Spectrum Centre

04/06/2026

Many adults are only identified with Autism or ADHD later in life.

Sometimes after years of feeling different, overwhelmed, misunderstood, or quietly wondering why certain things have always felt harder than they seemed for others.

This week, Brenton Thornton, Counselling Psychologist at Spectrum Centre, featured on Eden FM to discuss Adult Autism & ADHD, including late diagnosis, common misconceptions, and why understanding yourself better can matter.

One message stood out:

**“It’s never too late.”**

Whether you have been wondering about yourself, your teenager, or someone you care about, support and understanding can be an important first step.

▶ Listen to the short clip below.

📍Autism & ADHD Assessments
Teenagers (15+) & Adults

📩 Book an appointment: https://clientportal.zandahealth.com/clientportal/spectrumcentre

🌐 spectrumcentre.co.za

01/06/2026

Parents & Partners Autism Support Group

4 Jun I 6pm

Click Here to Reserve Your Seat: https://tinyurl.com/4JunSupportGroup

An online support group for Partners and Parents of Autistic Teens and Adults.

It’s an opportunity to meet other parents in a casual & welcoming environment, to share experiences, resources, challenges, triumphs, and to lessen feelings of isolation.

The group is led by South African Clinical Psychologist Kevin Naidu.

The support group is thoughtfully curated around specific themes, with content that has been researched and developed by the highest level of Professionals.

Date: Thursday, 4 Jun, 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm (1 hour) (CAT)
Cost: R320.00 per session

Topic: Why Autistic Individuals Often Can’t “Switch Off” After Social Situations (and what helps)

Click Here to Make Payment and Reserve Your Seat: https://tinyurl.com/4JunSupportGroup

A MESSAGE FROM KEVIN:

No preparation for the group is required. No need to take notes, the ppt slide presentation will be available for group members afterwards.

This is an interactive support group where members are welcome to ask questions and share their experiences related to autism, either by speaking to the group or through the chat box. Questions about autism are always welcome.

📌 10-15 Minutes: Psychoeducation

📌 40-50 Minutes: Q&A, connecting with others, support, and discussions

We hope to see you there!

🎟️https://tinyurl.com/4JunSupportGroup
🌐https://spectrumcentre.co.za/online-support-group-for-partners-and-parents-with-of-teens-and-adults-with-autism/

22/05/2026

We specialise in Adult Autism diagnosis and long term therapy. The Diagnosis is conducted over 2 sessions by one of our Autism (Neurodiversity) Specialist Psychologists. The diagnosis process consists of a Clinical Interview based on the diagnostic criteria of ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder as specifi...

07/05/2026

Do all autistic people have ADHD?

And do all people with ADHD have autism?

No.

But they can overlap.

Autism and ADHD are two separate diagnoses in the DSM-5, each with their own diagnostic criteria, presentation, and challenges.

At the same time, research suggests that Autism and ADHD can co-occur.

Some studies estimate that 50-70% of autistic individuals may also experience ADHD, while around 1 in 8 individuals with ADHD may also meet criteria for Autism.

They remain two separate diagnoses in the DSM-5.

This is where things can become confusing.

Autism and ADHD can sometimes share outward signs, including:

Difficulty with focus
Emotional overwhelm
Sensory sensitivity
Executive functioning challenges
Social exhaustion
Restlessness or burnout

But the reasons underneath those experiences can be very different.

For example:

Someone with ADHD may struggle to focus because their attention shifts quickly, they feel under-stimulated, or their brain is constantly seeking novelty.

Someone who is autistic may struggle to focus because the environment feels overwhelming, the task feels unclear, there has been a change in routine, or their energy has already been used up masking.

The behaviour may sometimes look similar.

But the underlying experience may not be the same.

That is why proper assessment matters.

Not everyone with ADHD is autistic.
Not every autistic person has ADHD.
But some people do experience both.

And when both are present, people often describe feeling pulled in different directions:

Wanting routine, but struggling to maintain it
Craving novelty, but feeling overwhelmed by change
Needing structure, but resisting restriction
Feeling deeply focused sometimes, and completely scattered at other times

At The Spectrum Centre, we assess and support adults with Autism and ADHD, whether you are exploring one diagnosis, both, or trying to better understand why things have felt harder than they “should”.

Different, not distant.
Understood, not judged.

➡️ Booking Link: https://clientportal.zandahealth.com/clientportal/spectrumcentre

🌐 https://spectrumcentre.co.za/
📧 [email protected]

We specialise in Adult Autism diagnosis and long term therapy. The Diagnosis is conducted over 2 sessions by one of our Autism (Neurodiversity) Specialist Psychologists. The diagnosis process consists of a Clinical Interview based on the diagnostic criteria of ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder as specifi...

07/05/2026

Sometimes the emotion is real… but the response can feel carefully "scripted.”

Sometimes an autistic person’s response can come across as:
Overly logical
Very measured
Almost overly composed
Or emotionally rehearsed rather than instinctive

And that can leave a neurotypical person wondering:
“Is this genuine?”
“Do they actually feel emotion?”
“Do they really understand what I’m saying?”

The reality is often far more complex than people realise.

Autistic individuals do experience emotions.
Love.
Grief.
Fear.
Joy.
Connection.

But sometimes the way those emotions are processed and expressed can look different from what people expect. What society has taught us.

In emotional situations, some autistic people may:

Think carefully before responding
Search for the “right” thing to say
Focus on facts or problem-solving
Or rely on learned social responses to avoid getting it wrong

To a neurotypical person, this can make the response feel less spontaneous or emotionally natural in the moment.

That does not automatically mean the emotion is fake.

Sometimes the emotion is very real, but the expression is being consciously managed.

And sometimes masking is not about hiding emotion, it's about trying very hard to express emotion in the “right” way.

Over time, this can become exhausting and lead to burnout.

What may feel “scripted” on the outside can sometimes be an autistic person carefully monitoring themselves so they do not:

Get it wrong
Seem rude
Hurt someone unintentionally
Or be misunderstood

At the same time, it is also understandable that neurotypical partners, friends, or family members may still experience that difference emotionally.

Both experiences can exist together.

The goal is not to decide who is right or wrong.

It is about recognising that people can experience, process, and express emotions very differently from one another.

And sometimes what looks emotionally distant on the outside may actually be someone trying very hard to connect.

Different not distant
Understood, not judged

At The Spectrum Centre, we support individuals, couples, and families in understanding these patterns with compassion, clarity, and without judgment.

Clarity. Answers. Support.

➡️ Booking Link: https://clientportal.zandahealth.com/clientportal/spectrumcentre

🌐 https://spectrumcentre.co.za/
📧 [email protected]

We specialise in Adult Autism diagnosis and long term therapy. The Diagnosis is conducted over 2 sessions by one of our Autism (Neurodiversity) Specialist Psychologists. The diagnosis process consists of a Clinical Interview based on the diagnostic criteria of ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder as specifi...

05/05/2026

Do autistic people really feel emotions… or is it just masking?

And if someone is masking, how do you know what’s real?

These are questions many people sit with, even if they don’t say them out loud.

Autistic individuals do feel emotions.

Love.
Sadness.
Joy.
Frustration.
Anxiety.

Those feelings are real.

What can be different is how those emotions are experienced, processed, and expressed.

Sometimes emotions can feel intense or overwhelming.
Sometimes they are harder to put into words.
Sometimes they don’t show in ways people expect.

This is where masking comes in.

Masking is when someone adjusts how they respond to fit what is expected of them.

Smiling when they feel overwhelmed.
Saying “I’m fine” when they’re not.
Holding things together in public, and only processing it later.

The important part is this:

Masking doesn’t mean the emotion isn’t real.

It means the expression is being managed.

So it’s not about “real vs fake”

It’s about understanding that what you see on the outside may not match what is happening internally.

Over time, constantly managing this can be exhausting.

A more helpful shift is:

Instead of asking
“Is this real?”

Ask
“What might this person be experiencing underneath what I’m seeing?”

At Spectrum Centre, we support individuals and families in understanding these patterns, whether you’re exploring a diagnosis or already navigating life after one.

Clarity. Answers. Support.

➡️ Booking Link: https://clientportal.zandahealth.com/clientportal/spectrumcentre

🌐 https://spectrumcentre.co.za/
📧 [email protected]

28/04/2026

23/04/2026

Why does it still feel hard… even when you’ve been diagnosed, understand yourself better, and have support?

This is something many autistic adults struggle with.

It’s easy to assume:
“If I understand it now, shouldn’t it be easier?”

But that’s not always how it works.

Some challenges are built into how your brain processes the world:
• Sensory input can feel overwhelming
• Social interaction can require more effort
• Shifts, uncertainty, and demands can take longer to process
• Executive functioning can make everyday tasks feel heavier than they “should”

At the same time, most environments are not designed with this in mind.

So even with insight, and even with support, you may still find yourself:
Masking
Overthinking
Pushing through
Feeling exhausted by things others seem to do easily

That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

It means the load is real.

The goal is not to “try harder”
It’s to understand your patterns, reduce unnecessary strain, and build ways of working that actually fit you

Whether you’re exploring a diagnosis or already diagnosed and needing ongoing support, this is where the work matters

Book an appointment:
https://clientportal.zandahealth.com/clientportal/spectrumcentre

Clarity. Answers. Support.

🌐 https://spectrumcentre.co.za/
📧[email protected]

We specialise in Adult Autism diagnosis and long term therapy. The Diagnosis is conducted over 2 sessions by one of our Autism (Neurodiversity) Specialist Psychologists. The diagnosis process consists of a Clinical Interview based on the diagnostic criteria of ASD Autism Spectrum Disorder as specifi...