Transformed by the journey: Building community with diverse fathers of people with autism

Psychotherapy groups have been found to be effective in supporting peoples’ mental health and wellness. The benefits include participants feeling a sense of shared experience (i.e., universality), instilling hope, facilitating interpersonal learning, and fostering group cohesion, among others. In this chapter we will present an account of an open, personal growth group for fathers of people with autism. We offer a brief review of literature highlighting the demonstrated value of psychotherapy groups and their specific value for parents, and specifically fathers, of people with autism. We also describe how the group was started and its evolution and development into a multifaith, multiracial group. This includes a detailing of our shared personal and professional learning points. We conclude with considerations for agencies and professionals seeking to facilitate groups for fathers of people with autism.