A supportive online community for autistic adults to connect, understand themselves, and thrive.
Many autistic adults navigate life with high levels of insight and intelligence, yet still experience significant challenges in areas such as social connection, emotional regulation, anxiety, and burnout.
Many have spent years masking, adapting, and working hard to fit in. On the surface, things might look fine. But underneath, there’s often exhaustion, loneliness, and a deep sense of being misunderstood. That kind of isolation can take a real toll on someone’s mental health and wellbeing.
The High Functioning Network (HFN) was set up because our founder, Dr Becky Spelman, saw this first-hand with someone close to her. She watched a highly intelligent, capable autistic adult go through years without proper support, feeling increasingly isolated despite having so much to offer. She set up this group so that he, and others like him, wouldn’t have to go through that alone.
That’s still what drives HFN today. It’s a small, safe, weekly online group where autistic adults can connect with others who genuinely understand, develop a deeper sense of who they are, learn practical strategies for the things that feel hardest, and simply be themselves without having to explain or justify anything.
Who is The High Functioning Network for?
HFN is designed for autistic adults aged 18 and over with good intellectual functioning who are looking for support, understanding, and connection.
You might benefit from this group if you have a formal autism diagnosis, are awaiting assessment, or identify as autistic or neurodivergent. It’s particularly well suited to people who are high-masking or were diagnosed later in life, who experience social anxiety or find it hard to maintain friendships, who feel misunderstood at work or in their personal relationships, or who are dealing with burnout, overwhelm, or emotional exhaustion.
You don’t need to be in crisis to join. Many of our members are simply looking for a space where they can be themselves. If you’d like to meet others who think in a similar way and want to better understand your own needs, this group could be right for you.
A note on the name
We know the term “high functioning” doesn’t sit comfortably with everyone in the autism community, and we respect that. We use it because many of our members identify with the experience it describes: appearing capable on the outside while struggling significantly on the inside. The name reflects that reality, not a judgement about levels of ability.
Who is this group not suitable for?
To keep the group safe and supportive for everyone, HFN isn’t the right fit for people currently experiencing complex trauma, personality disorders that require specialist treatment, or active addictions or substance misuse difficulties. If any of these apply, our team would be very happy to help you find more appropriate support, either within Private Therapy Clinic or elsewhere.
What makes HFN different from other autism support groups?
A lot of autism support is built around helping people adapt to neurotypical expectations. Learn the social rules, practise the scripts, try harder to fit in. The High Functioning Network takes a different approach.
We believe autism is a difference, not a deficit. People shouldn’t have to mask who they are to be accepted, and self-understanding leads to far better mental health than trying to perform a version of “normal” that was never designed for the way your brain works. HFN focuses on authenticity over masking, self-acceptance over self-criticism, practical strategies over unrealistic expectations, and genuine connection over social performance. This is a space where you can be yourself without explanation.
One important difference is that HFN is clinically facilitated, not just peer-led. Unlike many online autism communities, this group is run by qualified, experienced therapists who carefully structure each session. You get the warmth and understanding of peer support with the safety and expertise of a clinical setting. The group is also kept intentionally small, and the same people meet each week, so real trust and connection can build over time.
How the group works
HFN meets every Thursday evening from 6:30pm to 8:30pm (UK time) via secure video call. It’s delivered as a weekly online group, providing consistency, routine, and the opportunity to build meaningful connections over time.
Each session follows a clear structure: a short psychoeducation topic to start, followed by guided group discussion, practical strategies and tools you can use in daily life, and time for peer connection and shared experience.
Everything about the sessions is designed to feel predictable, low pressure, and respectful of different communication styles. You’re never pressured to speak. You can engage however feels comfortable, whether that’s joining the conversation, listening, or using the chat.
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Topics we explore
Each week focuses on a theme that’s directly relevant to life as an autistic adult. Over the course of the programme, you’ll explore a wide range of areas.
We spend time on understanding your autistic identity: what your profile looks like, how masking has shaped your life, the strengths that come with the way your brain works, and how to build a more positive sense of who you are. We look at emotional regulation and burnout, including recognising the early signs of overwhelm and shutdown, managing emotional intensity, and developing coping strategies that actually work for you rather than ones designed for neurotypical brains.
Social connection is a big part of what we cover: navigating friendships, understanding social expectations without forcing yourself to mask, setting boundaries, and building meaningful relationships including dating. We also explore sensory needs, how to create environments that work for you, and how routine supports stability and wellbeing.
There’s a strong focus on practical life skills too: communicating your needs at work, requesting reasonable adjustments, managing workplace dynamics, and reducing stress. We look at the well-established link between autism and anxiety using CBT- and DBT-informed strategies. And we cover executive functioning: organisation, planning, time management, and building systems that work with your brain rather than against it.
What members say about the group
People who take part in HFN commonly tell us they feel a greater sense of self-understanding and self-acceptance. Many say their anxiety and overwhelm has reduced, and that they’re better able to regulate their emotions in situations that used to feel impossible.
Members often report feeling more confident in social situations, having a stronger sense of their own identity, and being better able to advocate for their own needs. But the thing we hear most often is simpler than any of that: people tell us they finally feel less alone.
For many of our members, HFN becomes the first place they’ve felt fully accepted without needing to mask. That kind of experience can be genuinely life-changing.
A safe, neurodiversity-affirming environment
We put a lot of thought into making this group feel right. The environment is calm and predictable. We’re considerate of sensory needs. We respect all communication styles, and no one is ever made to feel judged. Every session is facilitated by experienced clinicians who understand how to create the conditions where autistic adults feel psychologically safe and able to engage authentically.
This isn’t a group where you’ll be pushed outside your comfort zone for the sake of it. It’s a space that’s been designed around how you actually experience the world.
Fully online for accessibility
HFN is delivered entirely online via a secure video platform, which means you can join from the comfort of your own space with no travel, no unfamiliar environments, and less sensory stress than an in-person setting. It also means the group is open to participants from anywhere in the world.
Whether you’re in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East or further afield, if you have an internet connection, you can be part of this group.
Group details
Group name
The High Functioning Network (HFN)
Format
Online (secure video platform)
Frequency
Weekly
Day
Every Thursday
Time
6:30pm – 8:30pm (UK time)
Group size
Small group (minimum 4 participants)
Costs
We’ve deliberately kept the cost of HFN low to make it as accessible as possible while maintaining the quality of a clinically facilitated group. Monthly membership is £80 per month at a discounted rate. There’s also an initial suitability consultation for £35, which is a brief, relaxed conversation to make sure the group is the right fit for you and that we can support your needs appropriately.
Your facilitators
The High Functioning Network is delivered by two therapists who have put their hearts into building this group:
Aisling Ryan, Psychological Therapist
Aisling is an experienced psychological therapist with a particular interest in supporting autistic adults. She brings warmth, empathy and a neurodiversity-affirming approach to her work with the group.
George Camilleri, Psychological Therapist
George is a dedicated psychological therapist who is passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces for autistic adults. His calm and structured facilitation style helps members feel at ease from their very first session.
Both Aisling and George are highly experienced in working with autistic adults and are committed to delivering a compassionate, structured, and neurodiversity-affirming group experience.
How to join The High Functioning Network
Getting started is simple:
1. Contact our team to express your interest.
2. Complete a short suitability consultation (£35) so we can make sure the group is right for you.
3. Receive confirmation of your place and everything you need to get started.
4. Join your first Thursday session and meet the group.
Or book online to arrange your suitability consultation.
Spaces are limited to keep the group small and supportive.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a formal autism diagnosis to join?
No. HFN is open to people with a formal diagnosis, those awaiting assessment, and those who identify as autistic or neurodivergent.
I’m not sure if this group is right for me. How do I find out?
That’s exactly what the initial suitability consultation is for. It’s a brief, relaxed conversation where we can work out together whether HFN is a good fit for your needs.
Can I join if I’m outside the UK?
Absolutely. The group meets online and is open to participants anywhere in the world. Sessions run at 6:30pm UK time (GMT/BST), so just check the time difference for your location.
Expert insight from Dr Becky Spelman
“Many autistic adults grow up feeling misunderstood or pressured to fit into environments that don’t suit them. The High Functioning Network is designed to provide a space where individuals can understand themselves, connect with others who share similar experiences, and develop practical strategies that genuinely work for them. When people feel understood and accepted, we consistently see improvements in confidence, wellbeing, and quality of life.”
