Connection and trust are key when receiving or giving support, but with so many boundaries around what you can say or do with a client in your care, it can be hard to build the relationship that is needed to make a person feel safe enough to share thoughts and feelings, and accept the support being offered. I personally like to know that the person I am talking to has lived experience of neurodiversity – not textbook-trained knowledge. The only way I know a support worker understands and can relate is if I hear examples of their similar challenges. Sharing personal stories can, however, be viewed as crossing the client/support worker boundary. Environments need to be relaxing to reduce anxiety, yet most support sessions are held in a near empty room with a table and chairs, or chairs facing each other with a desk in the corner. In the past I immediately shut down if a support worker was clearly much younger than myself, as I questioned their life experience and ability to move me forward. We are all different and there needs to be a choice of type of support, different environment options, choice of support worker as opposed to being allocated someone. Perhaps individuals can meet the support team and see who they are drawn to.
Personally, these are a few things that I need. Why not take some time to think how you would like support to be delivered? And let us know how we can deliver it.