Malinder Bhullar (audio) Hidden in Plain Sight: Discovering Autism in Adulthood

Malinder is a forensic psychologist from Australia who moved to the UK in 2003. She enjoyed a diverse and exciting career in a number of NHS forensic mental health services around the UK, before moving into private practice in 2020 after some very difficult workplace experiences and bereavement, which coincided with the onset of the pandemic.  Her private practice is growing and diversifying, it is underpinned by a passion for practicing from a position of lifelong experience of being "different". Her main interests are helping those who have struggled with being "different", and the effective, meaningful and ethical intervention for, and prevention of the impact of trauma on professionals in mission-driven roles, particularly experiences of moral injury and institutional betrayal. She has lived experience of autism and is passionate about contributing to increasing awareness and understanding of the experiences of highly-masked, late-diagnosed autistic people. She has a keen interest in the development and application of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.  

Summary

Malinder Bhullar, a forensic psychologist, discusses her experiences working in forensic mental health services, including her time at Rampton Hospital and her involvement in delivering radically open DBT. She also shares her decision to transition to private practice and the difficulties she faced in institutional settings. Additionally, Melinda talks about her realization of being autistic and her contribution to a forthcoming book on neuro-narratives of mental health. In this conversation, Malinder discusses her journey of discovering her neurodiversity, specifically autism. She shares how she initially had no awareness of neurodiversity and only began to recognize it when working with high-functioning clients. The moment of realization came when she saw a profile on LinkedIn that resonated with her own experiences. Malinder decided to pursue a formal diagnosis for validation and credibility. This has since been confirmed. She also discusses the challenges of whistleblowing and the importance of rules in forensic practice. Finally, she explores the implications of autism for her work as a psychologist and the importance of self-care.

Key points;

• Working in forensic mental health services can involve both rewarding and challenging experiences.
• Radically Open DBT is a treatment approach specifically designed for individuals who have excessive emotional control.
• Transitioning to private practice can provide more autonomy and flexibility for clinicians.
• Institutional settings can present difficulties and challenges for professionals, and there is a need for greater awareness of whistleblowing and addressing systemic issues.
• Self-reflection and self-discovery can lead to a better understanding of one's identity and experiences. Neurodiversity, specifically autism, can go unrecognized for a long time, even by professionals in the field.
• Discovering one's neurodiversity can bring a sense of fitting in one's own skin and provide answers to past experiences.
• Formally pursuing a diagnosis can provide validation and credibility, especially for individuals who are highly masked.
• Whistleblowing and autism may be connected.