A young adult wanted to explore issues related to social connectedness, depressed mood, and managing daily tasks. Together, we discovered that she was autistic, undiagnosed until later in life, which is often the case in highly verbal and socially motivated individuals.

We explored the impact of her growing up without an understanding of her neurotype. She could then shift her perspective so she no longer blamed herself for her emotional, academic, and occupational struggles associated with living as an autistic person in a world that seeks to neither understand nor accommodate her needs. With a greater sense of self-efficacy, she chose a new career path and forged strong bonds with new friends from diverse backgrounds.