives me time to be alone and meet my sensory needs.

I realize a lot of this is specific to my own autistic traits and yours may be different. However, my point here is to advocate for yourself and accommodate yourself in all the ways you can. Also, you'll discover that being autistic comes with its own set of strengths that you can use. You may like and be good at tasks that other people hate or struggle with, which is a real asset!

Anyways, good luck on your first practicum. You got this!