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Post-Diagnostic Support ​​​
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Compassionate, holistic support after your autism assessment.
At Spectrum Sisters, we believe that an autism diagnosis is not the end of the journey—it is the beginning of a new chapter. We never “diagnose and run.”
Receiving a diagnosis can be moving, validating, confronting, confusing, and life-changing all at once, and it is completely natural to need support afterwards.
We offer a range of post-diagnostic therapeutic and social-work-based services to help you make sense of your assessment, access the right support, and begin building a life that truly fits who you are.
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Why Post-Diagnostic Support Matters
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Many autistic women and girls spend years—often decades—masking, misunderstanding themselves, or feeling misunderstood by others.
A diagnosis can bring:
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relief
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clarity
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grief
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anger
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validation
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new understanding
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questions about identity, relationships, and the future
You do not have to navigate any of this alone. Our post-diagnostic sessions are gentle, affirming, trauma-aware, and tailored entirely to your needs.
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Our Post-Diagnostic Services
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1. Therapeutic Processing & Emotional Support
Understanding a diagnosis can take time. We provide a safe, calm, and supportive space for you to explore:
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what your diagnosis means for you personally
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unmasking and reconnecting with your authentic self
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grief or anger about late diagnosis
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internalised ableism and shame
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the emotional impact of lifelong misunderstanding
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re-framing your life through an autistic lens
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2. Practical Support & Social Work Guidance
Many autistic women need help with the practical side of post-diagnosis life.
We can help you understand and access:
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reasonable adjustments at work or university
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social care assessments
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PIP and disability-related benefits
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education or employment rights
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advocacy
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referrals to community resources
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signposting to specialist services.
This support aims to reduce overwhelm, help you navigate complex systems, and ensure you receive the accommodations and help you are entitled to,
3. Identity & Self-Acceptance Work
Receiving a diagnosis can raise important questions about:
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“Who am I now?”
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“What does this mean for my identity?”
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“How do I embrace being autistic after a lifetime of masking?”
We provide compassionate, strengths-based guidance to help you:
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understand the autistic female phenotype
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explore your autistic strengths, gifts, and needs
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rebuild your identity in an empowering way
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reduce masking and reconnect with your authentic self
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cultivate self-compassion and self-acceptance
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4. Support for Parents & Families
Parents and family members may also experience a mixture of acceptance, worry, relief, guilt, or uncertainty.
We offer sessions for parents or partners, who want to:
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understand the diagnosis
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learn what autistic masking looks like in girls
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explore what support their daughter may need
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process their own feelings
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learn how to be a confident, neurodiversity-affirming parent
These sessions help families move forward with clarity, understanding, and confidence.
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How Our Post-Diagnostic Sessions Work
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Sessions are delivered online
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Each session lasts 60 minutes
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Cost: £100 per hour
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You can book one session, or a series, depending on your needs
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All sessions are with Chay Thompson, Specialist Autism Assessor, Social Worker (SWE registered), Counsellor, ADOS-2/ADI-R trained, with lived experience and expertise of the female autism profile.
Our sessions are warm, gentle, validating, and completely neurodiversity-affirming.
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Booking a Session
You are welcome to book post-diagnostic sessions whether:
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you were assessed by Spectrum Sisters, or
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you received your diagnosis elsewhere
Simply contact us to arrange an appointment.
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Private health insurance does not typically cover autism-related support; however, some clients are able to use employer wellbeing funding, health cash plans, or Access to Work support. We are happy to provide invoices/receipts for reimbursement if your provider allows it.