Are you Autistic and constantly on the edge of Burnout?
This programme is for you if you:
- Find yourself feeling frequently overwhelmed by every day tasks.
- Are constantly on the edge of exhaustion.
- Wish you had more time to rest
- Would you like to have the time and energy to engage in your hobbies and interests
- Feel as if you are trying twice as hard to achieve half as much as other people.
- Your mental health is suffering from the constant strain.
- Find yourself clinging to neurotypical standards.
- Feel ashamed when you can not meet the expectations of yourself, others and society in general.
- Would love to break free from Autistic Burnout.
- Would like to understand your needs better.
- Would you like to let go of the shame associated with looking after yourself.
- Want to develop a lifestyle that is both sustainable and fulfilling.
Can you relate to the statements above? If so the 16 Week Autistic Recovery Programme can help you to break free from burnout and live a life that suits you.
"Living as an Autistic Person in a world designed for neurotypical people is hard. So often our needs are not met and we are expected to look and behave in a way that causes us significant stress. If you are in Autistic Burnout it is not your fault."
Dr Alice Nicholls, Clinical Psychologist
Overcome Autistic Burnout and find the freedom to create a life that is fulfilling and sustainable
I am Dr Alice Nicholls. As a Clinical Psychologist and an Autistic person I have made it my mission to understand and help people through Autistic Burnout.
I have poured my years of personal and professional experience into designing this recovery programme.
The course draws on the experiences of Autistic people, research evidence and psychological theory to help you understand, recover from and avoid Autistic Burnout.
What will happen when I join the Autistic Burnout Recovery Programme?
You will immediately receive:
- Access to a pre-recorded introductory video explaining the course and how to make the most of the materials.
- Module 1, which consists of both a pre-recorded workshop and an editable PDF full of worksheets to guide your learning.
- The PDF workbook for the entire course. You do not need to read this straight away but it is there in case you want to skip ahead or see what is coming up.
Two Weeks later you will receive:
- Access to a pre-recorded workshop for module 2.
- An Editable PDF full of worksheets to be used alongside the pre-recorded workshop.
You will receive a new module every two weeks, with the exception of module 5 which is released 4 weeks after module 4. This is because module 4 involves planning and recording for four weeks.
Some of the modules can be completed straight away (i.e. module 1) where as others require for you to do a little bit of planning or recording for several days (i.e. module 4).
Modules include a variety of the following:
- Worksheets to help you understand what makes your burnout better and worse
- New ways to measure change in your level of burnout over time
- Ways of identifying and avoiding stressors
- Ideas for getting some rest and replenishing yourself
- Planning
- Monitoring level of burnout over 7 days (module 3).
- Monitoring level of burnout over four weeks (module 4)
- Reviewing what you have learned (i.e. module 7)
Please note there is currently no 'live' element to the Autistic Burnout Recovery Programme but you are welcome to email me with any queries or concerns and I will endeavour to get back to you within 7 days.
The Course Modules
Writen by an Autistic Clinical Psychologist
Written by Dr Alice Nicholls, The Autistic Burnout Recovery Programme takes into account the needs of Autistic people, without applying neurotypical standards. It is based on personal, professional experience and up to date psychological theory.
Work at Your Own Pace
The course includes a downloadable and fillable PDF workbook so if you don't want to wait for the individual modules to be released you can access the key content straight away.
Pre-Recorded Workshops to Guide you Through Each Module Step by Step
A new module is released every 2-4 weeks for 16 weeks, each of these contain a small section of the workbook and a pre-recorded workshop talking you through each activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to complete the Programme?
This is really up to you. To complete the Autistic Burnout Recovery Programme as it was designed will take 16 weeks. However you will receive the entire workbook straight away so you could do it faster if you wished to. Modules 2 & 3 both involve at least 7 days of daily recording and module 4 requires 28 days to implement but the other modules could be completed within a few hours each.
In order to make the best use of the programme I would recommend you aim to complete the modules as they are released every 2-4 weeks.
You are welcome to take the course slower than the recommended 2-4 weeks per module and this might be advisable if you are feeling very overwhelmed. Your access to the modules is unlimited and you are welcome to download and store them for your personal use.
How much time do I need to commit to the programme?
The modules vary in their time commitment from about 30 minutes to two hours. this includes time to watch the pre-recorded workshop and fill out the worksheets. You might want to split the longer modules such as module 1 over more than one session.
For modules requiring daily recording you need to allow about 15 minutes per day for 7 days for modules 2 and 3. For module 4 you need to allow about 5 minutes per day. This is on top of the usual time allowed for the workshop and worksheets.
When will I start to feel better?
This programme is not a quick fix but if you follow the instructions and implement the techniques covered you should start to see some improvement in your immediate stress levels by the end of module 2 (week 4). This should continue to improve throughout the programme if you continue to engage in the exercises and practice between module release dates.
Can I ask questions or get feedback on my progress?
This programme is completely online and pre-recorded so there is no live component. However if you have a question you may email me and I will aim to get back to you within one week. I hope to release a live version of the programme with more opportunity for interaction in 2023.
I don't have much time, can I make this work?
I know you are busy and overwhelmed already. This is why I created a course that you can pace to suit your needs and your lifestyle.
You can take as long to complete this course as you need. So if 2 hours a fortnight seems too much maybe you could aim for 30 minutes every week for 4 weeks. or 15 minutes a week every week for 8 weeks.
You will get email prompts as each module becomes available but I will not chase you to complete the course.
Remember you get life time access to the course so you can complete it whenever you want.
I am not currently in burnout, will this still help me?
Yes, very much so! It is very common for Autistic people to be on the edge of burnout or have regular periods of burnout. One of the best times to think about avoiding burnout is when you are not currently in the depths of burnout. You will be able to think a bit more clearly and have a bit more energy to make changes to your lifestyle.
I am currently unable to think straight or get out of bed, will the programme still work for me?
Well that depends, Do you feel able to concentrate for long enough to process a video? Are you able to write down your thoughts and ideas? If you are answering yes then absolutely! you might just need to take the programme a bit slower so you are not overwhelmed by it.
If you are unable to concentrate for 30 minutes or write down your thoughts and ideas then I would suggest you might find it more useful to speak to a therapist 1:1 or visit your GP. You can always do the course later when you have a little more energy and headspace.
Can I get a refund?
I am confident that completing the Autistic Burnout Recovery Programme will make a significant improvement to your level of burnout and your quality of life in general. I want you to feel confident in making your investment so if you can demonstrate you have completed the course within 6 months by sending me a completed workbook and recording a lack of improvement in your burnout then I will provide you with a full refund.
When will there be a 'live' option?
I am on maternity leave until the summer of 2023. When I return I will consider releasing a programme with a 'live' component. If you are interested in being on the waiting list for this please email me.
Is there a low cost option available?
Do you feel as if you would really benefit from this course but feel unable to sign up due to financial constraints? I offer one scholarship place on the course per month. This comes with a 90% financial discount. In order to qualify for the Scholarship option please read this page throughly to check the course is a good fit for you, then send me an email at [email protected] stating why this 90% discount would be beneficial to you based on your financial situation. All applications are considered on a case by case basis with one slot available per month. By taking this option you are agreeing to complete the course within 6 months and fill out a feedback form including an anonymous testimonial.