Embracing Late Autism Diagnosis: A Neuroaffirming Approach at Lotus Therapy

For many people, discovering they are autistic later in life can bring both clarity and confusion. For many neurodivergent adults, it offers long-awaited answers to a lifetime of feeling different. While relief is common, so too are emotions like grief, anger, and self-doubt — all valid responses that deserve compassion. At Lotus Therapy, we often hear clients describe their diagnosis as “the missing piece” — an explanation that finally makes sense of a lifetime of feeling different, overwhelmed, or out of step.

While this insight can bring clarity, it also brings a wave of complex emotions: grief for the younger self who didn’t get support, anger at being misunderstood, and uncertainty about what comes next.

Understanding the Emotional Impact

Relief is often the first feeling. But right alongside it can come regret or confusion. At Lotus Therapy, we honour these emotional responses, as they are valid, layered, and often part of the healing process.

Many clients worry they’re “not autistic enough” or doubt their experiences. This is a common part of autistic imposter syndrome. Together, we explore how masking may have shaped your past, and how you can now move forward more in tune with your body, your needs, and your values.

Reframing Relationships and Finding Your People

Realising you’re autistic can shift how you relate to others. Some relationships strengthen through clearer communication and boundaries, while others may fall away. That’s okay.

We support our clients to find and nurture relationships that feel safe, mutual, and affirming, whether in friendships, family, or partnerships. For many, connecting with other neurodivergent people (online or in person) is a vital source of validation, relief and happiness.

Rebuilding Life Around What Works for You

We believe in redesigning daily life around your strengths, needs, and interests — not outdated neurotypical expectations. Occupational therapy at Lotus Therapy is not about “fixing” you, it’s about supporting you to live more comfortably and authentically.

That might mean adjusting your environment, changing routines, or exploring new work, creative projects, sensory diets or rest strategies that honour your nervous system.

Understanding Your Sensory Diet

Many of our clients at Lotus Therapy have been navigating sensory overload for years without the language to name it. That’s where a sensory diet comes in. A personalised plan of sensory tools and strategies that help you regulate your body and feel calmer, safer, and more focused throughout the day.

Whether it’s using noise-cancelling headphones, movement breaks, deep pressure, visual timers, or soft textures, we work with you to identify what helps and when. Your sensory preferences matter. They're not a quirk, they’re a guide to how your brain processes the world.

Mindfulness That Makes Sense for You

Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean sitting still with your eyes closed. At Lotus Therapy, we use sensory-based mindfulness that actually works for autistic brains. This might include:

• Focused breathing with a tactile object

• Gentle movement or rocking

• Guided visualisations

• Noticing internal signals like heart rate or muscle tension

It’s not about emptying your mind. It’s about checking in with your body and noticing what it needs, with curiosity, not judgment.

Unmasking at Your Own Pace

Masking: the learned act of hiding your traits to appear neurotypical — can be exhausting. After a diagnosis, many people begin to unmask, slowly and safely.

Unmasking looks different for everyone. For some, it means allowing themselves to stim again (like tapping or fidgeting). For others, it’s honouring a need for downtime, choosing comfy clothes, or speaking more openly about sensory or social needs.

At Lotus Therapy, we don’t push unmasking, we walk with you as you explore what authenticity looks like for you. It’s a gentle reclaiming of your true self.

Where to Get Support

You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. The team at Lotus Therapy includes neurodivergent-affirming therapists who specialise in late diagnosis and identity development. We offer:

• Sensory profiling and sensory strategies

• Executive functioning and routine support

• Support for unmasking, self-advocacy, and boundaries

• Emotion regulation and identity exploration

We also work alongside trusted occupational therapists and counsellors who understand autism in teens and adults, and can support trauma processing, grief, and self-acceptance.

You Are Not Behind — You Are Arriving

A late diagnosis doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you’re arriving — at yourself, with clarity and compassion. The journey ahead may be unfamiliar, but it can be rich with authenticity, rest, joy, and strength.

At Lotus Therapy, we’re here to walk beside you. Get in touch to learn more.