Diagnosed as Autistic at age 5, I have naturally carried my neurodivergence into every part of my work as a music therapist. In this professional reflection, I explore the intersections between lived experience, therapeutic practice, and personal identity. Rather than being a challenge to overcome, many of my Autistic qualities, including emotional regulation, empathy, passion for music, and nonlinear thinking, have become core strengths in my work. These qualities support authentic connection, creative adaptation, and a deep understanding of clients’ experiences, especially those who are neurodivergent themselves.

This presentation will reflect on the dual journey of navigating a profession shaped largely by neurotypical norms, while also reimagining what “professionalism” and “effectiveness” can look like through my lived experience lens. I will share moments of growth, including unmasking in clinical spaces, and the emotional labour involved in self and professional advocacy. I will explore privilege alongside the challenges of being a minority within a minority (e.g. early diagnosed Autistic music therapist). I will also discuss the impact of embracing a neurodiversity-affirming lens, not just for my clients, but for myself.

Through personal anecdotes and clinical reflections, I aim to demonstrate that being an early diagnosed Autistic is not a barrier to this work; it is part of what makes me an insightful, responsive, and authentic therapist, and it needs to be embraced. In honouring the 50th anniversary of AMTA, I offer a vision of innovation that includes diverse ways of thinking, sensing, and being. My story invites the profession to make space for diversity; not as something to accommodate, but as something to celebrate.