According to the National Autistic Society, 1 in 100 people are on the autistic spectrum, with ever increasing diagnoses. The discourse of psychological literature on autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) is often positioned within abnormality and disability, which can lack relevance to the presentation of many people with masked ASC traits, whose difficulties are more implicit and often go undetected. For this population, the demands of everyday life in work and relationships, exacerbated by the current pandemic, often cause chronic and intense, generalised anxiety, which can result in burnout, relationship breakdown, and even suicidality. However, ASC’s characteristic nature means that psychological treatments can often be ineffective, leaving this population with added anxiety, loneliness and distress. 

Dr Ariana Jordan, CPsychol, PG Dip, PGCE

Ariana Jordan is a chartered counselling psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society and the Health and Care Professions Council. Ariana works in private practice, where she sees individuals, families, and couples with a range of difficulties and experiences. She is also Acting Director of Studies and a clinical tutor on the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology and Psychotherapy programme at the Metanoia Institute in London.

Previously to becoming a psychologist, Ariana spent over twenty years working with children and young people as a teacher and educational consultant. She thus combines her educational and psychological knowledge and experience and runs Jordan Educational Services Ltd., which provides workshops and events to support young people with physical, emotional, developmental, or social difficulties, so that they achieve their goals.

Apart from this, Ariana has two key research interests: when studying for her own Doctorate, Ariana became interested in her own developmental process as she entered midlife and how this life stage might interact with her relationship to herself and others. This inspired her to focus her Doctoral thesis on psychological wellbeing, parental sense of competence and self-esteem in midlife parents. This research study demonstrated the frequency with which midlife themes interact with our close relationships and affect our everyday experiences. Ariana continues to give talks on the midlife experience for professional organisations and healthcare providers.

Ariana’s other research interest is in the identification of undiagnosed autistic traits, particularly in women and girls. Having only discovered four years ago that she too was on the Spectrum, this led Ariana to learn more about the varying presentation of autistic traits and how often these traits are masked. She now gives talks on this subject to professional organisations, psychologists, educators, and healthcare providers on how to identify potentially autistic traits ain students and patients and provides useful strategies that will enhance inclusion of this much overlooked population. To enhance social connections and provide a supportive sharing environment, Ariana runs two monthly groups for people with autistic traits – one for adults and one for young people.