Estus Health exists because too many autistic people have been harmed by therapy that treated them as problems to be solved. We've seen what happens when clinicians prioritise compliance over connection, when "functioning" is measured by how well someone can pass as neurotypical, when the goal is to make people easier to manage rather than helping them live well.
We believe something different is possible.
"We don't force change. We walk alongside until the next step feels possible."
What This Looks Like in Practice
Neuroaffirming, Not Normalising
We don't try to make autistic people act less autistic. Stimming, special interests, and different communication styles aren't problems to fix — they're valid ways of being in the world.
Low-Demand by Design
Our sessions are designed to reduce pressure, not add to it. We understand that traditional therapy structures can feel like demands — and for PDA profiles especially, demands trigger the nervous system.
Strengths-Based
We start with what's working, what brings joy, what you're already good at. Deficits-focused approaches miss the full picture of who someone is.
Safety First
Therapeutic progress requires feeling safe. We prioritise building trust and connection before asking anyone to do hard things. Regulation before expectation.
Lived Experience Matters
Several members of our team are neurodivergent ourselves. We understand this work from the inside — the struggles, the strengths, and what actually helps.
Practical, Not Just Theoretical
We're occupational therapists. Our job is to help people do the things they need and want to do in their actual lives — not just talk about it.
What We Don't Do
Being clear about what we don't do is just as important as what we offer:
- ✕ABA or compliance-based approaches — we don't use methods designed to extinguish autistic behaviours or prioritise obedience.
- ✕Masking as a goal — we don't teach people to hide who they are. If someone chooses to mask in certain contexts for safety, we support that choice — but it's never our therapeutic goal.
- ✕Pathologising difference — being autistic isn't a disorder to be cured. The challenges come from living in a world not designed for neurodivergent brains.
- ✕Pushing through at any cost — we don't believe in "no pain, no gain" approaches. Sustainable progress respects capacity limits.
This Resonates With You?
If you've been looking for therapy that actually gets it — we're here.