In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela welcome special guest Halina Brooke, a licensed professional counsellor and changemaker, to explore what truly autism-affirming social skills look like—beyond the harmful norm of “teaching autistic people to act neurotypical.”

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Autism-affirming social skills – How Halina’s non-ABA, neurodiversity-affirming groups for autistic adults over 25 help participants enjoy social experiences, connect with their nervous systems, and heal from trauma.
• Lived experience in therapy – Why autistic self-advocates must lead the conversation, and the tension that exists between neurotypical clinicians and autistic perspectives.
• Life after diagnosis – Navigating post-diagnosis grief, the demands of masking and code-switching, and burnout from constantly adapting to neurotypical expectations.
• “Neurotypical packing peanuts” – Understanding filler interactions and how tools like ChatGPT can help decode social dynamics.
• Changing the system – Ethical use of labels, rejecting harmful practices like ABA, and creating safer, more inclusive spaces for autistic people.

Featured Guest: Halina Brooke

Halina Brooke is a licensed professional counsellor based in Arizona with a practice dedicated to supporting misfits, creatives, highly sensitive individuals, and those who don’t quite fit the mould. Through Recourse Counselling, Halina blends therapeutic insight with lived experience to offer affirming, individualized care—especially for neurodivergent adults.

With expertise in ethics, policy, and community advocacy, Halina is also a passionate changemaker, working to shift mental health systems toward more compassionate, inclusive, and neurodiversity-affirming models. She leads innovative, non-ABA social skills groups for adults over 25 and empowers clients to connect with their nervous systems, heal from past harm, and thrive in their authenticity.

📩 Contact: [email protected]

🌐 Website: Recourse Counselling

📅 Book a Free Consultation: Schedule Here

📞 Call: 602-787-0600

Related Episodes:

Unpacking PDA

Academia and Ableism

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