In 2020, I started offering my services to followers and readers via Zoom, Skype, Messenger and other platforms. To this day, I continue to offer consultations on a wide range of topics.
“You’re a really easy person to talk to. I felt entirely comfortable just opening up to you- I feel like I can talk to you about anything, really.”
-Autistic client, mid-conversation (shared with permission)
“As parents we both want to let you know that you clearly have a gift in this.”
-Parent clients, South England (shared with permission)
“After your session with my [nine-year-old] son yesterday, he was bouncing around and smiling… I haven’t seen him so happy and relaxed in a long time.”
-Parent client, London (shared with permission)
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What are consultations? My consultations are typically hour-long appointments where the discussion is entirely on your terms. They are safe spaces to discuss autism-related issues affecting you and/or those you love, in a supportive and non-judgemental environment – to someone with both personal and professional experience with autism.
What can they be about? Short answer: whatever you like. For reference, previous clients have sought my insights about:
- Autism in education;
- Finding/retaining employment as an autistic person;
- Parenting autistic young people;
- Discovering oneself as a recently diagnosed autistic person;
- Mathematics tuition, novel-writing advice and chess lessons;
- “Geek-out sessions” about Rubik’s cubes!
Honestly, I meet my clients where they are and run the sessions on their terms. The anxiety of talking about vulnerable topics can be challenging, and I recognise how an accommodating approach can help enormously.
What is your experience/expertise? I always make clear what I am and what I am not. So with this in mind…
I am:
- An autistic adult;
- A former teacher in a school for autistic students;
- Formerly a mainstream primary school teacher;
- An award-winning speaker and writer on autism-related topics;
- A multiply-published novelist and creative writing tutor;
- A range of other things, largely described on my about page.
I am not:
- A therapist. (I do have a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Concepts, which isn’t quite as impressive as it sounds.)
What are your rates? These prices are based on hour-long sessions, although I am flexible with time. There is also a discount on any subsequent sessions you may ask for, as the majority of my clients later ask to meet again – some have even become weekly appointments.
| One-hour session | Subsequent sessions | |
| UK | £40 | £30 |
| USA | $55 USD | $40 USD |
| Canada | $70 CAD | $55 CAD |
| Australia | $80 AUD | $65 AUD |
| New Zealand | $80 NZD | $60 NZD |
| Eurozone | €45 | €35 |
(NB- these rates are for families paying out of their own pocket. Prices may differ if the sessions are funded from elsewhere, e.g. Local Authority.)
How do I set up an appointment? You can either message me via Autistic Not Weird’s Facebook page, or you can email “chris [at] autisticnotweird [dot] com” (obviously place the @ and . accordingly- just making my email address unreadable to spambots). I take appointments from all over the world, so any time zone issues can be easily worked around.
Whether you feel that a one-off session can help you, or whether you even want multiple appointments, feel free to get in touch.
Chris Bonnello