6. It’s not just them - managing our own reactions as clinicians

In this episode, we turn the focus inward. While much of the series has been about understanding autistic patients and preventing escalation, we explore a crucial—but often overlooked—part of the equation: us.

We talk about what happens to clinicians under pressure—when we’re tired, overloaded, under-resourced, or dealing with challenging behaviour. We explore how our stress responses, biases, and emotional reactions can unintentionally escalate a situation or cloud our judgment, especially in high-stakes environments like the ED.

Drawing on principles from conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, and behavioural science, we share practical tools to help manage our emotions in the moment. We discuss the power of curiosity, self-awareness, and regulation for patient care and clinician wellbeing.

We also reflect on the importance of creating a supportive team culture—where it’s okay to take a breath, ask for help, or acknowledge when we’re not at our best. Because improving care for autistic patients doesn’t start with protocols. It starts with people.

This episode is about giving ourselves permission to pause, reflect, and lead with empathy—not just for our patients but for ourselves.